“Wouldn’t know it by the way you harp on me.”
“Nah, don’t worry about that. It’s my way of getting back at you for scaring the skin off my hide. Man, that accident was really bad. But promise me one thing, Jared. You won’t go confusing your gratitude to Bella for the real thing. I mean, we’re all indebted to her, but you’ve got to work through your issues before you can commit. You know what I mean?”
“What if I told you I’m working through those issues with Bella’s help?”
“You’re sure?”
He nodded. “I’m getting there.”
Cooper slapped him on the back. “Then I’m happy for you, bro. Like I said, you deserve it. Now, let’s get back inside. We’ve got the baby’s gender to reveal.”
Jared walked into the dining room, Cooper behind him holding a chocolate cake on a pedestal server. “Dessert,” he announced, “compliments of Bella Reid.”
“She made that? It’s beautiful,” his mother said. “But when do we get to find out if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“Right now, Mom.” Cooper handed his mother a long cake knife. “Do the honors. The color of the cake inside will give you the answer.”
Tears welled in his mother’s eyes. “I consider it an honor.” She glanced at everyone first, then put the knife into the center of the cake and drew out the first piece.
“Pink!” His mother exclaimed. “It’s a girl!” She bounced up and down in her chair like a small child and then rose to kiss both Cooper and Lauren.
Jared grinned and shook his brother’s hand and then walked over to hug Lauren. “Congrats, you two.”
“Thanks,” she said. “It’s finally out in the open. We’re having a girl!”
“Yeah, too bad your mom couldn’t be here. Cooper said she was out of town this week.”
“She’s in Louisiana for the week visiting a friend, but we found a way. She’s on FaceTime now.” Lauren looked into the cell phone and waved. “Hi, Mama. Wish you were here with us.”
“Me, too, honey. Oh, sweetheart, you’re having a girl. I’m very excited. Be sure to save me a piece of that pink cake.”
“We’ll do that, Mama.”
When all the hoopla died down and the final details of the Christmas party were discussed, Jared and his mother said their goodbyes and drove off. He was dying to see Bella, to tell her how sweet it was of her to bake the cake for Lauren and Cooper. To tell her he’d missed her. He glanced at his mother behind the wheel of his car, and shook his head.
With his houseguest, this evening, there would be no rendezvous with his Midnight Contessa.
Instead it was going to be a long, lonely night.
Nine
Bella stood at the top of the stairs, dressed in a snow-white, knee-length, tailored dress adorned with a red-ribbed belt with a matching poinsettia bow to her side. Her shoes matched, too. The only jewelry she wore was a pair of sterling-silver chandelier earrings. Sienna was dressed in Christmas plaid, the dress flaring out in poufy layers, shiny black Mary Janes on her feet.
They were ready for the Christmas party.
“Okay, Sienna. Remember, best behavior, sweet girl. This is your first Christmas party,” she said as she held Sienna’s hand and started down the staircase.
Jared stood at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in a black suit, looking sharp and crisp and deadly handsome.
She’d missed him these past couple of nights. And she was eager to be his date for the party. Veronica sidled up next to Jared at the bottom of the staircase, and she also watched them descend. There was a point when Jared’s mother looked at her and flinched, and then she seemed to recover, leaving Bella with an odd sensation before Veronica walked off.
“You look beautiful, Bella,” Jared said. He touched her hair, a sweet, innocent touch that sent shivers up and down her spine. “I like your hair like that.” She’d pushed all of it to one side, letting it drape down her chest. It was held in place with a long silver clip.
Then Jared bent to Sienna. “Sugar plum, I don’t think there’s a prettier girl here. Give me five.”
Sienna giggled and slapped at Jared’s hand. Sometimes she made it, sometimes she missed. Tonight she made it and her chest puffed out.
“That’s my girl.”
Jared rose and took Bella’s hand.
“This place is really transformed,” she said.
“Thanks in part to you.”
“Just a small part. I helped with the decorations.”
They strolled around the warm, cozy house, two big, blazing fires in the fireplaces keeping the cold December air away. The two trees were decorated with colorful bulbs and ornaments and garland. Christmas music played and Sienna danced about.
Jared introduced Bella and Sienna to many of the ranch hands, workers and their families who kept the ranch going. There were many small children present and Sienna made fast friends with a few of them. Bella also met some of Jared’s associates from his Dallas office. All in all, there were about fifty people.
“Champagne?” he asked, grabbing two flutes from one of the wait staff.
“Sure, thanks.”
He put his arm around her waist and brought her up close, so they were hip to hip. “God, I miss you,” he whispered in her ear.
She swallowed hard. It was the first time he’d touched her in public like this for all the world to see. Heat rose up her neck. She was his date, but she hadn’t expected any real show of affection from him in front of his crew and friends. After all, she was his employee.
She whispered back, “Do you really think this is wise?”
“Wise? I think we’re beyond being wise, Bella. I’m falling for you and I don’t care who knows it. Do you?”
His declaration caught her off guard. God yes, she was falling for him, too. She was too floored to do anything but nod.
“Good. Look up.”
She lifted her eyes to find a thick bunch of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. And when she tilted her head back down, Jared’s lips were there, kissing her lightly but with enough potency to set her body on fire.
She scanned the room to see if anyone noticed and found Veronica’s eyes on her for a split second before she shifted her attention to the person she was conversing with. Bella’s gut clenched and she was suddenly ice cold inside. She shivered.
“Hey, if you’re cold, let’s go stand by the fire,” Jared said. “I think Sienna would like it, too.” Jared gathered up her daughter, tempting her with a candy cane, and the three of them entered the parlor and stood by a crackling fire.
“The caterers will be putting out dinner soon,” he said. “Are you two hungry?”
“I hungry,” Sienna said, sucking on the candy cane.
“Not just for candy, sugar plum.” Jared tickled her and she burst out in sweet laughter.
The sound was enough to put joy back into Bella’s heart, even though her stomach felt queasy. “I could eat a little something,” she said, plastering on a smile.
“Good, because later we might just have Christmas carolers come by the house. And who knows, maybe one of Santa’s elves might be stopping by, too.”
“Sounds like fun,” Bella said, reaching for Sienna and taking her out of Jared’s capable arms. She needed to hold her daughter tight to help the uneasy feeling in her gut disappear. Holding Sienna tight always seemed to work.
Yet her mind kept going back to Veronica. Bella scoured her memory, trying to think if she’d said anything to Jared’s mother that would upset her. They’d been on friendly terms these past couple of days as they got the house ready for the party. And Veronica had been complimentary of the dishes she’d cooked for all of them.
So what was going on? And why was Veronica avoiding her?
* * *
The last of the partygoers was gone now and the caterers and cl
eanup crew were working hard to get the house back in order. Sienna had managed to keep her eyes open during the festivities, fascinated by the lights and activity, the carolers who’d come inside the house to sing their Christmas tunes and, of course, seeing one of Santa’s helpers. Sienna hadn’t been brave enough to sit on his lap, but she did receive a toy, a baby doll she’d clutched in her arms the rest of the night. Now Bella was heading up to bed with Sienna fast asleep in her arms.
“Bella, wait.” Jared approached the staircase. “Let me take her up for you.”
She hesitated only a second. “Okay, thanks.” She made the transfer easily and Jared followed her up. She walked into the adjoining bedrooms and quickly turned down the sheets on the bed. She and Sienna had been sleeping together and, at some point, her little girl would get a bed of her own, but these conditions were fine temporarily.
Jared laid her down and Bella carefully removed her shoes and changed her into her pajamas. She tucked her in and kissed her forehead. Jared bent to do the same, and Bella blinked back tears. It was a ritual she and Paul would do together. She wasn’t saddened by the gesture but rather hopeful and touched that Jared cared so deeply about her daughter. She walked him to the door and whispered, “Thank you. It was a lovely party.”
“Our first date.” She smiled and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I’ll miss you tonight.”
He nuzzled her hair and then claimed her lips, the kiss going long and deep. They were both breathing hard when the kiss ended. “I’d better go.” He sighed and backed away from her.
“Yes, you’d better,” she whispered back, feeling the same longing she witnessed in his eyes. They were both aware his mother’s room was just down the hall.
“Good night.”
“’Night,” he said and then he was gone.
Bella walked around in a daze, her heart spilling over with emotion, her lips still tingling from Jared’s kiss. She was in love with him. She had no doubt. In the short time she’d known him, he’d become important to her. Every time he walked into the room, her heart just about stopped. She had come to cherish their midnight encounters, as well. Making love with Jared was amazing, but it was more than that. She shared her love of cooking with him, and had his full support. Those late nights had come to mean so much to her.
Five minutes later, as she was brushing her hair, a soft knock woke her out of her thoughts.
Her heart pumped faster at the thought of seeing Jared again.
She opened the door quiet as a mouse and found Veronica standing on the threshold. She gave Bella a small smile. “Can we talk?”
“Uh, yes. Sure. Just let me get the baby monitor.”
Veronica waited and then led Bella to a sitting area, a little alcove in the hallway comfortable for two. “Is this all right?”
Bella nodded, her stomach beginning to ache. So she hadn’t been wrong, something was up with Veronica and she was about to find out what it was.
“I won’t beat around the bush, Bella. Or should I say Francesca? I know who you are. What I don’t understand is why you are lying to my son.”
Bella bit her lip and put her head down. Her eyes burned and she struggled to keep from crying. “You’re right. I am lying to Jared. But it’s not what you might think.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what to think. When I saw you coming down the stairs tonight, dressed like you are now, I remembered a brief meeting with a young woman who wore her clothes with poise and grace, whose long, dark hair was styled like yours tonight. A beautiful young woman with striking green eyes.”
“We’ve met? I don’t remember.”
“You wouldn’t really, I suppose. You see, before Grant retired, my husband owned a small chain of restaurants and we were at a charity dinner in San Francisco. It must’ve been...oh, about five years ago. Your father, Marco, was one of the main benefactors and you were with him. I know I’m not wrong. I’ve since checked you out on the internet. Granted, you weren’t in the public eye much, but I did find a link between you and Forte Foods.”
“I’m sorry, Veronica. I’m not hiding my identity for any nefarious reasons. I’m trying to keep Sienna safe.”
“Care to explain?”
Bella had no choice. She’d been caught red-handed and a big part of her was glad to unburden her secret. For some reason Veronica, although a mother hen with her boys, also had a compassionate streak and seemed willing to hear her out. “Yes, of course. You see, I didn’t have a traditional childhood. My mother died when I was just a tot and my father...”
Bella explained everything, leaving nothing out. She told Veronica of her struggles with her father from an early age, of his smothering her, trying to run her life. She explained how she’d defied him when she’d married Paul and then refused to work at the company. Then, while she was still grieving, her father had pushed Ben Tolben on her. He was a very nice man who worked for Forte Foods. They’d had a few dates, but it was never serious and it never could be, yet Marco leaked to the press that they were getting engaged and it had all escalated after that. She concluded with describing the fight that had driven her from San Francisco, fearing that she’d lose her child.
Veronica asked a few questions and seemed satisfied with her answers, but she still wasn’t ready to dismiss her lying to Jared. “Why didn’t you tell Jared this?”
“I...I couldn’t. I haven’t been able to trust too many people in my life, especially when it comes to Sienna’s safety. She’s all I have in this world right now. The thought of her being taken away from me, well...I can’t even think about it without feeling sick to my stomach. I...was too scared. So, yes, I’m hiding out here, but I can assure you, what I feel for Jared is very real.”
“Yet you couldn’t trust him?”
“T-this hasn’t been e-easy for me,” she whispered. “I’m not a liar by nature.” Bella glanced at the monitor she held in her lap. Sienna was sleeping soundly, and tears formed in her eyes seeing her beautiful child looking so peaceful. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for Sienna. If it meant leaving Jared and Stone Ridge Ranch, she’d do it. She’d pack up her belongings and go, because keeping Sienna with her was her first priority. “I’m protecting my daughter.”
“And I’m protecting my son. You understand. I assume you know about Helene and the number she did on Jared?” She shook her head. “I can’t let that happen to him again. He’s a good man.”
“I know,” Bella said. “He is good. I care for him very much.”
Veronica closed her eyes briefly and drew a breath. “You have to know how appreciative I am that you saved my son’s life. And because of that, and the debt I owe you, I’m not going to tell Jared what I know.”
“Thank you,” Bella said softly, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.
“But I am going to insist that you do. Bella, you have to promise me you will tell him the truth, the sooner the better. If you don’t, I’ll be back here next week for Christmas and I won’t keep my mouth shut. You understand as a parent, I can’t let my son be led astray.”
“I’m not doing that. And yes, I promise you, I will tell him.”
“Sooner rather than later?”
“Yes, I’ll...I’ll try to find the right time.”
Veronica took her hand and gently squeezed. Her eyes softened in understanding. “Bella, don’t wait too long.”
“I promise, Veronica.” Several tears trickled down her face. This wasn’t an easy conversation and she surely didn’t want Jared’s mother to think the worst of her. She’d keep her promise and tell Jared the truth—and hope she wouldn’t lose the man she loved. “I’ll tell him soon.”
* * *
Bella hardly got a wink of sleep, and in the morning rose from bed exhausted and perplexed. She caught her reflection in the dresser mirror and groaned. It was not a pretty sight. Her body ached, probably
from tossing and turning. All night, she’d rehearsed what she would say to Jared and how she would implore him not to see what she’d done as a total betrayal. She’d have to make him see that, just like him, trust didn’t come easily to her. He should understand that.
She’d lay it all on the line and tell him what was in her heart and hope that would be enough. Up until this point, he seemed to be a reasonable man. Well, except for his crazy need for speed and danger. While he was recuperating, she really hadn’t seen that side of him, but she’d heard enough from his mother and brother about it, and how could she forget the accident?
She shook off the image and glanced down at her baby daughter on the bed. Just gazing at her angelic face was enough to make her forget all the bad stuff in her life. But Sienna’s nose was running and she looked pale and clammy this morning.
Bella immediately climbed back on the bed and laid her palm flat on Sienna’s forehead. The baby felt warm. Sneezing in her sleep, she nearly woke herself up, but Bella immediately tucked her in more cozily with the blanket.
Once she was sure Sienna was asleep, she walked into the other bedroom and texted Jared.
Sienna isn’t feeling well this morning. May have a fever. I won’t be down to make breakfast. Sorry.
She climbed back into bed with Sienna to keep a good eye on her, and not two minutes later heard soft knocking at her door. She padded to the door and opened it only inches.
Jared stood there, dressed in his usual jeans and blue chambray shirt, face unshaved and hair unruly. Her heart skipped but she was too concerned about Sienna to think about anything else. Still, Jared’s presence just had a way of disrupting her normal breathing patterns. “What’s wrong with the baby?” he whispered immediately.
“I’m not sure,” she answered, keeping her voice low. “She was fine last night. And this morning her nose is running and I think she has a fever.”
“You think?”
“Yes, she’s warm, but my baby thermometer is broken, so I’m not sure. Sorry about breakfast.”
Heart of a Texan Page 14