by Linda Turner
Changing the subject by mutual consent, they spent the rest of the call talking about Rocky’s new flying service and what was going on with the rest of the family. She didn’t tell him about the baby—she wasn’t ready for the questions that would bring down upon her head—and when she hung up a few minutes later with a promise to keep in touch, she was smiling. But that didn’t last long. What could have possessed her father to sell shares to Monica?
“Problems?”
Lost in her musings, she blinked and looked up to find Lucas peering around her office door. She forced a smile, but it was obviously strained. “Nothing that I can’t handle. Come on in. Everything okay at the clinic?”
“Yeah. The after-lunch crowd will be arriving soon, but I’ve still got a few minutes.” Leaving the door open, he strode across to her desk and sank into the chair he’d occupied earlier, his sharp eyes immediately noting how she stared distractedly down at the food that only moments ago had tempted her. Cursing the phone call that had destroyed the mood between them, he tried to tell himself that whatever now had her in a blue funk was none of his business—but it was his business when she didn’t eat. And that affected his baby. Frowning, he asked bluntly, “Did your brother call with bad news?”
“What?”
“The phone call,” he said, prodding her. “Was it bad news? You seem to be off on another planet.”
She hesitated, then shrugged, her smile crooked. “Sorry. You know how family is—they call you about things you’ve got no control over, then leave you to stew on it all day. It’s nothing. I hope,” she added under her breath.
“You know, I’ve been told I’m a damn good listener. If you need someone to talk to, I’m all ears. Sometimes it helps to dump it on someone else.”
With a will of their own, her eyes dropped to his shoulders. They were broad and strong enough to shoulder any burden. A woman could confide in a man with shoulders like that, a man who could wrap an arm around her and make the world go away. Given the chance, she might have laid her head against his chest and told him anything.
Before she could stop herself, she said, “My father has agreed to sell more shares in Fortune Cosmetics to Monica Malone.”
He arched a dark brow in surprise and whistled softly. “Seems like I read something about her a while back, in the business section. Isn’t she already the largest nonfamily stockholder? And your father’s selling her some of the family’s holdings? Is that wise?”
“No, but there doesn’t appear to be any reasoning with him. Adam’s furious. He can’t understand what’s gotten into him, and Dad’s not talking.”
“Does your father usually explain his decisions to the family?”
“No, but we could lose the company over this one.”
“If he sells enough to give Monica a controlling interest,” he pointed out. “Do you really think he’d do that?”
No. She didn’t even have to think about that. Jake might be infuriating at times, but he was as sharp as a scalpel when it came to business. And he despised Monica Malone. There was no way he’d hand the company over to her on a platter.
“No,” she said, giving him a relieved smile. “Of course not. I don’t know what I was thinking of. I guess Adam just caught me by surprise.”
“From what I’ve heard about your father, he’ll still be wheeling and dealing when he’s in his nineties,” Lucas said dryly. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Rocky felt the same way, but just hearing him say it made her feel better. And that bothered her more than she cared to admit. He was an easy man to talk to, to confide in, and she couldn’t make the mistake of turning to him for emotional support every time she felt the need. Because there was no future for the two of them. Not now. Not ever.
Eight
It seemed Lucas had barely left to return to the clinic before he was back again. Going over the Cessna to make sure everything was in order before she took up a real estate broker and his client, who were interested in checking out a nearby ranch that was for sale, Rocky didn’t even notice him until she turned around and almost tripped over him.
Surprised, she could do nothing to stop the quick smile of pleasure that sprang to her lips. “What are you doing here? I thought you had patients this afternoon.”
“Only a few—just the usual colds and flu. I heard you were going up and thought I’d go along…if you’ve got room for an extra passenger.”
Puzzled, Rocky couldn’t believe he was serious. “Well, of course we’ve got room, but this isn’t a medical emergency. And what about the clinic? Shouldn’t you be there in case you’re needed?”
“I won’t be completely out of touch,” he assured her. “You’ve got a radio on board. Mary can call Charlie if anything comes up, and he can notify us.”
He had it all worked out. And the more Rocky thought about it, the more she didn’t like the sound of it. She was a firm believer in coincidence, but his showing up here by chance just when she was in the middle of a preflight check and getting ready to go up was just a little too pat for her to swallow.
Her dark brows knitting into a frown, she checked to make sure her customers were out of earshot, then asked suspiciously, “How’d you know I had paying customers? I didn’t know it myself until they showed up here fifteen minutes ago, wanting to charter the Cessna.”
He shrugged—and avoided her searching gaze. “Just lucky, I guess.”
“Lucky my aunt Fanny,” she retorted. “It was Charlie, wasn’t it? He called you, didn’t he? Just wait till I get my hands on him—”
“Hold it,” Luke growled, grabbing her arm before she could hunt the older man down and read him the riot act. “This was my idea, not Charlie’s, so don’t go raking him over the coals for something I did. I asked him to call me every time you got a call to fly so I could go along to make sure nothing happened to you.”
Touched, yet indignant over his high-handedness, Rocky wanted to believe his overprotective-ness stemmed from true caring. But he’d never mentioned how he felt about her, and she was afraid this was just a need on his part to control her.
Disappointed and alarmed—when had she started to need him to care?—she shook off his hold. “I won’t have you interfering in my life this way,” she grumbled. “I don’t care what kind of a deal you made with Charlie, I don’t need a baby-sitter when I fly. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, so you might as well go on back to your clinic. The answer is no. You’re not going up with us.”
“Then I’ll just have to tell those two dudes over there that you’re pregnant and get vertigo when you fly,” he snapped. “Before you know it, the word’ll get around town and you won’t be able to pay a customer to go up with you.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Watch me.”
They stood toe-to-toe, nose-to-nose, glaring at each other like two kids in a schoolyard. If she wasn’t so furious, Rocky would have laughed. But there was nothing comical about his threat. He would do it. She only had to look in those hard, determined eyes of his to know that he meant what he said. With a few well-chosen words, he could completely ruin her business before it ever got off the ground. Literally.
“That’s blackmail,” she said stiffly.
He shrugged, unconcerned. “So sue me.”
“Don’t push me, Doc. For two cents, I just might do that.”
“Go ahead, sweetheart, and see how far it gets you. No jury in this country is going to condemn a man for looking out for the welfare of his unborn child and its mother.”
He was right, and she knew it. “Damn you, Lucas, I’m pregnant, not sick! You don’t have to hover around me like I’m going to collapse any second. I’m as healthy as a horse.”
Sensing victory, he grinned. “I’m glad to hear it. I’d hate for the pilot to lose her lunch while we’re up in the air. When do we take off?”
Beaten, secretly welcoming his company, she had no choice but to give in as graciously as she cou
ld manage. “We are leaving in about fifteen minutes. And I guess there’s room for you to go along. This time. But don’t think you’re going to get in the habit of following me around like a watch dog,” she warned. “It’s not going to happen.”
“Whatever you say, honey,” he said with an innocence that didn’t fool her for a second. “I aim to please.”
She snorted at that and went back to her preflight check, leaving him to introduce himself to the other two passengers, which he had no trouble doing. Within minutes, the three men were laughing and talking like old friends, which, for some perverse reason, irritated her no end. What was so funny, anyway?
Finishing the last-minute check and finding everything in order, she sighed, releasing the tension in her jaw, and forced a smile as she turned to face her customers. “Okay, gentlemen, we’re ready to go. You can board now. Mr. Haggendorf, why don’t you take the passenger seat in the front, so you can see better?” she suggested, since he was the buyer interested in the ranch they would be flying over. “If you’ll take the seat behind him, Mr. Smith,” she added to the Realtor, “you can point out items of interest.” That left the seat directly behind her for Luke.
He took it without a word of complaint, and within seconds, everyone was buckled in and she had the Cessna racing down the runway. It was a cold day, but perfect for flying. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the winds were light. Ordinarily Rocky would have lost herself in the freedom of it, but all her attention was focused on Lucas. Even though he carried on an easy conversation with the other two men, she could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move. Just as if she were going to toss her cookies any second, she thought in growing resentment. And what would he do if she did? Take the controls? Not bloody likely!
Automatically circling the property Mr. Haggendorf was interested in so that he could get a better look at it, she silently cursed herself for knuckling under to Lucas’s little blackmailing scheme. She’d wimped out, she thought in disgust, steaming. Just like she had with Greg. Except with Greg, she’d given in most of the time just to keep the peace. With Lucas, she’d really wanted him with her. And for no other reason than that, she should have called his bluff, dammit. Just because she was carrying his baby didn’t mean he had the right to push his way into her life. And she was going to tell him so just as soon as they landed and she got him to herself.
Mr. Haggendorf, however, was in no mood to land anytime soon. Instead of just inspecting one ranch, he and the Realtor had a whole list they wanted to inspect from the air, and Rocky could hardly complain since they were paying very well for the service. It took hours, and not once over the course of the afternoon did Charlie radio her that Lucas was needed back at the clinic. By the time she returned all three men to the landing field, she was tired, her back was hurting her, and it seemed to take all her energy just to summon a smile when Richard Smith, the Realtor, paid her and promised to call on her again whenever he had someone interested in the large ranches in the area.
“I can be ready to go within an hour’s notice,” she promised him as she handed him a receipt for payment. “Just give me a call.”
Lucas, hovering protectively by her side, noticed the shadows under her eyes and said quietly as soon as they were alone, “Are you okay? You look a little tired.”
It was obviously the wrong thing to say. “Don’t start with me, Doc,” she growled, whirling on him like a tornado. “You’re damn right I’m tired. My back hurts, I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week, and I’m so mad at you I’d like to string you up by your toes.”
“Me?” he squeaked innocently. “What’d I do?”
“Don’t give me that wide-eyed little-boy look. You know exactly what you did. And I’m not going to put up with it. Do you hear me?” she demanded, punching him in the chest. “You can’t wrap me in cotton and set me on a shelf like I’m some kind of china doll. I didn’t let Greg do that, and I won’t let you—”
“Greg,” he cut in tersely. “So that’s the bastard’s name. I was wondering. So what did he do to you?”
She rolled her eyes in exasperation, wanting to shake him. “See? There you go again. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. I handled the jerk all by myself, and I can handle you.”
“You can try, honey,” he agreed soothingly, fighting a smile. Capturing her hand against his chest, Lucas wisely decided not to argue with her. But it was damn difficult when he thought of her handling any man but himself. God, where was this damn jealousy coming from?
“I’m not your honey,” she grumbled as she struggled to free her hand, then gave up in defeat and left it where it was against his heart. “You have no rights at all where I’m concerned.”
“Not a one,” he agreed, lying through his teeth. “C’mon, sweetheart, it’s just about quitting time. Why don’t I take you home—”
“I can’t. I have to help Charlie close up shop for the night.”
“No, you don’t,” the mechanic growled from the open door of her office. “I’m not so old that I can’t do it by myself every once in a while, and you look like a whipped puppy. Go home and put your feet up before you fall on your face.”
She hesitated, and Lucas could practically see the struggle going on inside her. Lord, she hated showing weakness, especially in front of him. He’d never met her grandmother Kate, but he had a feeling she was a lot like her. Strong and independent and stubborn as a cuss. Why had he never realized before how much he liked that in a woman?
“What’s it going to be, Rock?” he asked softly. “The call’s yours.”
She shouldn’t. She had responsibilities, and she couldn’t put them off on Charlie just because she was tired. But just the thought of sitting down somewhere and putting her feet up sounded like heaven.
Before she could stop herself, she heard herself tell Charlie, “Tomorrow you can leave early, and I’ll do the closing up.”
“The hell I will,” he growled. “You can close up for me the day I’m pregnant, and not until then. Now go on with you,” he scolded, shooing her toward the door. “I’ve got work to do.”
“You heard the man,” Lucas chuckled. Grabbing her coat from the old-fashioned hat rack standing in the corner, he hustled her into it. “Time to go home. Where are your keys?”
“Here,” she said, and pulled them from her pocket.
Lucas promptly snatched them from her hand. “I’ll drive. And don’t give me any lip about it, Miss Independence,” he warned when she opened her mouth to protest. “I know you can take care of yourself and do anything a man can and more, but just humor me tonight, okay? Just this once? Please?”
When he looked at her like that, she could no more resist him than a compass could resist magnetic North. Lord, she was in trouble. Feeling her resistance start to melt, she gave him a stern look. “All right. Just for tonight. But this isn’t going to become a habit, Lucas.”
“I totally agree,” he fibbed, steering her out of the hangar and over to where her car was parked on the south side of the building. “Next time you get to baby me.”
She laughed. He was teasing, of course, but there was nothing funny about the tantalizing images that stirred to life in her head. All too easily, she could see herself catering to his every whim, pampering him—not because she had to or he expected it, but because she wanted to. Because he was just as solicitous of her. Because she was beginning to care much more than she should.
Her heart pounding at the thought, she let him bundle her into her car, fasten her seat belt and drive her home without a word of protest. The next time she looked up from the fantasy which was becoming more and more appealing, they were parked in her driveway and he was patiently holding the passenger door for her, his eyes dark and searching as he watched her.
“Oh!” Hot color firing her cheeks, she fumbled for the release to her seat belt. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t noticed…. I mean, I was daydreaming—uh, vegging out. I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”
“
No problem,” he said with a knowing smile. “You look like you could use a hot bath. C’mon in, and I’ll run you one.”
She should have protested, but the words just wouldn’t come. So while she collected her gown and robe, Lucas started the water in the old-fashioned claw-foot tub, poured in her favorite bath oil and lit candles.
Stopping at the sight of the seductive scene he’d created, Rocky felt her heart start to pound. The bathroom looked like something out of a dream. It was already growing dark outside, but he’d switched off the overhead light, leaving the candles to create a warm glow. Steam rose from the tub, and on the air floated the low, mellow sounds of one of her favorite Tony Bennett tapes. Surprised—how had he known?—she looked around and found her cassette player on the vanity.
“I found it in the kitchen,” he said, following her gaze. “I thought the music might help you relax.”
Relax? She almost choked as her nerves tightened in anticipation. How could she relax when she wasn’t quite sure why he was here? “Lucas, this is all very nice of you—”
“But you don’t need my help from here on out,” he finished for her, grinning. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to offer to scrub your back. Maybe next time.” Catching her off guard, he leaned down and brushed her mouth with his. “Take your time,” he said huskily. “I’ll scrounge around in the kitchen and see what I can whip us up for supper. Holler if you need anything.”
He was gone before she could get her thundering heart back under control, quietly shutting the door behind him. Staring after him at the closed door, Rocky drew in a deep, settling breath. If this was his idea of pampering, she might be in trouble. Because from what she had seen so far, it was definitely something she could get used to.
Later, she had no idea how long she’d stayed in the tub. Immersed up to her shoulders in the steaming, fragrant water, she felt the tension seep out of her tired bones and laid her head back against the rim of the tub with a contented sigh. With her eyes closed and Tony Bennett crooning in her ear, she might have lain there for hours. But then the water began to cool. She stirred and caught the scent of something fabulous coming from the kitchen. Just that quickly, she was ravenous.