Harlequin Romance September 2013 Bundle: Bound by a BabyIn the Line of DutyPatchwork Family in the OutbackStranded with the Tycoon

by Kate Hardy

  It was a stupid plan. Who ever visited someone in this kind of weather? Although it hadn’t been quite this bad when she’d made the decision to follow her sister’s advice, so at least she had that as a backup excuse.

  All she had come up with was something that was truthful, because she wasn’t capable of lying or devising a fake reason to visit. It was the Aboriginal family she was going to see. And if she happened to end up spending time with Harrison, then so be it.

  Katie had told her there were two children living on the ranch, probably a lot farther out, but still... She was the local teacher, and that meant she had an obligation to provide educational services to every child in the district.

  Poppy squinted into the distance, sure she could see someone headed her way. Now that she’d hit the dirt road, she hadn’t expected to encounter any other vehicles.

  She slowed down, worried about visibility. The oncoming vehicle wasn’t going too fast, but it flashed its lights at her. Was it Harrison?

  It was. His black truck was almost beside her, and she slowed even more. Now she felt like an idiot, and would likely end up mumbling a heap of nonsense when she came face-to-face with him. She’d come up with an excuse, but hadn’t expected to have to explain herself before she even reached the ranch.

  He stopped and wound down his window, and she did the same.

  “Hi,” she called out.

  “What are you doing out here?” Harrison called back, his hair wet and plastered to his face.

  She could see the kids in the back, and was embarrassed that she’d even come up with a plan at all just to see their dad. Their gorgeous, wet, handsome-as-hell father.

  “It seems kind of crazy, given the weather, but I wanted to call in on the family you have living on the ranch. I’m told the children are homeschooled and I wanted to see if there’s any way I can help them.”

  Harrison didn’t question her, even though she knew her face was burning. She guessed he couldn’t see the change in color through the rain.

  “We’ve had a flash flood, and with the ground this dry our river’s overflowing. Must be raining by the bucketload farther inland.”

  Yeah, really great timing on her part. “I’ll come back another time,” she said, wishing she’d never listened to her sister in the first place.

  “You wouldn’t be able to do me a huge favor, would you?”

  “Sure.” She was having to yell now, the rain was coming down so hard.

  “I want to get the kids to my folks so I can deal with the storm and move the cattle to higher ground. But I’m running out of time before the water gets too high.”

  Poppy didn’t need to be asked twice. “Get them in the back,” she called to him. “I’ll take them now.”

  “You sure?”

  “Of course.”

  At least she could be helpful. Might take his mind off the fact she’d decided to make a house call to a remote ranch in weather like this. She’d never even thought about the riverbed leading to the property, that it could be flooded.

  Harrison jumped out of his truck and grabbed Alex, putting him in the back of her car, then Katie.

  “Hey, kids,” she said.

  They just grinned at her, a little shy from not having seen her all week.

  “I owe you big time, again,” Harrison said, standing out in the gale.

  “It’s fine. Just get out of the rain and head back home.”

  He called out some instructions to her, gave her his parents’ address then turned around and drove toward the ranch.

  Poppy took a deep breath before turning her car around, too. “So do you guys know where we’re going?”

  “Yes,” said Katie. “It’s really easy.”

  She grinned at the children in her rearview mirror, checking that their seat belts were done up.

  So much for trying to seduce their father, if that’s what she’d actually been planning. She was much more capable of doing something with his kids.

  * * *

  They pulled up outside a sizable house not far from where Poppy lived. The town was small, so everything was relatively close, but they were on the outskirts and this house had to be the prettiest and nicest maintained of all the homes in Bellaroo Creek.

  “This is their place?” she asked.

  Katie nodded. “Yup.”

  Poppy pulled into the driveway, parking as close to the house as possible to avoid the kids getting too wet when they got out. “Okay, let’s go,” she told them, grabbing their overnight bag from the passenger seat and leaping out of the car.

  The front door was open before they even reached the porch. An older, attractive woman was waiting for them, her hair pulled back into a bun, gray but immaculate.

  “In you scoot,” she said, smiling at the children as they ran past her into the house. “And you must be Ms. Carter.”

  Poppy held out her hand. “To the children, yes. I’m Poppy.”

  “Nice to finally meet you after hearing so much about you this past week.”

  Hearing so much about her? “I hope it was only good things.” What else could she say in response to that?

  “Of course. Now, dear, I’d ask you in, but my son’s just phoned with a bit of an emergency. He wanted me to go, but...” The other woman sighed.

  Poppy’s heart sank. “Is he okay?” Surely his mom wouldn’t be standing making small talk with her if something terrible had happened?

  “Are you any good at delivering babies?”

  What? “Um, I can’t say I have any experience delivering babies, exactly, but I was my best friend’s birthing partner when she had both her children.”

  “Thank goodness.” Harrison’s mom reached out and touched her forearm. “Did Harrison ever mention the family living in one of the workers’ homes?”

  Poppy refused to blush, even though her entire plan about seeing Harrison had revolved around the family they were talking about. “Yes, it’s why I was heading to the ranch today. To see them.” She was getting a lot better at delivering her line.

  “Well, she’s gone into labor a few weeks early, and Harrison’s all in a flap, worried about her, even though I know for a fact her husband delivered her other two at home with no problems.”

  “So you’re asking me to go back and assist with the labor?” Poppy took a deep breath. “I mean, well...” She paused. What the hell did she mean? The woman was in the middle of nowhere during a storm, which meant she had no other choice but to be capable.

  “He said he’d meet me near the river, but I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see you instead. He’ll take you over the flooding in the helicopter.”

  This was actually happening. She had a legitimate reason to see him, to spend time with him, and she was so nervous her legs were in danger of buckling beneath her.

  “I guess this is another good way to become part of the community, right?” she managed to reply, trying not to let on how nervous she was. So much for the afternoon with Harrison that she’d hoped for.

  “That’s a girl. Now get in that car and drive safely.”

  Poppy was numb, but she smiled and walked back to the car. The only consolation was that she got to see Harrison again.

  CHAPTER NINE

  HARRISON HOVERED THE helicopter, going closer to the car than he had intended but needing to force her to stop. The weather conditions weren’t great, but he’d been up in worse and right now his primary concern was ensuring he didn’t put Poppy’s life in danger by letting her get too close to the river. He was guessing she’d offered to take his mom’s place in coming—either that or his mother had seen it as an opportunity to matchmake.

  He watched as Poppy stopped the vehicle but she didn’t get out straightaway and he wasn’t sure if she could see him waving to her or not. Even
though the rain was still pelting from the sky he decided to touch down, because the wind had died off and it was probably safest.

  Harrison jumped from the chopper once it was clear and ran toward Poppy. She climbed out of the vehicle when she saw him, coat held above her head, and he put his arm around her as they ran back. There was no point trying to talk until they were inside the helicopter.

  He opened her door, helped her up then ran around to his side, hauling himself up, shutting the door and turning to her.

  “Hell of a way we keep meeting,” he joked, pleased to see a smile on her face even though she was drenched.

  “I’m trying to convince myself this whole situation is character building,” she told him. “That’s the kind of thing I’d tell my pupils, anyway.”

  Harrison leaned over and helped her with the crossover seat belt, then passed her a headset. “Put this on. I have to get this bird up now while it’s safe, and we can keep talking through these.” He put his own on, then ignored everything else while he flicked switches and put them up in the air. He knew better than to let anything distract him when there was no margin for error.

  “I’ll take us close to the barn,” he told her as they went up and across the river. “My truck’s parked there.”

  “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.”

  Harrison glanced at her. “Are you okay?” The last thing he needed was her freaking out before they touched down. “We’ll be grounded in less than a minute.”

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, although her voice was wobbly. Even through the headset he could hear how panicked she was. “Just...” She didn’t finish her sentence.

  “This river is usually dry through this part of the year, but the heavy rainfall farther inland has pushed a lot of water down. The ground’s really dry right now, which is why it floods so quickly.” He was trying to soothe her, to take her mind off her worries. He loved being in the air, but knew plenty of people were terrified of flying. Especially in a helicopter. “Over winter we’re flooded in for a good few weeks sometimes, would you believe?”

  She wasn’t saying anything now, but he was hoping that listening to him had taken her mind off her fears.

  “Here we go, ready to land already.”

  Harrison brought the chopper down as steadily as he could, even though the rain lashing against them and the wind picking up again wasn’t making it easy. One of his ranch hands was waiting for them, running out, head tucked low, to assist. Harrison jumped out as soon as it was safe and went around to help Poppy out, holding her hand and running with her to his truck.

  “Give me a minute, okay?”

  He didn’t wait for her reply but bolted back to the helicopter as fast as he could, securing the rotors down with ropes they had at the ready and manhandling the cover over the cockpit.

  “Thanks, Chad,” he called out.

  His young ranch hand was soaked to the bone—they’d all been out far too long in the wet weather already—but he was jogging back over to him.

  “Hey, boss, Sally’s had her baby. Arrived while you were gone, and Rocky called it through on the sat phone.”

  Harrison indicated for him to join him in the barn. “She’s had it? Already?”

  “Yeah, Rocky went straight back to the cottage, just like you told him to, and he called to say it was their fastest baby yet.”

  “And they’ve got everything under control? They don’t need any help with...” he paused, running a hand through his wet hair “...I don’t know, women’s stuff?”

  “Yeah, he said they’re all good. Said he’d call you if they needed your mom.” The young man laughed. “Although I can see it’s actually your lady friend come to help.”

  Harrison glared at him, raising an eyebrow. “She’s not my lady friend, Chad. She’s the kids’ teacher.”

  He received another laugh in response and he shook his head. Clearly he’d been way too lenient with his young worker for him to tease him like that, especially about a woman.

  “Whatever you say, boss.”

  Harrison started to walk off, then spun around again. “What did they have?”

  “Little girl,” Chad called out, walking backward through the barn.

  “Hey, you guys may as well call it a day. Warm up and dry off before you catch a cold. And don’t forget to feed the dogs.”

  Harrison put his head down and ran for the vehicle. Now that the baby was safely delivered, there was no reason for Poppy to be here. But he had no intention of taking the helicopter up again, and the river was way too high to cross even in his truck.

  Which meant Poppy was stranded here for the night with him.

  He could see her sitting inside, watching him, until he yanked the door open and jumped in. “I have good news,” he said, smiling. Or at least he hoped she thought being stuck with him, and not having to help bring a baby into the world, was what she’d consider good news.

  * * *

  All Poppy could think about was how reckless she was being, listening to her heart instead of her head. Either reckless or stupid. She couldn’t decide which.

  The fact that, instead of looking pretty and serene, she was soaking wet and freezing cold, was running through her mind, too. She was stuck at Harrison’s ranch until she didn’t have a clue when, which meant she needed to get over her embarrassment at being here and looking like a drowned rat. Or at least start to believe the lie she was stating—that she’d headed in the direction of the ranch to see the family. The family whose baby she was also meant to have helped deliver.

  Arghh. Nothing about today had turned out as planned.

  “So how’s your dad doing?” she asked, unable to think of anything else to say.

  “Great. He’s doing great,” Harrison replied.

  They stayed silent again, as if he was as troubled for words as she was.

  “I’ll pull up right against the house,” he told her. “Although given how wet we are—” he looked at her and then down at himself “—I’m not sure it’s going to help any.”

  Poppy hadn’t dared to look at herself in the mirror, even while she’d been in the vehicle alone, because there wasn’t much she could do. Except perhaps rub any smudged mascara from beneath her eyes.

  “Okay, run whenever you’re ready. Just don’t slip on the brickwork.”

  If he hadn’t warned her, she probably would have done exactly that.

  Poppy moved quickly up the steps and into the shelter of the porch and Harrison was right behind her. His body knocked hers, pressing into her for a second before he slid back out of the way.

  “Sorry,” he said, pushing the door. “It’s not locked. I don’t think anyone would bother to burgle us.”

  She laughed, but it came out all nervous sounding. She seriously needed to get a grip. Poppy focused on walking into the house, waiting for Harrison to flick on the lights, before realizing she was making a puddle on the floor. Thank goodness she’d had a coat on to keep her top relatively dry, but her lower legs were soaked and she sure wasn’t going to strip off her pants.

  “I’m making your floor all wet.”

  “Ditto.” Harrison laughed, but at least he had wet-weather gear on. “I’m going to hit the shower and change clothes. Is there anything I can get you? You know where the main bathroom is if you want to grab a shower, too.”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m good. I’ll just...” What? She wasn’t exactly sure what she was going to do. “You go have a shower and I’ll try to dry off.”

  Poppy watched as he peeled off his jacket, sweater and socks, rolled up the bottoms of his jeans then crossed the room and disappeared.

  “I’ll crank up the fire, make it warmer in here,” he called out.

  Hopefully, it would warm enough for her to dry out quickly, because she wanted to take as few
clothes off as possible. She stood, listening to him putting logs on the fire, hearing the flames hiss, then his footfalls as he walked to his bathroom. She stripped off her shoes and socks, removed her sweater and carried them all into the living room. Water was still dripping from her jeans, so she rolled up the denim.

  At least she had her handbag, although it held only tissues, lip gloss and some mascara. Maybe some old mints, too, if she was lucky, but probably not much else.

  On second thought, maybe she should use the bathroom. She could tidy up a little, try to wring some of the water from her jeans and make sure her tank top wasn’t indecently tight. Not that she had any other options if it was, given that she’d never planned on anyone seeing it.

  If her mobile phone worked out here, she could have called her sister for a pep talk, a confidence boost, but technology wasn’t her friend in Bellaroo.

  She heard the pipes groan and then go silent. Which meant Harrison was out of the shower.

  It also meant she didn’t have long before she had to face him...for the rest of the night.

  * * *

  Harrison could hear Poppy in the living room. He pulled his shirt on and started walking, finding her standing in front of the fire and looking at some photographs on the mantel.

  “Warming up?”

  “Yeah,” she replied, turning to face him.

  She was beautiful; he couldn’t deny it, even if he was trying to stop thinking about her like that. After their kiss...

  He pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter how much he liked her; it wasn’t a possibility. Which meant he had to treat her like the friend she was and nothing else.

  “Is this your wife?” she asked.

  “Ex,” he snapped, instantly wishing he hadn’t answered quite so quickly or with such a bitter tone.

  “She’s beautiful,” Poppy said, still staring at the photo. “And it’s nice that you keep a photo here after, well, you know. I’m sure it was difficult.”

  Yeah, he knew. “It’s not the kids’ fault that she left, but she still brought them into this world.” He paused, watching Poppy. “I’ll never understand how she did it, but now when I think about it, I’d like to believe she wanted to give them a better life. That maybe she did it for them, because she couldn’t be the mom she thought they deserved.”