Taking Catie: The Temptation Saga: Book Three

by Hardt, Helen;

  “I say go for it. The kid doesn’t look anything like me. You know that. I go into Denver for a blood test, and she shows up three days later with the papers.

  “Well, it don’t take a genius to realize it’s forged. My PI, Larry—he’s the one who tracked you down, by the way—got the whole thing figured out in no time flat. Linda’s mother is a con artist and has been milking money out of unsuspecting people for years. She arranged for a shady doctor to perform the tests and fix the result. Once Larry uncovered that scam, I got a court order for another test, and of course this one came up negative.”

  “But the document said you were the father.”

  “You saw the first blood test. The forged one. The rest of the papers are in a different file, under Linda’s mother’s name, Dorothy Smith.”

  “Oh.” Catie’s cheeks warmed. She’d jumped to a very wrong conclusion, though anyone else would have thought the same. She faced Chad. “If he’s not yours, why did Linda call you?”

  “Yeah, that’s a fair question.” Chad took a bite of his croissant and a gulp of coffee. “Linda didn’t want to con me. It was her mother’s idea. But Linda was desperate, and she knew I had money. Little Jack, see, has a rare blood disorder called aplastic anemia. Linda needed money bad. She broke down crying when I called her on the phony test. Told me she’d never wanted to do it. Her mother had basically convinced her it was her only choice.”

  “What about Jack?”

  “I’m gettin’ to that. You see, little Jack was innocent in all this. He wasn’t mine, but I’d grown kind of fond of the little tyke. He’s right about the same age as Sean. It’d been a while since I’d done anything nice for anyone, and I thought about my ma. About how forgiving she always was, and very giving of her time and money to charitable causes. What would she have wanted me to do? So I decided to fund Jack’s treatment.”

  Catie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, Chad.”

  “But if you’re against it, we’ll stop. This is our decision now, not mine alone.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’d never ask you to take something away from a child. Never. He needs you. How is he doing?”

  “He’s well, thank goodness. It doesn’t cost so much now. It’s just checkups, to make sure he’s still okay. It cost quite a bit for the bone marrow donation and transplant last year. I send her a small amount each month for incidentals, and Linda calls me or IMs me when she needs something else.”

  Catie smiled. She hadn’t known she could love this man more than she already did. “It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing for Linda and Jack.”

  Jack chuckled. “I’m trying to imagine the surprise on Linda’s face when she found out I was married. No doubt she figured no one would ever rope me in.”

  “Yeah, well, you didn’t exactly want to be roped. It was an accident.” She signed and touched her belly. “An accident that’s now moot.”

  He touched her cheek. “I don’t want you to think of it that way. Yeah, the condom broke, but that wasn’t your fault or mine.”

  She sniffed. “You tried to make it my fault.”

  “I was a fool. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

  “I don’t know, Chad. Are there any more secrets? Anything more I need to know about? I know you haven’t lived like monk.”

  “No, I haven’t, but I’m willing to from now on.”

  “What?”

  “I mean, I’m willing to live in a sexually exclusive relationship. With you. My wife. My only love.”

  “Oh, Chad. Do you really love me?”

  “With all my heart.”

  Sunshine spread through Catie’s body, and she broke into tears.

  “Now come on. Don’t cry, sugar. I’m liable to think you don’t love me back.”

  “Oh, I love you back, Chad McCray. I’ve loved you for seventeen years.”

  He leaned forward and took her mouth in a searing kiss. When their waiter came by with more croissants and cleared his throat, Catie’s cheeks warmed.

  “So are you ever going to tell me your secret, little bit?”

  “Little bit? Please, Chad.”

  He laughed. “Okay, sugar. Now, about your secret.”

  “I have no idea what you’re referring to. I don’t have any secrets.”

  “That first night, at the Bullfrog, you said there was a reason you stayed away for four years. You said you’d tell me sometime. Now, sugar, a wife shouldn’t have any secrets from her husband.”

  Catie shook her head. “You haven’t figured that out yet?” She ruffled his hair. “You are dense.”

  “Was it because of me, sugar? Because of…that night in the gazebo?”

  She sighed. “Yeah, well, that night, and the previous ten years, I thought if I stayed away I’d get over you.”

  “Damn, you have no idea how much I wanted you that night.”

  “Yeah, I do. I know. Because I wanted you that much.”

  “I’m not sure you get it, Catie. You were still a baby to me, and there I was, having these feelings. Lusty feelings. I wanted to take you right there, and I didn’t much care if your daddy walked by. It felt all wrong to want you that way, but at the same time, it felt very, very right.”

  Catie’s mouth dropped open. “Really?”

  “I had no idea you were my destiny, sugar. No idea at all. I always knew you were a pretty thing, but that night, things changed. It…scared me.”

  Catie smiled. “The womanizing Chad McCray? Scared of a little eighteen-year-old girl?”

  “You brought me to my knees that night, sugar. If you hadn’t left the next day, I would have come back for you.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. But you did. And I thought that was your way of telling me you’d changed your mind. Part of me was angry. I hadn’t been able to sleep at all that night. But part of me was relieved. I was scared to death we’d do something you’d later regret. I thought it was better with you gone. We’d both be out of temptation’s way.”

  “You felt the same way when you saw me again when I returned, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah, I was still afraid we’d do something you’d regret. But I couldn’t help myself. I wanted you so badly, more than I ever wanted another woman. I was afraid you’d get hurt. You know me. I didn’t think I could commit.” He chuckled, shaking his head, playing with her fingers. “Who knew I’d fall madly in love with you?”

  Catie sighed. “Those have got to be the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.”

  “Well, sugar, you’re going to be hearing them a lot. Because I’m never going to get tired of saying them.” He took both her hands in his. “I love you, Catie Bay McCray. Now and always. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you and our children happy. You won’t regret marrying me. I promise you.”

  “Oh, Chad.”

  “And no more secrets between us. We tell each other everything, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “I just thought of the perfect wedding gift for you, too.”

  “What?”

  “One of those things old ladies wear around their necks to call for help, for when you fall all over your clumsy ass.” His eyes glittered with amusement.

  She broke into laughter. “I think I’ll be okay. Heck, if I can walk down that runway in a green bikini, I can do anything now.”

  “Something else, sugar. From now on, you wear that green bikini only for me.”

  “Chad, it wasn’t near as revealing as what Amber and some of the others wore.”

  “Maybe not. But you’re my woman. My wife. And those jewels of yours are for my eyes only now.”

  “Okay.” Her cheeks warmed.

  “You can tell those frisky Frenchmen to keep their paws off you, too. Like I told you that day in the stable, you’re mine and you always will be.”

  “Frisky Frenchmen?”

  “Yeah, that blond pretty boy had you in a tight clinch when I showed up. I nearly punched his lights out.”

  Catie laughed. “Christian
? And Dominic? Oh, Chad, that’s too funny.”

  “Nothing funny about it from where I’m standing. They can leave you well enough alone. Were either of them ever…more than friends, Catie? Did they insist that you come back here?”

  “They are wonderful friends, and they’d do anything in the world for me, but I swear to you, it’s nothing more than that.” She burst into giggles again.

  “What’s so damn funny?”

  “It’s just that…there could never be anything between me and either Christian or Dominic.”

  “Why not? You’re beautiful. The most beautiful woman in the world.”

  “They might actually agree with you, but it wouldn’t matter.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “They’re lovers, Chad. They’re gay.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “You guys are too much,” Catie said. “You don’t have to do this, especially since I’m already married.”

  “And miss the chance to put together a wedding for our good friend?” Dominic toyed with Catie’s veil. “We’d never forgive you. We live for this kind of thing.”

  “I’ve always wanted to get married in Notre Dame Cathedral,” Catie said. “Too bad the wait list is a mile long.”

  “My little chapel will be perfect, chérie.” He touched up her lipstick. “They’re very accommodating and not prejudiced at all. Chris and I are having our commitment ceremony there.”

  “Chad and I will be back for that in a couple months, I promise.” She pressed her lips together and Dominic blotted them on a hanky. “How is he doing, by the way?”

  “Chris is attending to your cowboy, now.”

  Catie laughed. “I bet Chad is seriously uncomfortable with that.”

  “Probably.” Dominic joined in the laughter. “But no one knows men’s fashion like Chris. Your homme will look magnifique. I have to tell you, Caitlyn, he is scrumptious.”

  “That he is.” She slapped Dom’s hand playfully. “And he’s all mine.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m mad about Chris. I’ve never gone for the Alpha cowboy type.” He sighed. “They are nice to look at, though.”

  “They certainly, are,” Catie agreed.

  Dominic grasped Catie’s shoulders, and his gaze met hers. “Tell me, Caitlyn, that this is what you want. This man.”

  She nodded. “He’s what I want, Dom. He’s all I’ve ever wanted. Since I was a little kid. And now he wants me, too.” She rubbed her tummy, a sway of sadness waving over her. “I wish I hadn’t lost our baby. But we’ll have more. A whole slew of ’em, Chad says.” She smiled. “My mama had several miscarriages between Harper and me. That’s why there’s such a difference in our ages.”

  “It is common, chérie. Come,” he said, taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his arm. “It is time to walk you down the aisle.”

  * * *

  She was a vision. A goddess. Chad’s pulse raced as Catie drifted toward him, veiled in gossamer cream. She clutched Dominic’s arm tightly. Next to him stood Christian, blond and dressed to the nines, as though he’d stepped out of a men’s fashion magazine.

  Catie flashed a radiant smile as Dominic handed her off to him. Chad leaned down and kissed her cheek, inhaling her fresh, clean aroma. Raspberries. God, how he’d missed her.

  No wedding night tonight. She had to heal from the miscarriage. How would he cope? He smiled to himself. He’d cope. He’d wait. His gorgeous Caitlyn Bay McCray, whom he loved more than life itself with a passion he never knew existed, was well worth it.

  Besides, she’d promised to take care of him. His tuxedo trousers tightened as he imagined those ruby lips touching all his intimate places.

  He should wait for her. A gentleman would. A gentleman would hold her and let her know she meant the world to him, and that he’d wait to make love until she could be a full participant.

  Course as he’d told her on many an occasion, he was no gentleman.

  Continue The Temptation Saga with Book Four: Taming Angelina

  Continue the The Temptation Saga with Book Four

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  Keep reading for an excerpt!

  Chapter One

  Long black lashes fringed eyes like perfect emeralds. Cheeks shimmered the color of the palest pink rose. Dark hair hung in two ponytails on either side of an oval face. The red-and-white gingham blouse tied below round breasts—with just a touch of cleavage showing—screamed country girl. The Daisy Dukes, long shapely legs, and fire-engine red toenails peeking out from strappy leather flip-flops screamed siren.

  Tall, too. He loved tall women. At six-three, he liked his women to fit his frame.

  His groin tightened. He’d never been immune to a pretty woman, and she was about as gorgeous as he’d seen—the perfect combination of innocence and heat, sparkle and sultry, virtue and corruption. How would those cherry lips feels against his own? Against…other places?

  The two ponytails that would be ridiculous on most women worked on her. Dark curls tumbled over each shoulder. He imagined her sans blouse, sans hair ribbons, that silky hair cascading over peachy-pink shoulders, rosy-tipped breasts.

  How it might feel between his fingers, brushing his chest…

  Good lord, she is beautiful.

  Then she spoke.

  “Hand, I’m looking for Rafe Grayhawk.”

  Hand? Not so beautiful inside. The derision in her tone was unmistakable. He fought the urge to ignore her. He was an employee here at McCray Landing. If this woman was looking for him, she probably had a reason.

  “I’m Rafe Grayhawk.”

  She whipped her hands to her round hips. “I hear you can teach me to ride.”

  Huh? Who is this woman anyway? She vaguely resembled his boss’s wife, though Catie was more refreshing, less “nose-stuck-in-the-air.”

  “I can teach anyone to ride, honey.” He eyed her up and down. “But not in that getup. Who are you, anyway?”

  “Angelina Bay. Catie’s sister. And don’t call me honey.”

  Rafe held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  She didn’t return the gesture. He dropped his hand back to his side.

  “I used to ride a little. I was rodeo queen quite a while ago. But I didn’t keep up with it. My daddy says if I’m going to own one of his ranches someday it’s high time I learned to ride decently. We don’t have any hands at our ranch who have the time or talent to teach me, in his opinion. Daddy wants the best. According to Chad McCray, you’re it.”

  “Why not ask your sister? She’s as good a rider as anyone.”

  “Clearly you haven’t heard the good news.” Angelina scuffed one sandaled foot in the dirt of the stall. “She’s expecting, and since she had a miscarriage the first time, she and Chad are being ridiculously overprotective this time.”

  Didn’t sound unreasonable to Rafe. His mother had struggled with miscarriages and his father had been very protective, but Angelina’s voice registered indignation over her sister’s decision to put her pregnancy first.

  Teach this piece of work to ride? Not in this lifetime.

  He turned back to the horse he was currying. “I’m afraid I can’t help you. McCray expects all his hands to put in forty hours a week here.”

  “I already okayed it through him. Didn’t I just say he said you’re the best to teach me? Sheesh.”

  Eye roll. He wasn’t looking at her, but he knew her pupils were curving upward against her lids.

  “Darlin’, you’ve got a sight to learn about askin’ for a favor.”

  “I’m not asking for a favor, hand. You’ll be well paid.”

  Hand again? Christ, I have a name. He turned and gazed into those eyes clear as the Mediterranean Sea. “Well paid, huh? Just how much constitutes ‘well paid’ to you?”

  “Fifty dollars an hour.”

  A fair price, for sure. Not worth it to put up with this prima donna, though.

  “Make it a hundred.”

  The porcelain hands dashed to her hips again.


  “A hundred? Are you kidding me? Fifty is the going rate around here.”

  “Then I’m sure you won’t have any problem finding someone else at that price. Nice meeting you.” He turned his back to her.

  “But Chad says you’re the best.”

  “The man speaks the truth.” Rafe smoothed the gelding’s dark mane.

  “Seventy-five is as high as I’ll go.”

  Rafe pursed his lips. Seventy-five dollars an hour would go a long way helping his father get out of that damned trailer park. For the last couple of years, Rafe and his brother, Tom, had been putting all their extra money towards a place in Arizona for Jack Grayhawk. Since the death of Rafe’s mother, his dad had been wasting away in that old dump. Though only fifty, he’d had to leave construction work after a debilitating injury to his hip. He could still get around, but work was out of the question. He drew a small disability pension, but it wasn’t enough. He also suffered from chronic asthma, and though Colorado weather wasn’t bad, the dryer Arizona weather and mild winters would be better. Yeah, this money would sure help. Rafe turned around and gazed at the slender woman. Spending time looking at Angelina Bay would be no hardship. Still, to put up with her attitude…

  “The price is a hundred. Take it or leave it.”

  “I’ll leave it.”

  The beauty turned on her heels and marched toward the door of the barn.

  Shit, I should have taken the seventy-five.

  He could have made life easier for his dad. Jack could take Lilia, the Mexican woman who’d kept house for him for the last five years, with him. Since Finola Grayhawk had passed on three years ago, Lilia cooked and cleaned in exchange for room and board in Rafe and Tom’s old room. Lilia had reduced her hours as a receptionist to part time to help keep house for Jack. The two would have had a wonderful new life in Arizona.

  Ah well, Rafe had no doubt saved himself a lifetime’s worth of headache. He put the currycomb down and grabbed the stiff bristle brush. This particular gelding, Adonis, loved the stiff bristle brush. Rafe started at the neck with short flicking motions. “That’s a good boy.”