Claimed by the Rancher--A scandalous story of passion and romance

by Jules Bennett

  Something inside him had been damaged when Pepper left. If he had it to do over, he’d...hell, he didn’t know what he’d do. They were both so different now, yet the familiarity...the aching want and need...was still simmering beneath the surface. Now they were thrown together, on borrowed time, but after this marriage they’d go back to being single. And he’d be in this big, empty home he’d built with no wife, no family. That was what he wanted, right?

  Hadn’t he said something to Pepper about a lonely life? He was the poster child.

  Nolan rose to his feet. “Hayes will be home next week.”

  “I went by to see Dad earlier and told him. He was having a better day but wasn’t sure who I was.”

  Their father was in and out of touch with reality—more out than in. But some days he recognized his sons. He often recalled their names but never put them with their faces.

  “He remembered Hayes, but he thinks we’re all in grade school,” Colt added somberly.

  “Maybe once Hayes goes to see Dad he will be having a good day. I’d hate for him to come home and catch him at a bad time for the first visit.”

  Hayes had been overseas for over a year now. He was finally getting out of the military and planning on farming for the time being. His house was back on the east side of the ranch and was the original Elliott home. It needed some renovations, but Nolan figured his brother would work on that as a way to keep busy because he wasn’t the man he used to be. That much had been evident the last time he was home from a tour of duty.

  “I’ve already blocked off some time next week,” Nolan said. “I plan on being around more the first few days he’s home.”

  “Good. He won’t like us hovering, but he’s always different when he’s home and trying to acclimate back into the civilian world.”

  Colt fell into step beside his big brother as they headed out of the stable. “Did you come down to ride or to tell me about your marriage?”

  “Both.” Nolan pulled in a deep breath and glanced up at the orange-and-pink-streaked horizon. There was nothing like a sunset on the ranch. “But I’m going to head home. I can’t keep avoiding this marriage.”

  Which meant neither could she.

  * * *

  Pepper had soaked in the oversize garden tub and enjoyed the wide window overlooking a portion of the ranch. Pebblebrook was the most beautiful piece of land she’d ever seen, and she’d done quite a bit of traveling.

  She loved it all—the lush green grass, the brook winding through the property, the livestock dotting the horizon, the ever-present cowboys who worked here. The Elliott men were big, strong, handsome guys, but the stable hands were something to admire, too. They were in their forties, but farm life kept them in great shape.

  Feeling more relaxed, Pepper slid into a simple sundress. She wouldn’t mind continuing her evening of leisure by having some lemonade on the porch swing, but Nolan was around here somewhere. She wasn’t quite sure she was ready to face him after that kiss.

  If he didn’t keep his hands and his lips off her, she didn’t know if she’d be able to stop herself next time.

  Pepper opted to take a stroll through the house instead. After all, shouldn’t she get the lay of the land since she was now Mrs. Elliott? She wanted to see the finished product of their vision. They’d discussed so many details, yet this all seemed so new. Never once had she stopped to consider Nolan might actually go ahead with the plans they’d made.

  When they’d played around with house designs, they’d discussed their future. Having kids had been a nebulous dream, but the realistic side of life had kicked them when she miscarried, ultimately driving an immovable wedge between them.

  Pepper’s heart tightened as she made her way down the wide hallway. Nervous about creeping through Nolan’s house, she toyed with the foreign ring on her finger. Everything was so fresh yet so familiar. She’d seen these plans on paper, but had he changed much from their original vision?

  She poked her head in the other bedrooms on this floor. They were all simply decorated in that muted, classy style. No doubt he’d hired a decorator to complete the home—a job she would’ve taken on had this been her place from day one. She would’ve splashed more color on the walls, accented with patterns and textures. And rugs. Mercy, this place needed some life.

  After she closed the door on the last guest room, her eyes were drawn to the end of the hall where Nolan’s master suite called to her. Her pulse quickened. Should she go inside? She had no rights here and he’d not given her the green light to explore.

  Then again, she hadn’t given him the go-ahead to kiss her, either, but he hadn’t waited around for permission.

  Squaring her shoulders, Pepper crossed the hall and didn’t hesitate when her fingers closed over the knob. She turned it beneath her hand and opened the door. Her eyes instantly landed on the massive king-size bed occupying the middle of the floor, as if taking center stage.

  A wide wall of windows with double doors in the middle to the patio took up the far wall. The room was identical to hers except for the layout of the decor and furniture.

  An image of the two of them entangled in those sheets as they watched the sunrise flooded her mind.

  Pepper moved farther into the room, transfixed by the fictitious scene. Her body responded, from memories of his touch or from the recent kiss, she wasn’t sure. But this room smelled like him, all woodsy and masculine. The dark furniture screamed wealth and the navy bedding was so simple, yet she could see Nolan spread out with his sculpted shoulders and—

  The bathroom door opened. Pepper jerked her gaze from the bed to the man in the steamy doorway. A man who wore nothing but dots of water glistening over taut skin stared back at her.

  He propped one shoulder against the door frame as if he didn’t care at all that he stood before her completely naked. Granted, Nolan had nothing to be ashamed of. If she’d thought that body was spectacular before, it was now a work of art.

  “Decide to consummate the marriage after all?” he drawled.

  His question pulled her attention back to his face. Her entire body heated at the way he stared back at her. So much raw desire and want and need, and with her hormones all over the place, she was barely hanging on.

  “I—I was just looking around.”

  Nolan moved across the room, never taking his eyes off her. Pepper’s heart kicked up as she tipped her head back to meet his gaze.

  “In my bedroom, Pepper?” he asked in that low, husky tone.

  There were too many things to take in all at once: the fresh, crisp scent from his shower, the heat that seemed to radiate off his bare body, the fact that said bare body was now inches from hers and the way he continued to look at her as if she were already his.

  If he touched her now, she would not be responsible for her actions. She couldn’t even lie to herself and pretend to be strong. No matter what her mind said, her heart yearned desperately for him.

  “I was just looking around and—”

  “When you say looking around, you mean at my bed? Because I saw your face. Were you daydreaming? Maybe about forgoing this agreement not to sleep together?”

  Pepper willed herself to get control of this situation, but it was rather difficult when someone like Nolan was so...everything. He was overpowering, demanding in that confident, primal way.

  “Whatever thoughts I have or don’t have are none of your concern.”

  He trailed a fingertip up her bare arm, over her collarbone, and down the V of her dress. She couldn’t suppress the tremble.

  “I’d say they’re very much my concern when I’m standing here naked and you’re imagining yourself in my bed.”

  Eight

  Nolan didn’t care that he was pushing her. She’d stepped into his domain, so he considered her free game. Those wide eyes never
wavered from his.

  Undoubtedly he could spin her around and have her on his bed. He wasn’t giving up on seduction, but he also wanted to be respectful. He’d ultimately started this marriage process as a way to give Pepper the family she’d always wanted. There was no point in rushing things. He had time to take her to bed because she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

  “This was a mistake.” She turned to go but stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “I’d rather do this on my own than have you mock me. Yes, I’m attracted to you—that was never our problem. So, if you want to revisit the past, I suggest you start opening up about why you abandoned me after all we’d been through.”

  Nolan didn’t get a chance to respond before she strode from the room. He grabbed a pair of shorts that were folded on top of his dresser and hopped into them as he headed down the hall. He caught her bedroom door with a firm grip a second before she could slam it in his face.

  “You want to talk about the past?” he said, storming into her room. “What do you want me to say, Pepper? That I handled things poorly? That I—”

  She whirled around, her face flushed. “I don’t know what I want! Apologizing won’t change anything and I know we’re different now, but...”

  Pepper reached up and rubbed her forehead. The way she squeezed her eyes shut had Nolan rushing forward. She swayed slightly.

  “Pepper.”

  She opened her eyes but didn’t focus on him. Alarm shot through him, but that turned to full-on terror when she collapsed. He reached out just in time to keep her from falling to the floor.

  The doctor in him kicked in, but the man who cared for her threatened to take over. What the hell had caused her to pass out? Was something wrong with the baby?

  He scooped her up in his arms, then gently laid her down on her bed and smoothed her hair back from her face. Her face was still flushed and a sheen of perspiration covered her forehead. He rushed to the bathroom to get a cold cloth and then came back. After placing it on her forehead, he checked her pulse. Strong and steady.

  The stress must be getting to her. The fire, the custody issue...him. He hadn’t made things exactly easy for her by goading her. If something happened to this child, Nolan would never forgive himself. Pepper would never forgive him.

  Her lids fluttered, and Nolan eased down on the bed beside her. She opened her eyes and glanced around the room, then blinked and focused in on him.

  “You passed out,” he told her. “Don’t try to move, darlin’. Just lie here a minute.”

  Her hands went to her stomach.

  “I caught you,” he informed her. “Have you fainted before with this pregnancy?”

  “One other time,” she admitted, taking the cloth from her head and attempting to sit up. “I’m okay. I think I just need to eat.”

  “You haven’t had dinner? You can’t be that careless at a time like this. You’re already under too much pressure and that’s not good for the baby.”

  She glared at him. “Really? I wasn’t aware of the obvious.”

  Damn it. He was still panic-stricken and beside himself with worry from seeing her go down, and now she mocked him. Perfect. Just perfect. Wasn’t this some wedding night to remember?

  “No, I didn’t eat. I took a bath to relax me and I was going to go downstairs and find something when I decided to take a tour.”

  “To my bedroom.”

  Her eyes turned to slits. “Your ego is out of control. I wasn’t even aware you were home, so don’t flatter yourself.”

  She might not have been aware he was home, but when he’d stepped out of his shower buck naked, she hadn’t made a move to leave his room or to avert her eyes. That in itself spoke volumes.

  “Stay here. I’ll bring up something.”

  “I can get it.”

  Nolan stood up and stared sternly down at her. “No. You’ll stay right here.”

  “I’m not playing the role of the dutiful wife.”

  Placing a hand on either side of her hips, Nolan leaned down. “Darlin’, you’re far from dutiful where I’m concerned. But you’re in no shape to go downstairs and cook. I’ll get something quick and bring it back. Stop arguing.”

  As he turned to go, her softly spoken words stopped him. “Why are you doing this?”

  He prided himself on being truthful when at all possible. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he replied gruffly, “Because I wasn’t there for you before. This may not be my child, but I have to make it up to you somehow. I’m sorry I left you to handle the grief alone, but I’m trying to do right by you now.”

  “Actions from guilt won’t erase the past,” she countered.

  “No, but I’ll be damned if anything is going to happen to you or your baby. No matter what I have to pay for the custody dispute or how I have to care for you here, I’ll do it.”

  He turned and walked out before he could say anything else that would betray his emotions. He wasn’t quite sure what to even label them, but once words were said, they couldn’t be taken back. So Nolan opted to remain quiet and concentrate instead on caring for her.

  Pepper was his wife, which meant right now her child was his. No, not literally, but in his view, they were his to care for, to protect. This wasn’t the best mind-set to be in, but considering the choices that had been made thus far, this was where he stood. He couldn’t deny he wanted her with him. And that went beyond merely wanting to shield her from harm. He wanted to see if that old spark, the one that still simmered between them, was real.

  He already knew the answer to that.

  Maybe he should take some time off in addition to the days next week. He had more than enough saved up and with Hayes coming home from overseas, now would be a good time to take a break. Besides, someone needed to look after Pepper, whether she wanted to admit it or not. And, heaven help him, he was the only man for the job.

  * * *

  Five days had passed since she’d fainted and she’d purposely taken better care of herself. She didn’t want to rely on Nolan any more than necessary.

  He’d worked the next three days and then informed her he’d be off. Wonderful. Just what she needed. Time alone with her husband wasn’t something she was exactly looking forward to. The temptation was much too strong.

  As Pepper pulled into the drive of her temporary home, she glanced to the black-and-white images lying in her passenger seat. Images of her baby boy.

  Nothing could spoil this day. She’d been counting down the days till she found out the sex of her baby. Now that it was confirmed she was having a boy, she wanted to focus on getting ready for her son’s arrival. A wave of anticipation rippled through her as she envisioned getting back to her apartment and setting up a fun nursery with paintings she’d done herself. Maybe she’d put a mural on the wall over his crib.

  But then reality set in. The contractor wasn’t done with her apartment and she wasn’t going to be living there anytime soon anyway. She’d yet to hear from the attorney and everything in her hoped the Wrights would just drop this case.

  That was wishful thinking.

  Colt led his horse from the stable as she passed by. Since she made eye contact, she threw up a hesitant hand in an awkward wave as she drove on. Odd to just wave as if they were truly family or friends. She hadn’t had a face-to-face conversation with him since being here. Granted, he was busy and, well, she was doing everything she could to avoid bumping into her husband.

  She stayed after at her shop to paint and make new arrangements to replace some that had sold. So far Painted Pansies was thriving. Mostly people strolled through to see what the new shop had to offer, which was fine. She hoped they’d come back and tell their friends, drumming up more business.

  Maybe she should plan an open house. Something after hours for those who worked. Definitely something to consider. A glim
mer of hope coursed through her for the first time since she’d moved in. She knew that focusing on positive aspects of her life was what would help her get through this tumultuous time.

  Eventually she would have her life just the way she’d dreamed. But she had to tread carefully here because giving in to her attraction to Nolan would only derail her plans.

  Pepper parked in the driveway and went into the house through the garage door. All of Nolan’s vehicles were in the garage, but that didn’t mean he was home. He often went out on his horse or four-wheeler and lately he’d been at Hayes’s house making sure everything was ready for his brother’s return. She preferred when he was out because he tended to hover whenever he was nearby. Not that she was unappreciative...he had truly gone above and beyond to make her feel comfortable. He had his chef come in every other day to make up meals so Pepper didn’t have to do a thing. She even had lunches prepared so Pepper could take them to work.

  Nolan had thought of everything, but they’d still not resumed their heated conversation from the other day. Would he apologize for how he’d treated her? He was obviously a different man now. Perhaps becoming a doctor had changed him, or maybe her leaving had. Of course, that was her broken heart talking.

  When she’d left, she’d waited for him to reach out, to call her back and tell her they’d work through everything and they’d be all right. That never happened and she’d finally had to push through the pain and realize that life without Nolan was her new reality. She’d made plans without him—she wouldn’t upend them again. Doing so would only end in more heartache for her and her child.

  Pepper hung her purse on the hook near the back door and clutched her baby’s pictures in the other hand. Maybe she could get a little frame to put them in. She couldn’t wait to see her son’s sweet face in person and cuddle him in her arms.

  The back patio door opened and Nolan stepped in. The spacious kitchen and eat-in breakfast area separated them, but those bright eyes still zeroed right in on her.