Nine Months Part 2 (36 Hours)

by Beverly Barton

  Raging anger suffused Jared, heating his body. “Dammit all!” If Paige was going to have sex with anyone while she was pregnant, she’d have it with him. Not some muscle-bound blonde. “Why did you introduce her to him anyway?”

  “I thought they’d make a nice-looking couple,” Kay said. “And since Paige has made it perfectly clear that she isn’t going to marry you, I thought—”

  “You’re damn lucky I don’t fire you!”

  “You can’t fire me. I’m an essential member of your organization.” Kay twirled an onion curl around on her fork. “Besides, I’m simply telling you the truth. It’s not my fault if you don’t like to hear it. Sooner or later, Paige is going to meet Mr. Right. He’s going to adore her for the person she is and not want to change her. And then they’re going to fall madly in love and get married.”

  Paige married to someone else? No way. Another man raising his daughter? Never!

  Paige was his. Angela was his. His, by God, and he’d kill any man who tried to take them away from him.

  Ignoring Jared’s heated glare, Paige hoped Martin didn’t notice that someone was staring daggers at him. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised that Jared had followed her to Josephina’s. The man was capable of anything.

  “Is something wrong?” Martin asked. “Is your prime rib—”

  “Oh, no, the prime rib is delicious.” Reaching across the table, she covered his hand with hers. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I let my mind wander. I was thinking of something unpleasant.”

  “I see.” Martin clasped Paige’s hand. “Was your mind wandering several tables over to the left? And was the unpleasant thing you were thinking about the scowling man sitting with Kay? The man who looks as if he’d like to kill me with his bare hands?”

  “Oh, Martin. I am so very sorry.” Paige squeezed his hand. “I had hoped you wouldn’t notice Jared. He has no right to follow me around and try to intimidate my date.”

  “What’s with him, anyway?” Martin asked. “Are you two involved?”

  “We were,” Paige admitted. “And to be honest, we still are. In a way. He’s asked me to marry him and I’ve said no, but he refuses to take no for an answer.”

  “Ah, a man in love. What’s the problem? You don’t feel the same way about him?”

  “He’s not in love with me. He just wants me.”

  “Well, I can’t say I blame him for wanting you,” Martin said. “But there must be more to it than that. I know a jealous, possessive man when I see one. Your Jared obviously thinks he has a claim on you.”

  “He’s not my Jared. Oh, no, he’s coming over this way.” Paige groaned. “Please, Martin, ignore anything he says or does. And whatever you do, don’t let him goad you into doing something stupid.”

  Leaning forward, Martin brought Paige’s hand to his lips and kissed it. “I won’t strike the first blow, I promise.”

  Pausing beside the table, Jared bestowed his devastating smile on Paige, then, still smiling, he gave Martin a deadly stare before returning his attention to her. She eased her hand out of Martin’s.

  “Hello, Paige. I hope you’re having a pleasant evening,” Jared said.

  “It was very pleasant. Until now,” Paige told him.

  Kay slipped up behind Jared. Looking directly at Paige, she nodded her head and shrugged apologetically.

  “You aren’t drinking wine, are you?” Jared surveyed the table. “You know that in your condition, you aren’t supposed to drink any alcohol.”

  Martin gave Paige a quizzical look. Her face flushed. Kay punched Jared in the ribs.

  “I’m drinking water.” Paige lifted the glass. “Would you care to do a taste test?”

  “Of course not, honey. I trust you.” Jared turned to Martin. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your date?”

  “Sure. Martin Smith—” she extended her open palm toward her date in an introductory manner, then pivoted it toward Jared “—L. J. Montgomery.”

  The two men nodded, each eyeing the other. Jared glared at Martin and Martin glared right back, not giving an inch. Paige sighed.

  “Make sure you don’t keep Paige out too late, Mr. Smith,” Jared said. “Pregnant women need their rest.”

  “Pregnant?” Martin’s gaze jumped from Jared’s self-satisfied smile to Paige’s startled brown eyes.

  Jared patted Paige affectionately on the shoulder. “You know I don’t mind your going out and having a good time, as long as you remember to take good care of my baby.”

  “Baby?” Martin asked. “Paige, is this guy for real? You’re pregnant?”

  Paige nodded affirmatively.

  “With his baby?”

  Flinging her napkin down on top of her dinner plate, Paige shoved back her chair, stood and ran away from the table.

  “Now look what you’ve gone and done,” Kay said.

  “Paige, honey, wait!” Jared called after her as she rushed past the curious customers staring at her.

  Kay grabbed Jared’s arm, halting him before he could chase Paige. “You’ve done enough for one night, Mr. Montgomery. I don’t think Paige is in the mood to listen to anything you have to say.”

  “Maybe I should go after her,” Martin said. “I can take her home and—”

  “If anyone is taking Paige home, I am.” Jared’s harsh glare dared Martin to disagree.

  “Neither of you are taking Paige anywhere,” Kay said. “I’ll make sure she gets home. You—” she pointed an accusatory finger at Jared “—stay away from her tonight.” Kay ran, catching up with Paige just as she walked outside.

  Jared realized that everyone in Josephina’s was staring at Martin Smith and him. He’d made a complete fool of himself in public, but he had accomplished his goal. He had ruined Paige’s date. But at what cost? He had also antagonized her. He wondered if she’d ever forgive him.

  “If you don’t marry that woman, you’re a fool,” Martin said. “It’s plain to see that she’s one in a million.”

  “You don’t have to tell me she’s one in a million. No one knows better than I do how special Paige is.”

  Jared’s declaration startled him. Did he truly believe what he’d said? Was Paige really special to him? Yes, dammit, she was. Somehow that little earthy redhead had gotten under his skin. She’d caught him in a trap from which he didn’t really want to escape.

  Either she was the most naive innocent he’d ever known or the shrewdest, most conniving, calculating female he’d ever met. His gut instincts told him that Paige Summers was exactly what she appeared to be. But his male ego warned him to be cautious.

  Chapter Six

  No roses had been delivered to her office on Friday nor any gifts sent to her home during the weekend. Jared hadn’t taken her out to lunch on Friday because Jared hadn’t come into the office. He had left a message for Greg Addison, telling his partner that in case of an emergency he could be reached at his Texas ranch.

  Paige had been prepared to confront Jared and rake him over the coals for the idiotic, macho, jealous scene he had created at Josephina’s on Thursday night. But with his conspicuous absence, he had given her time to cool off and to wonder just what he was up to now. Kay thought he might have gone away to regroup, to reorganize his strategy, since his first plan of action had failed so miserably.

  Paige didn’t care why he’d chosen to fly off to Texas, she was just glad that he had. She’d never been as angry with anyone as she’d been with Jared. If for one minute she thought that his foolish actions had been prompted by love, she could forgive him his jealousy. But the only thing that had prompted Jared was a fear that he might lose something he considered his personal possession. He didn’t love her; he wanted to own her. He thought that she and their baby belonged to him.

  Kay laid two sandwiches, a couple of bananas and a carton of milk on the table in the employees’ lounge. “No sign of the boss man again today. It could be he’s too ashamed to show his face after his performance at Josephina’s. People here in Grand
Springs will be discussing that little fiasco for weeks to come.”

  “I doubt he’s ashamed of what he did,” Paige said. “He accomplished what he set out to do. Embarrass me in front of Martin, ruin my date and warn off anyone else who might show an interest in me. All Jared cares about is getting his own way, and he doesn’t care who he hurts.”

  “I admit you have good reason to be upset with him.” Kay poured a cup of coffee and placed it beside her lunch. “But don’t you think you’re being a little too hard on him? I was with the guy, and I can tell you that he was in agony seeing you with Martin.”

  “He wasn’t in enough agony to suit me.” Paige unwrapped the club sandwich, separated the two halves and lifted a piece to her mouth.

  “You know I understand your side of this situation.” Kay added sweetener and creamer to her coffee. “But I can see L.J.’s side, too.”

  “Oh, really? I thought you were my friend. Are you taking Jared’s side now?”

  “I’m not taking anybody’s side,” Kay said. “I’m afraid you two are in a no-win situation. He wants what you aren’t willing to give and you want what he’s incapable of giving.”

  “You think I’m crazy for not marrying him, don’t you. You think that any woman in her right mind would jump at the chance to be Mrs. L. J. Montgomery.”

  “I don’t think you’re crazy.” Kay sipped her coffee. “But I do believe that you aren’t being totally honest with yourself about why you won’t marry him.”

  Munching on the dill pickle slice she’d taken off the top of her sandwich, Paige narrowed her eyes, glaring at Kay.

  Kay unwrapped her ham-and-cheese sandwich. “Have you ever considered the possibility that you’re punishing him for not loving you just as you are, for wanting to remold you into a different woman?”

  “Punishing him…? Where did you get such an idea?” Paige spluttered.

  “L.J. doesn’t love you because he can’t. He doesn’t believe in love. Has no idea what being in love is all about.”

  “That pretty much sums up his views on the subject.”

  “Well, I’d say that you aren’t being honest about whether or not you want to marry him. Instead, you’ve been punishing him for not loving you by keeping him from getting what he wants. Namely, you and the baby. And he’s been so determined to have his own way, trying to steamroll you into agreeing to marry him, that he hasn’t given your needs much consideration.”

  “Is there a reason for this amateur psychiatric evaluation?” Paige asked. “Are you about to give me some incredibly brilliant advice?”

  “If L.J. doesn’t know how to love, and his love is what you want, then you should teach him how to love.” Kay bit into her sandwich.

  “Teach him how to love?” Was it possible, Paige wondered, to teach someone how to love? “Just how do you suggest I go about doing it? Hypnotize him? Put a spell on him?”

  “I haven’t figured out the whys and wherefores,” Kay admitted. “But if the only thing keeping you from marrying him is his not loving you, then I should think you could figure out a way to—”

  “You have to have a heart in order to love,” Paige said. “And I seriously doubt that L. J. Montgomery has a heart.”

  “Ms. Summers?” The masculine voice came from the doorway. “May I see you in my office as soon as you finish your lunch?”

  Kay and Paige snapped around immediately, both gasping silently when they saw Jared standing just outside the lounge. Turning to face Paige, Kay rolled her eyes upward and mouthed a rather expressive expletive.

  “Yes, certainly, Mr. Montgomery,” Paige said. “I’ll be there shortly.”

  Jared stared directly at her, but Paige realized that he was looking through her. His eyes were void of any emotion. Without saying another word, he turned and walked down the hall.

  “Well, that was an uncomfortable moment, wasn’t it?” Kay placed her hand on Paige’s shoulder. “I wonder how long he’d been standing behind us listening to our conversation?”

  “I have no idea,” Paige said. “But I’m sure he heard me tell you that I don’t think he has a heart.”

  “He called you Ms. Summers. That doesn’t bode well. I wonder what happened to him while he was in Texas.”

  Paige gathered up her half-eaten lunch, shoved back her chair and stood. “I guess I’ll find out when I get to his office.” Paige dumped the remains of her meal in the garbage.

  She stopped by the rest room to freshen her makeup and buy enough time to calm her screaming nerves. She had no idea what Jared was going to say, but her feminine instincts warned her to be wary. His cool, controlled facade could well be nothing more than another tactical maneuver to put her off guard.

  The door to his office stood wide open. He sat perched on the edge of his desk, his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for her like a commander prepared to issue orders to his subordinates. She took a deep breath, counted to ten and marched right into the lion’s den, fully prepared to fight to the death, if need be.

  “Thank you for cutting your lunch short,” he said. “What I have to say is very important to me, and I hope a great relief to you. After our discussion, please return to the lounge and finish your lunch. You need proper nourishment.”

  “I’ll eat something on my afternoon break,” she said. “Now, Jar—Mr. Montgomery, why did you ask me to come to your office?”

  “Sit down, please.”

  When she sat down in the chair in front of his desk, he shifted his hips and turned to face her. “First, I want to apologize for embarrassing you the way I did when I made a scene at Josephina’s the other night. I was way out of line.” He spoke directly to her, but his gaze focused on the framed map hanging on the wall behind her.

  She wondered if he was being honest or if this contrite behavior was just an act. “Yes, you were out of line. You had no right to—”

  “That’s what I want to talk to you about,” he said. “I want to define exactly what my rights are concerning you and our child. I flew off to the ranch right after I left Josephina’s because I needed some time to sort things through and put the whole situation into proper perspective.”

  “I see. Well, you aren’t the only one who’s been giving a great deal of thought to the situation.” Leaning forward, Paige clasped her shaky hands together. “Things can’t go on the way they have been. You can’t continue disregarding my feelings in your efforts to get what you want.”

  He looked directly at her then. “I agree.”

  Paige’s mouth fell open. “You agree?”

  “I’ve considered our situation from every angle and taken your needs as well as my own into consideration,” he told her. “You’ve made it perfectly clear that you don’t want to marry me. I accept your decision, and I won’t ask you again.”

  “You won’t?”

  “No.” Glancing away from her sharp scrutiny, he cleared his throat. “I’ve offered time and again, and you’ve refused me time and again. So I’ve come up with another plan that will enable me to take care of you and our child and still allow both of us our freedom.”

  “You’ve come up with a plan?” she asked. “What sort of plan?”

  “I’d like to be present when our little girl is born, and I want to be a part of her life from that moment forward.” Jared slid off the edge of the desk. “I intend to take care of my daughter. I’ll have my lawyer arrange generous child support payments in exchange for very liberal visitation rights.

  “I want you to consider allowing me to sign over my home here in Grand Springs to you. For you and the baby. And I’d like to set you up in business. Being your own boss would enable you to take the baby to work with you at least part of the time.”

  Stunned by Jared’s rational solution to their problem, Paige sat there speechless for several minutes. Was this the same man who’d been damned and determined to marry her? Was this the same jealous, possessive, macho jerk who had done everything but brand her with a hot poker in order to lay claim to
her?

  “What happened to change your mind?” she asked. “You were so adamant about our getting married.”

  What had happened? Hell, Jared had realized how out of control he was. L. J. Montgomery always controlled the situation. He never allowed the situation to control him. But Paige’s unexpected pregnancy had thrown him for a loop, knocked him off center and hurled him into a succession of illogical, emotional, irrational actions. He had allowed his obsession with Paige Summers to nearly wreck his life. He had become so determined to make her marry him that he’d given her complete power over his life. And no one, least of all, some stubborn, ungrateful working girl was going to have him jumping through hoops.

  After a great deal of thought, he had come to one conclusion. He didn’t trust Paige. He didn’t trust any woman. Hell, he didn’t trust people in general.

  He wanted to marry Paige and be a father to their child. Her repeated refusals to accept his proposal could be genuine. But denying him what he wanted could also be a ploy. There was only one way to find out. Call Paige’s bluff. If she thought he was no longer determined to marry her, she might do an about-face and reveal her true colors. He had to know the truth.

  So starting today, he was taking back control of his life. If Paige turned out to be a conniving, manipulative little schemer, then he could return to his sensible five-year plan, reach all his professional goals and then choose an elegant, sophisticated lady, one fully prepared to be L. J. Montgomery’s wife. She would marry him gladly and appreciate all that his wealth and social position offered her.

  Of course, if Paige was on the up-and-up, he’d have to find a way to convince her how foolish her romantic notions of love were. He didn’t expect to love his wife. And he didn’t expect her to love him. A cold, clammy uneasiness spread through Jared’s body. What did it matter to him that his future wife wouldn’t love him? After all, he didn’t believe in love.

  “Are you all right?” Paige asked. “You look like you’re in pain.”

  Shaking his head to dislodge any cock-and-bull notions about love, Jared curved his lips into a halfhearted smile. “I’m fine,” he assured her. “And as to what changed my mind about our getting married…well, let’s just say that I came to my senses in time.”