Expecting the Rancher's Child (Callahan's Clan)

by Sara Orwig

  When she climaxed, ecstasy shaking her, she held him tightly and felt his wild, thrusting response as he shuddered with his own release.

  She didn’t know how much time passed before he spoke softly. “When you finish this job, I want to see you again.”

  “When that time comes, I’m guessing you’ll change your mind,” she whispered, her head against his shoulder. “We’ll say goodbye. You’ll see.”

  The words were easy to say when they were locked in a warm embrace after loving. At the moment, telling him goodbye didn’t seem to loom in the near future, but she knew parting and not seeing him again was reality.

  When he didn’t answer, she assumed he agreed with her.

  * * *

  It was early morning when she slipped out of bed and went to the shower. She glanced back once. Blake was sprawled in bed, one muscled arm flung across a pillow and the sheet around his waist. His hair was a tangle.

  For a moment, she longed to go back and kiss him awake, but she had a flight to catch. Two hours later, as he drove her to the airport, out to his waiting private jet, she wondered again how long it would be before she forgot him. She knew time would give her the answer.

  When Blake opened the car door and she stepped out, he moved close and wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “This isn’t very private,” she said, watching a breeze tangle short locks of black hair above his forehead.

  “I don’t care about that. I want to hold you close.”

  “You still don’t want to be involved in all the details?”

  “I still don’t,” he said, smiling. His gaze lowered to her lips, and her heart beat faster at the desire in his eyes.

  “I may not take another job with an alpha male.”

  “That would suit me just fine,” he said, smiling again. “I’d have you all to myself.” Their smiles faded as she gazed up at him. “I’m going to miss you,” he said, his voice lowering a notch as his gaze shifted to her mouth.

  She forgot their surroundings. She was telling him goodbye, and it might be a long one. His arm tightened and he leaned down to give her another possessive, fiery kiss that made her want to get back in the car with him and go back to his house.

  “Don’t stay away too long,” he finally said as he released her. He was breathing hard, looking at her intently with desire clear in his warm brown eyes.

  “Hurry back, darlin’,” he whispered. The endearment shook her because he didn’t say it often. She reminded herself that he meant little by it.

  “Goodbye, Blake,” she said, a chill sweeping her.

  “Not yet. No goodbyes until the end of the job,” he said. “I’ll be around when you come back. We can say our goodbyes later. A farewell kiss would be good. Then we’ll have a hello kiss when we’re together,” he said. He leaned down and kissed her again.

  She finally turned and boarded the plane where she sat to watch him drive away. She wondered if he had plans to be at the ranch when she returned.

  * * *

  For the rest of the next week Lucinda, Eli and Sierra worked together in New York, looking at furnishings and artwork, getting together at the office to go over the day’s selections, plus the changes, the sketches and suggested purchases.

  Sierra worked long hours looking at sketches, plans, catalogues and pictures of furnishings. During the day she spent time in art galleries, searching for the right pieces, wondering all the time if Blake would like what she did.

  She missed him and thought about him constantly. She tried to convince herself it was because she was working on the design for his new wing. Late at night he usually called, and they talked for a long time about nothing important.

  The more she missed him, the more she worked. Late on Wednesday night she fell asleep at her desk. Her phone woke her, and when she heard Blake’s voice, she came fully awake. She was glad to talk to him. She sat back, listening to him, telling him about paintings she had selected, and sending him pictures from her phone of what she had chosen that week, even though he had said he didn’t want to be consulted.

  To her relief he listened, made suggestions and, even better, liked what they had picked and what they planned to do.

  “Tomorrow I’ll call the contractor and set up a time for all of us to meet at your ranch. We’ve talked on the phone and I’ve sent plans, so he already knows a lot about what he’ll need to do.”

  “What I’m interested in is when you’ll be here at the ranch to stay, and we can be alone.”

  She laughed. “You lusty, lusty man. Eli and Lucinda will be with me when I come back. Eli is excellent in dealing with contractors, and I’m turning some of that over to him. I don’t know if you and I will be alone much.”

  “That’s not what I want to hear. I’ll work on that one. This is a big house. We’ll put Eli and Lucinda in the guest houses. They might enjoy the privacy.”

  “Actually, they might enjoy the peace and quiet. However, do not make plans for me to move in with you when I’m busy, and so many people are working in your house.”

  “I wouldn’t think of asking you to move in with me.”

  “Oh, yes, you would, and I’m sure you were planning exactly that,” she remarked, amused and certain she was right.

  “Well, I’ll admit the thought crossed my mind.”

  Smiling, Sierra continued talking with him for another hour before finally telling him goodbye.

  During the week she called Nan to ask about William. Sierra hoped Blake would really care about the kid. He had cared enough to give William some attention when they were in Kansas, but that had been easy. Now, when Blake was back in Texas, it would be a bigger task. Part of her hoped Blake would make the effort.

  For the rest of the week she got a call late every night from Blake, but then he had meetings in California and the calls stopped. She knew he was busy with his commercial properties, and he was deeply involved in his work. And she also knew that she should get used to living without his conversation or company.

  Sooner or later she’d have to let go because they had no future together.

  * * *

  Blake’s schedule was packed, partially because of things he had put off doing when Sierra was at the ranch, and partly because he worked at finding ways to keep busy to try to forget her.

  She was not his type, and the sooner he went on with his life, the better off he would be. All sensible thoughts, but not a solution. He missed seeing her. He wanted to go out with her again, and he wanted her back in his bed.

  Blake called old friends, accepted party invitations, kept busy and resisted calling Sierra. His father had just built a new luxury hotel in Florida, and Blake had already bought nearby land and made arrangements to start construction. Blake flew out to look, staying in his father’s hotel to check it out, something he did about once a year. His hotels were taking more business than ever from his father’s.

  But even that work made him think of Sierra. He remembered their conversations about his father. She didn’t understand his motives because she had never been hurt the way he had. She had grown up insulated by the love of her family.

  He had seen the latest figures on the hotels. He had cut into his dad’s business so much that he expected him to sell his properties.

  In years past that small success would have brought more satisfaction than it did now. Was that Sierra’s influence—or was Blake tiring of trying to get a bit of revenge for the years his father had refused to acknowledge him?

  Blake thought about the kid at the picnic, William, who didn’t know his father and had lost his mother. There ought to be some way to help the boy beyond sticking him in a shelter. The shelter was better than the street, of course, but there must be something that would give him a better chance in life. Blake made a note to have someone look into it.

  That was definitely Sierra’s influence, he thought.

  How could she have had such an impact on him in such a short time?

  * * *

 
In early April, Sierra flew to Dallas to meet with Blake and his contractor, and make arrangements to commence work. She was jittery, and not sure if it was because she was presenting their final plan for Blake’s approval or because she would be seeing him again.

  When she stepped out of the rental car, he was waiting on his porch. Tall and handsome, Blake looked like the Texas rancher he was with his jeans, boots and tan shirt. He came down the steps to sweep her into his embrace.

  The moment his strong arms closed around her, she forgot her mission and lost all her apprehension. She clung to him tightly and kissed him.

  She felt as if she’d come home.

  All that she had intended to say was forgotten when he took her into his arms. After a moment, she moved out of his embrace. “Blake, you hired me to finish this job for you, and it will never get done if we don’t stop kissing.”

  He grinned. “So? I can live with that.”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “Eventually, you wouldn’t want to. You paid me a lot of money for this. You might as well have your new wing finished, and I’ve bought some expensive artwork.”

  “All right. I’ll listen.”

  “I want you to look at what we’ve done. After I change, I’ll get things set up in the office you said I can use.”

  It was late afternoon before she emerged from her shower, dressed in stone-washed jeans, boots and a blue knit shirt. She left her hair loose and went to find Blake.

  She brought him into the office where she had sketches spread on a long table along with 3D designs on her iPad. Blake studied them quietly. “Look through the iPad for pictures of how the artwork, sculptures and furniture for each suite will look. Go ahead.” She stood by the table, watching for his reaction.

  “This is perfect, Sierra,” he said, pointing to a sketch of a bedroom. “This will be my room.” He closed the distance between them to place his hands on her shoulders. “I knew you’d do the best possible job.”

  Warmed by his praise, she smiled. “Thank you! I’m thrilled you’re happy with it, and I’ll let Lucinda and Eli know because they deserve as much credit. They are really good at this.”

  “This is just perfect,” he said, studying her. “I don’t know how the hell you can leave a career you’re perfect for. Do you know how many people would like to have half the talent you do, and they’re in the business? You selected what I would have selected,” he said, turning to look at her intently. “That’s interesting, Sierra, because we don’t see eye to eye on anything else in life. Well, maybe a few things.”

  She ignored his flirting. “Thank Lucinda and Eli. They found a lot of those pieces. They took note of what you like when we toured your house.”

  “That they did. These are perfect. I’m glad I hired you.”

  Her gaze ran over him. She could still feel her heartbeat speed up when she looked at him or thought about kissing him.

  How could she be so drawn to him or find him so exciting when they were totally different?

  Memories tugged at her senses, and she gulped for air. She wanted to be back in his arms, and she suspected she would be soon.

  * * *

  The next day Lucinda and Eli arrived, and Sierra stayed in her own suite that night. For the rest of the week and through the one following, workers were coming and going, goods were delivered to the ranch and there was constant activity from early in the morning until about nine in the evening. Blake left for business in Dallas and they talked each day, but she didn’t see him.

  The next week Blake went to California. Sierra, Lucinda and Eli stayed at the ranch to be available for the contractor and make sure everything was going well. They all worked hard to get everything finished by the deadline.

  On a weekend trip home to Kansas City, Sierra’s worries and priorities shifted as a new concern emerged—one she’d never dreamed she would have.

  She could not ignore her body—she might be pregnant with Blake’s baby.

  * * *

  A few hours later, Sierra stood staring at the results of the pregnancy test. Blake had taken precautions, always. But she knew that condoms were not always effective, even when used appropriately. Apparently, this was one of those times.

  Her head swam, and for a moment she felt faint. She sat in a chair, putting her head down, hoping the dizziness would pass.

  Looking again at the results of her test, she shook her head. “No,” she whispered. She couldn’t be pregnant.

  What would she do? What would Blake do?

  She had no answers to those questions. All her life, her family, her friends, her school, her activities, her jobs—everything had been harmonious, satisfactory, even fantastic. She had a big, loving, happy family. She’d had success. She had wonderful friends, and she was in a second great career. An unwanted, unplanned pregnancy, being tied to a man she wanted and yet couldn’t have—how would she cope?

  She placed her hand on her flat stomach. She was carrying Blake’s baby.

  Panic gripped her, and she felt light-headed again. She had planned her life in the usual manner—marriage then children. It had never occurred to her that her life would not follow that pattern.

  She wanted a doctor’s confirmation in addition to the pregnancy test.

  With a sigh, she calmed down only slightly. Deep in her heart, she knew the test wasn’t mistaken. She was going to have Blake’s baby.

  But he was a man who planned to remain single. A man who didn’t know anything about being a dad, about families or about children. He didn’t even want any.

  He was also a man who definitely did not want a long-term relationship right now. And she didn’t want to marry him. They wouldn’t be compatible—not beyond the bedroom.

  He would probably give her a generous sum of money to support his child, though.

  She thought about Blake at the picnic, sitting and talking to William, then later, coaching the boy when he joined the ball game. He’d never been around children, and yet he’d taken to William immediately. He’d even asked about the boy in their phone conversations. He cared, even when he pretended he didn’t, and common sense told her that Blake would never abandon his own child.

  Probably, he would insist on marriage even though they were not in love. With all the bitterness Blake felt toward his father, he would never make the same mistakes with his own family. Blake would do everything in his power to be a part of his child’s life full-time. He’d talk her into getting married, or living with him, no matter how unsuited they were as a couple.

  They weren’t in love. Yet she was certain he would push, try to bribe her, charm her, or do everything else he reasonably could to win her to his way of thinking. If she did agree to something long-term, it would be a disaster. She held marriage sacred, the vows were lifelong, the outcome of abiding love. She would have none of that with Blake, whether they said “I do” or avoided a ceremony and simply shared a house.

  When she broke the news to him, she should be ready for an onslaught of persuasion. She knew Blake was accustomed to getting his way and would not give up easily.

  There had been fabulous sex between them, but not love. She thought about her parents and how deeply they loved each other and how it showed in a myriad of tiny ways day after day. That’s the kind of love Sierra wanted.

  She felt hot tears sting. She had gotten herself into a situation that didn’t seem to have a happy solution. Maybe with time and a baby, she and Blake could fall in love.

  Wiping her eyes, she stood and took a deep breath. Tears solved nothing. She called her doctor and made an appointment. Then she stared into space, trying to make a plan. How was she going to convince him he could be a great dad without having her in his life full-time?

  She definitely did not want to give up her baby, so they would have to share custody. Blake was one-hundred percent alpha male, and he would not take no for an answer, so she needed to figure out how to deal with him.

  If he did propose, would it be so bad to be married to him
?

  Again, she thought of her parents’ harmonious marriage, deeply grounded in love and care for each other. If she married Blake without love, they would never have that special union.

  Maybe she was jumping to the wrong conclusions. She shouldn’t start imagining what he would do and making wild guesses.

  She dreaded telling him and having to deal with a strong-willed, determined man who would be set on doing things she did not want to do. She wasn’t accustomed to having to deal with someone else on major decisions that affected her life.

  When would she tell him? She wanted to wait until she was finished with his new wing. She’d settle up with him and know she could walk away without doing any further work for him. But she’d never be able to keep the secret while living on his ranch, working for him, seeing him every day. She’d have to tell him sooner than that. If they had a fight, a real battle over the future, she would just have to live with still seeing him and working with him.

  She felt a little better because she had a plan of action—she’d see a doctor and have the pregnancy confirmed.

  The second thing was to finish his new wing.

  Then she’d tell him he was going to be a father.

  Next week she was staying at the ranch, and Blake would be home from California. Sierra knew with absolute certainty that when Blake learned the news, he would start planning their lives and their future. This would be one dad who would not disappear. She felt certain that, one way or another, Blake would be part of her life for the next twenty years or so. He might not propose to her, but he would not ignore his child.

  She ran her fingers across her forehead. She had a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Sunday afternoon at two she would leave Kansas City for Texas.

  She had told her parents, and they were as supportive as she had expected them to be. She still needed to talk to her older brothers. They were protective of their sisters in a very old-fashioned way, and she suspected they weren’t going to be happy with Blake unless she handled telling them carefully. At least they were in Kansas and Blake was in Texas.