Wed to the Texan

by Sara Orwig

  She looked up at him and he saw that if she’d had anything in her hands, she would have thrown it at him. He had seldom seen such fury in anyone’s eyes.

  “You won!” she said in a low tight voice, laced with rage. “You always win. The entire world does what you want. Go get your damned inheritance! I’m pregnant. You can claim your billions. And when Hubert Braden dies, I’m leaving you,” she added bitterly. “You’ll have what you wanted.”

  Ten

  “I ’m going to be a father!” Jake exclaimed, stunned. Now that it had actually happened, he was amazed. “A father,” he repeated, unable to fully grasp this monumental change in his life.

  His heart thudded violently as he stared at her. Emily was carrying his baby! He wanted to hug and kiss her. But he didn’t dare touch her. And he would get Hub’s inheritance! She was pregnant! Jubilation surged, but he also knew he didn’t dare exhibit any enthusiasm around her.

  “Have you seen a doctor?”

  “Yes.”

  “Emily—”

  “Don’t!” she exclaimed, waving her hand at him. “Don’t talk to me. Don’t say another word. Get out of my sight. Go claim your inheritance. Just stay away from me. I don’t want to see you or talk to you.” She turned to look out the window, ending the conversation.

  He stared at her a moment and decided he would do what she wanted. She had months to calm down. He would try to soothe things over later. Now he snatched up his jacket and tie and raced for the study to call Hub. He couldn’t talk to the old man, but he could tell his nurse to let him know. He could call Hub’s accountant and the attorney who had written the will.

  He was going to be a dad! In spite of trying for this for well over a year, he was amazed now that it had happened. He would get the inheritance! At least a billion dollars!

  As he called Hub, he thought about calling his mother. She’d tell him that she was happy for him, but he wasn’t certain she’d be thrilled to learn she’d be a grandmother. She was not into kids and babies. His money had transformed her life completely—she drove a Jaguar, spent half the year on the French Riviera or in Paris and part of the time in New York. She liked to party and gamble, and had put her past life as far behind her as she could. He also thought about calling his sister, Nina. But she was an unmarried attorney, not overly interested in children, so he didn’t think he’d get much enthusiasm there, either.

  The people who would be happy were Emily’s family, but he couldn’t call them. He had to leave that to her. He thought about Emily alone in the library, crying and angry. He regretted her reaction, but he had to do what she wanted and leave her alone.

  He put away his cell phone. He’d fly to Europe and tell Hub himself. Then he could let the accountant and attorney know. He wanted to see the old man’s face and give him the pleasure of knowing there was a baby on the way.

  Jake called his pilot and made arrangements for a flight early in the morning.

  Next, he called a florist and ordered an enormous bouquet of tulips, carnations and daisies for Emily. She probably wouldn’t like it, but he wanted her to have it. He’d make a donation to her father’s church in her honor, which hopefully might really please her and celebrate the occasion. He grinned and looked into space, thinking about their baby.

  He would be a father. The idea, now that it had become a fact, amazed him more than ever. He didn’t know anything about babies or children, but Emily did. He wondered if she was still sitting in the library, crying. He hoped she would get over her anger soon.

  In the meantime, he decided it would be best if he stayed out of her way.

  The library grew darker as the sun set. Emily wasn’t aware of her surroundings. After more than a year of trying to get pregnant, it happened when she didn’t want it to happen anymore. She was going to have Jake’s baby. All she could think about, though, was that Jake would get the inheritance.

  He didn’t care about her or his baby. Just the money. And once again, Jake got what he wanted in life. She wiped her eyes. She was certain he had gone racing off to call Hubert Braden. Already, some attorney in Switzerland or New York or wherever Hubert Braden did business would be planning for the bulk of the estate to go to Jake.

  She would stay, have the baby, and the minute Hubert Braden died, she would leave Jake. She wasn’t going to leave him now and deprive him of the inheritance he craved so badly. If his life was wrapped up in acquiring money, then she would no longer stand in his way.

  More hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She’d fallen in love with Jake. He didn’t know it and never would, but she had. He was desirable, irresistible. But his willingness to help the boys and his interest in them had won her heart. In spite of that, she didn’t want to stay and spend her life with a man who put money above all else.

  Money was more important to Jake than family. Emily knew she would have to tell her family the news, but she was waiting until she’d become accustomed to the idea of a baby. And she wouldn’t let her family know she intended to leave Jake. They’d find out when the time came. The baby was due next June. She would stay that first year, but then she would get away from Jake and his greed.

  In the meantime, as soon as she could pull herself together, she would let her family know. They would support her, shower their love and joy on her. She wiped her eyes and thought about calling Beth and going to see her later this week. Things would be okay.

  She was going to have Jake’s baby. She stood and went up to her room by the back stairs, hoping to avoid Jake. She succeeded.

  She sank into a chair in her room and stared into space, lost in thought about the coming months.

  “Emily? Emily?”

  She stared at the door without answering.

  “Can I bring you dinner? You should eat,” he called.

  “No,” she replied, and hoped he’d go away.

  “Let me know if you need anything,” he said.

  She didn’t bother to answer. Later, she stretched out on the bed and fell into a troubled sleep.

  The next morning, she stirred as someone placed a blanket over her. It was dusky in the room, still before dawn. She opened her eyes to see Jake straightening the blanket over her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Sorry if I woke you. I brought you a tray with some juice, a glass of milk and a small pot of tea. There’s toast if you can eat it. I thought you’d like a blanket.”

  “I’m fine, Jake,” she replied stiffly. He wore a navy suit with a red tie, so he must have stopped in before heading to work.

  “I’m going to Europe, Emily. I’ll be in Paris tonight.” She looked at him, barely listening, knowing whatever he was doing overseas, he would go see Hubert Braden and tell him about the baby. She turned away.

  He brushed her cheek with a kiss. “Take care of yourself. I’ll be back in three days.”

  “Goodbye, Jake.”

  He frowned and left, closing the door behind him. She looked at the tray, realizing she hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. She sat up and drank the juice.

  An hour later she walked into the nursery and gazed at the storybook murals on the walls, the white furniture and bookshelves, the circular Mother Goose throw rugs. Then, closing the door behind her, she walked back to the room adjoining the bedroom she now occupied. She’d wait until she knew whether she was having a boy or girl and have the nursery done over.

  She had managed to avoid Jake these past few weeks, and she suspected that now, he would no longer try to find reasons to be with her. She wondered if he would stop coaching the boys. At least Orlando and Anthony worked for them—that wouldn’t change. And the baby would always be well taken care of. She wondered if Jake had any interest in his baby. No, he was only interested in himself. She was certain he was on his way now to claim the inheritance.

  Jake gazed out the window of the jet. With his mind jumping from the inheritance to becoming a father to Emily, he couldn’t concentrate on work. As he looked at mounds of clouds
far below, he thought about his future.

  When he returned from this trip and the inheritance was his, he would lose Emily. That bothered him. She wouldn’t back down on her threat. Once the inheritance became his, she would leave him. And he couldn’t fight her for his child. He would never do that to her.

  He shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t ready for Emily to leave him. She had become important to him. He wanted her to stay.

  Idly rubbing his knee, he thought about her smiling at him, throwing her arms around him when he’d told her he’d given Orlando a job.

  Emily was going to have his baby and then exit his life.

  He knew he could marry again, but he would never find anyone like Emily. His family had been dysfunctional, his father uncaring and his mother too busy trying to keep food on the table to shower love on him and his sister. Jake had helped raise his sister, but they weren’t anything like the loving siblings Emily had.

  With Emily he could have a family like hers. But was Emily worth giving up a billion-dollar inheritance?

  He rubbed his knee again. He was worth more than a billion already. As Emily had pointed out, he didn’t actually need the money. Why did he want it if he lost Emily?

  Startled, Jake frowned and looked out the window again. He was in love with his wife. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he loved her.

  He thought about the fortune he would inherit now. He didn’t want to give it up, yet he damn well wasn’t ready to give up Emily. He raked his fingers through his hair and swore under his breath.

  The pilot announced their approach to Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Jake folded his briefcase, put away his calculator and gazed out the window, still lost in thought and not seeing anything below.

  Jake thought about the future, weighing his options and possibilities. When the jet landed, he rode in a waiting limousine to the hotel suite he’d reserved and made some calls, canceling appointments he had set up for tomorrow. He’d intended to go straight to Switzerland from Paris to see Hub, but now he wanted to think things through and make sure he wasn’t doing something he would regret the rest of his life.

  By Wednesday, Emily’s spirits had improved. Excitement filled her when she thought about telling her family about the baby. At this point, she’d still have to include Jake when she told them, but her brother and dad would get Jake off to themselves and she’d have her mother and sister fussing over the pregnancy. And they would all be thrilled. Each new Carlisle baby was welcomed with open arms by the entire family. She smiled, thinking about it, knowing she didn’t care whether she had a boy or girl. She just wanted a healthy baby.

  She invited her family for dinner a week from Friday, feeling by then she’d have gotten a grip on her emotions. They could get another dinner catered, and she could make her announcement.

  She spent the day making plans and calls, getting her family members to put the date on their calendars and booking one of Jake’s caterers.

  On Thursday morning, she went shopping for something special for the baby. Just one or two things to make it all real to her. It was midafternoon when she arrived home, trying to avoid thinking about Jake. He should have his inheritance lined up by now.

  She stretched out on her bed for a nap. She’d given the household staff the week off since Jake was gone, so she had the house to herself.

  When the phone rang, she answered, thinking it might be her sister calling to make plans to get together. Instead, it was Hubert Braden’s nurse, and she sat up and listened.

  The old man had lapsed into a coma and he wasn’t expected to rally. Jake had been there and gone and they couldn’t get in touch with him. So they’d called his home, though they would keep trying to get him on his cell.

  Emily promised to make sure Jake knew as soon as she could get hold of him. The nurse was so thankful Jake had been to see Mr. Braden while the old man was still conscious.

  The connection ended and Emily stared into space. With Jake’s luck, he’d made it in time to tell Hubert Braden himself. She shook her head. If she hadn’t gotten pregnant now, Jake wouldn’t get the inheritance. Hubert Braden wasn’t going to last and the money would have been distributed primarily to charities.

  Because of her succumbing to Jake’s charm, Jake would have his fortune almost doubled. She looked around the elegant bedroom with its expensive furnishings and shook her head. She hoped Jake enjoyed his money. But he’d have to enjoy it alone. Although, with a baby between them, she’d be involved with Jake on some level for the next twenty years or so.

  With a sigh, she got up to put away her purchases—a baby blanket, a stuffed bear and a bath toy, little things she couldn’t resist because they made the coming event seem more real.

  On Friday she hoped to leave the house early in the afternoon so she could avoid seeing Jake when he arrived.

  She showered and dressed in tan slacks and a beige blouse, picking up her bag to go, when she heard Jake’s footsteps in the hall.

  He knocked and opened the door. “Emily?”

  He’d already shed his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt. Tangled locks of black hair fell over his forehead. As handsome as ever, the sight of him made her pulse race. He stepped into the room and smiled at her. “You look beautiful, Em,” he said warmly.

  “Your timing was perfect, Jake,” she said. “Hubert Braden’s nurse called and said they were trying to get in touch with you. She said you’d been there and talked to him. You told him about the baby just in time. Mr. Braden has lapsed into a coma, and they don’t expect him to regain consciousness. They don’t think he’ll last more than a day or two.”

  Jake closed his eyes and looked pained for a moment. She was surprised. Was Hubert Braden the one person in the world Jake truly cared about?

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “But at least you got your inheritance just in the nick of time.”

  “Em, I want to talk to you about that.” Jake crossed the room to put his hands on her shoulders.

  She stiffened and gazed at him solemnly, wondering what he was after now. His gray eyes were intense.

  “I didn’t tell him we’re expecting a baby,” Jake said quietly.

  She stared at Jake, unable to comprehend what he was telling her. “Why? Why would you do that?” she asked.

  “I love you,” he declared, and her heart thudded. “On the flight to Paris, I had time to think about it. If I got that inheritance, I’d lose you. But I realized I’m in love with you. I don’t want you to go.”

  Stunned, she stared at him. “You really aren’t getting the inheritance?” she whispered.

  “No, I’m not. I gave up a fortune for you. I thought about what you’d said. I don’t really need it. But I do need you. Em, I love you and I want you and our baby.”

  She blinked as he leaned down to look more intently at her. “Emily, I love you.”

  “Oh, Jake!” She threw her arms around him, crying and laughing and kissing him wildly. Her heart raced and she couldn’t quite believe she’d heard him right. She leaned back to hold his face. “You’re telling me the truth? You’re really not going to let Hubert Braden’s lawyer know about the baby?”

  “I won’t if you won’t. We won’t tell anyone while they settle the will. Then the money will be given to Hub’s favorite charities and we can announce that we’re having a baby to the world.”

  He wound his hand in her hair and tilted her head back. “I need you more than any fortune. I’d toss it all for you,” he said. He leaned down to kiss her and she clung to him, overjoyed, unable to believe what was happening. She leaned back to hold his face again so he would look at her. “Jake, I love you!” she said, then stood on tiptoe to continue kissing him.

  He picked her up, holding her close in his arms and carrying her to bed, while he showered kisses on her and proved his love.

  Epilogue

  One month later

  J ake’s mountain home in Colorado was everything Emily had imagined. A fire roare
d in the enormous stone fireplace and three handsome dark-haired men stood in front of it, laughing and talking.

  Warmth filled her when she looked at Jake, and she knew the feeling wasn’t from the blaze on the hearth, but from the love she had for her husband. She turned her attention back to the women sitting with her. Blond Ashley Warner had been her wedding planner and truly a friend through that hectic period. Nick Colton’s wife, Abby, sat at her other side. Red-haired and beautiful, Abby was friendly and delightful. Emily was happy to renew her friendships with Abby and Ashley. Jake had planned a week at his mountain retreat and he’d invited his friends to come and stay over on Saturday so they wouldn’t have to navigate mountain roads late at night to get back to their own homes.

  And his mountain home with its twelve bedrooms was almost as palatial as his Dallas mansion, so there was plenty of room for three families.

  “When we get back home, you’ll both have to come visit and meet Ben,” Ashley said. “He’s a little over a year now and beginning to toddle. Both of you can come see what fun you’re in for.”

  Emily smiled at Abby, who had announced that she and Nick were expecting a baby next July. “I brought baby-name books to look at while we were traveling,” Emily said, and Abby laughed. “I have a suitcase filled with them. We’ll wait to design a nursery when we know what we’re having.”

  “We have a nursery, thanks to Jake’s overeagerness,” Emily said, smiling.

  The friends had come early in the day so the men could spend time together and catch up on their news. As Ashley and Abby talked, Emily looked at Jake’s large family room with soaring twenty-foot ceilings, wood-paneled walls and polished hardwood floors. The house had wings in both directions and was nestled in the mountains near his friends’ luxurious mountain getaways.

  She looked at Jake again in his thick cable-knit sweater, khakis and boots. He looked relaxed and handsome, and she was ready to be alone with him again.