by Judy Duarte
Quite frankly, it was difficult for her to keep the two entities separate—especially when she wasn’t privy to any of his telephone conversations and he rarely confided in her, anyway. At least, he hadn’t since that first night when she’d made some suggested changes to the artwork his marketing department had been considering.
After eating a sandwich for lunch, he often went out onto the ranch to help Ian and several teenagers who’d come to work repairing the barn, the corrals and one of the outbuildings. The Ramirez boy and his friends were doing a good job. Both Ian and Jason seemed pleased with them.
In the evenings, Juliana cooked dinner, which Jason appreciated. At least, he complimented her on her efforts and asked for seconds. He also invited her to join him on the porch afterward. But ever since that heated kiss, she’d found one excuse or another to avoid being alone with him.
The only problem was, she was getting tired of going to her bedroom early each night and looking—and feeling—like a hermit. After all, sparks aside, she did enjoy his company. Maybe she could just...ignore those feelings in favor of some good old-fashioned conversation by starlight.
So tonight, after dinner, when he asked if she’d like to go out onto the porch, she finally agreed.
It must have surprised him because he broke into a smile. “That’s great. But before we do, I have something I want to give you.”
Now it was her turn to be surprised. “What is it?”
“Wait here.”
When he disappeared through the doorway into the main part of the house, she pulled out a kitchen chair and took a seat at the antique oak table.
He returned before she knew it with a long plastic bag covering what had to be an article of clothing, because it hung from a coat hanger. It also had to be the same thing he’d been carrying when she’d run into him at Caroline’s Diner.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“A bonus for all the hard work you’ve done.”
Her head tilted slightly to the side. “I don’t understand.”
He handed it to her. “Take it out.”
She reached for the hanger and noted the Mercantile logo. He’d apparently purchased something for her, and she had no idea how to respond. But she probably ought to look inside before saying anything. So she removed the plastic, revealing a stylish black cocktail dress, a slinky, formfitting number that would have looked amazing if she still had a waistline. But there was no way it would possibly fit now. And even if it would, she couldn’t accept it.
“I talked to Ralph Nettles about my plan to sell the ranch,” he said, “and even though it isn’t officially listed yet, I want to celebrate by going out to dinner tomorrow night—at Maestro’s.”
The gift and the invitation to help him celebrate jumbled her thoughts and robbed her of speech.
“Since you didn’t have anything suitable to wear,” he added, “I picked this up for you. Consider it a bonus for a job well done.”
Was he serious?
A sweet but cocky grin suggested he was. And while his motives might be genuine and sincere, they reeked of those of the once-charming Alex Montgomery, the art dealer who’d swept into the gallery one day, set his sights on her, promising her the moon, then left her holding a handful of lies.
“I’m sorry.” She passed the dress back to him. “I can’t accept this. And I won’t go out to dinner with you, either. I don’t feel right about socializing with a coworker or an employer.”
His grin faded, and an expression of remorse took its place. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you—or to come on too strong. I find you attractive, Juliana, and I wanted to spend some time with you away from work, away from the ranch. I’d like to get to know you better. But I don’t want you to feel awkward or uncomfortable about it.”
She bit down on her bottom lip, believing the first person to learn her secret should be her mother, but wondering if her new boss deserved a better explanation than the response she’d just given him.
“It’s not what you’re thinking,” she said. “There’s more to it than that.”
A boyish grin, this one more confident than cocky, slid back into place. “You mean I didn’t offend you or come on too strong?”
“No, I’m...flattered.”
His smile deepened, and he moved forward.
She lifted her right hand to slow him down—or rather, to fend him off. “I’m pregnant.”
He took a step back, as if she might be contagious, and she nearly laughed. In fact, she might have if a flood of tears hadn’t filled her eyes to overflowing.
“Oh, jeez, Juliana. I’m sorry. Now I’m the one who feels awkward.”
She might have let the chuckles flow, hoping to get some control over the emotions that had been bubbling inside her for the past four and a half months. But there really wasn’t anything funny about it—other than the adorable look of utter embarrassment on the gorgeous CEO’s face.
“Besides my doctor, you’re the first in town to learn the news. I plan to tell my mother next, although the fact that I’m not married to the baby’s father and will be raising my child on my own is sure to crush any excitement about being a new grandma. She has pretty high moral standards, and my situation will be sure to scandalize her if and when it gets out. I was hoping to tell her, then leave town. If we keep it a secret and I return a few years down the road, I can create a make-believe story to explain the baby by then.”
“So that’s why you plan to leave Brighton Valley so soon.”
“You heard Margie at Caroline’s Diner quizzing me a couple of days ago.” She placed her hand on her growing womb, stroking the rounded slope. “As you can see, if I want to keep this a secret, my time in Brighton Valley is nearly up.”
“Who’s the father?”
“An art dealer who recently purchased stock in the gallery I worked in.”
“Does he know about the baby?”
She paused for a moment, wondering just how much she cared to reveal. She was still reeling from the fact that the man she’d thought she loved had been living two different lives—one as a married father of three and the other as a footloose womanizer.
But that would mean she couldn’t read people very well and that she’d been completely taken in by a lying jerk. And she hated to admit that her judgment was so poor.
“I made a big mistake by getting involved with the wrong guy,” she admitted. “He wasn’t the man he claimed to be. He knows about the baby, but he’s not interested. In fact, he wanted me to ‘get rid of it’ and referred to it as a rug rat. But I refused. So for that and several other reasons, he’ll never be a part of my life or my baby’s.”
“What about child support?” Jason asked.
“I’m going it alone. But don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” And she would be.
She swiped a hand across her eyes. Her words might project confidence, but unfortunately, her over-productive tear ducts might not be as convincing.
* * *
Jason was stunned. He hadn’t expected Juliana to turn him down—or to give him such a compelling reason. He should thank his lucky stars that he had the perfect excuse to run—and not walk!—away from all of that. Yet his...what, his heart? His conscience? Whatever it was seemed to hold him back and wouldn’t let him hightail it too far away just yet.
His father had been a womanizer and had left Braden’s mother in a similar situation. And while he might not have gotten other single women pregnant, he’d surely hurt them or made them feel as though he cared less for them than he’d first led them to believe.
And now, those women had a face. A lovely one, with flushed, tear-stained cheeks.
“What will you do to support yourself?” he asked.
“I’ll find a job. In the meantime, I have this.” Juliana swept her arm in front of her, indicating the work he’d given her at the ranch. “I also dabble in art and left a few pieces back at La Galleria in Wexler on consignment. Hopefully, they’ll sell. Loren
, the original owner, is going to forward the money to my mother. And she’ll pass it on to me.”
“So you’re an artist,” he said.
She gave him a halfhearted shrug. “I’d planned to be. Someday. But going on to a four-year university didn’t work out. And now I’ll be looking for employment I can depend on to support me and a baby.”
He felt the urge to offer her a position at Rayburn Energy, but bit back what could only be considered an overzealous attempt to right his father’s wrongs. All he needed was to have Juliana within arm’s distance day in and day out. Or for her to feel beholden to him in some way. That would really muddle things at the office.
She slipped the dress back into the plastic bag and handed it to him. “Thanks for thinking of me. I certainly appreciate your generosity. But now you can see why I can’t accept it.”
“Keep it anyway. I’m sure you’ll be able to wear it someday.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, which glistened with tears that he feared could overflow again at any moment. “After the baby gets here, I doubt that I’ll have an opportunity to go anywhere for quite a while, let alone to a place where I can wear something this nice.”
The truth of her words filled the air, and so did the unfairness of her situation. She’d be financially strapped and carrying the responsibility of her love child alone. And she was too young, too pretty, too...
He studied her a moment, caught up in... Hell, he had no idea what was swirling around him. It seemed to be the same attraction he’d felt earlier, but it couldn’t be.
Was it respect, then? It had to be. That and maybe something more.
“That guy,” he said, “the baby’s father. He was a fool.”
Her smile brightened. “Thanks. My ego needed to hear that.”
Unable to help himself, he ran his knuckles along her cheek, and their gazes locked. Then, as if he’d lost all shred of good sense, he brushed a kiss across her lips.
Just to show his friendship, he told himself. His support.
But his arms seemed to have a rebellious mind of their own as they stole around her waist and drew her close. The kiss deepened, promising to light up the room in a burst of heat, just like before, but Juliana ended it almost as quickly as it began.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “This isn’t going to work.”
“I know. I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen. It just did, and it was out of line.”
Out of line? He’d been out of his mind, too. What had provoked him to kiss her again? She’d given him the perfect opportunity to cut bait and to get back on an even keel.
She placed her hand, the fingers splayed, at the base of her throat and took a step back. “I think it’s best if you find someone else to finish up the inventory. I’ll help out until my replacement arrives.”
She was right, of course. But what was he going to do if she quit?
His gut clenched at the thought of her leaving. How odd that he’d feel that way about losing an employee who could be replaced.
Especially one who was expecting another man’s baby.
* * *
Jason slept like hell that night and woke early the next morning. Rather than face Juliana and discuss the inappropriate kiss that had probably ruined a successful working arrangement, he fixed a cup of coffee, went into the den and began his day by checking email and catching up on the issues going on at the Houston office.
One of the first messages he received was from Doug Broderick, his right-hand man.
Jason,
I’ve attached the graphics with your suggested changes to the art layout. Craig, the marketing director, was impressed and thinks you’re really onto something. I agree. What do you think of it now?
Doug
Jason studied the revised graphics, realizing Juliana’s suggestions had made a big difference and provided that spark the artwork had been missing.
How about that? he mused.
Should he mention to Doug where the idea had come from? It wasn’t as though he wanted to steal the credit for himself, but how deep did he want to get involved with Juliana?
Craig had suggested a shake-up in the marketing department to get some new blood. What if he wanted to interview the woman who’d taken one glimpse at the art layout and solved their dilemma within seconds with a simple suggestion?
Juliana needed a job, but she’d already told him she thought it was best that he find someone else to work for him. He couldn’t very well sing her praises to the art department then. And that wasn’t the only reason.
Granted, she had an innate talent and would be a great addition to an art department someday. But according to Carly, Juliana had never finished college. And she herself admitted that she only dabbled in art. So she wasn’t entirely qualified for the position with his company at this particular time.
On top of that, there was the personal dilemma that was impossible to ignore. With the obvious chemistry they had—and the passion that was ready to ignite every time he got within arm’s length of her—he couldn’t very well risk passing her in the hall or bumping into her on the elevator, now could he?
Still, he wasn’t about to use her suggestion without offering her any compensation. He knew the struggle she’d be facing over the next months—and possibly years.
Hell, maybe he could tell her that he’d set up a scholarship foundation for single mothers intending to finish their education. And that he was giving one to her.
Now there was an idea. He could call it the Charles Rayburn Love ’Em and Leave ’Em Foundation, created in an effort to make things right for jilted women around the world. And he could provide the first scholarship to Juliana.
Jason blew out a ragged sigh. Actually, all kidding aside, that wasn’t entirely out of the question. He’d have to give it some thought. In the meantime, he had an email to answer.
Doug,
It looks great. I thought that would work. Tell Craig to run with it and see what his crew can come up with now.
Jason
He felt a momentary twang of guilt for taking any credit at all for her idea, but he hit Send anyway. If he hadn’t seen the merit, he wouldn’t have suggested it to Doug in the first place. Besides, he was going to lose Juliana anyway. Hadn’t she told him last night that she’d be leaving?
That reminded him. He’d need to find a replacement—even if he doubted he could find anyone who’d come close to filling her shoes.
He’d no more than moved on to the next project on his to-do list when her voice sounded in the doorway.
“Excuse me,” she said, “I hate to bother you, Jason, but I found something you need to see.”
He glanced up from the file on his desk and spotted a black leather briefcase in her hand. His father’s? It sure looked like it. “Where’d you find that?”
She entered the den and made her way to the front of his desk. “In one of the guest rooms. It was sitting up next to a wing-back chair. I looked inside to see if I could tell who it belonged to, and I found some files and papers that must be your father’s. So I thought you’d better go through it instead of me.”
That meant his dad had stopped by the ranch recently—before going to Mexico three months ago. Why had he done that?
Had Ian seen him? If so, Ian hadn’t mentioned it. But then, Jason hadn’t asked. He’d had no reason to believe his dad would have come here.
Jason opened the briefcase, but it didn’t take long to realize what Juliana had pieced together. The briefcase had, indeed, belonged to Charles Rayburn. He’d either left it here on purpose, intending to return, or he’d forgotten it.
“Did you find anything else in that room?” he asked. “Any clothes or toiletries?”
“I haven’t gone through the closets or the bathroom yet. But I’ll go and look now.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”
And he would. He was overwhelmed with chores to do around here, both inside and out. And while he’d
let Ian do most of the ranch work, and Juliana handled things in the house, that reminded him. How was he going to get everything done if Juliana left?
Braden was still in Mexico, and if Carly’s show was a hit, who knew when either of them would step up to relieve him or help out. He could hire someone to replace Juliana, but they’d created such a comfortable working relationship—at least, when he wasn’t tempted to kiss her.
After Juliana returned to the guest room where she’d been working, Jason sorted through the briefcase, releasing the spicy scent of his father’s aftershave, as well as a hint of the peppermint breath mints he’d favored.
For a moment, Jason felt like a boy again, stealing a peek into his father’s domain, hoping for a minute or two of the man’s time. But his father was gone. As usual. This time permanently.
As he read over the files, he realized they were all recent. Most of them needed to be back at Rayburn Enterprises. He probably should ship them overnight.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway as Juliana returned. “The closet was empty. So was the bathroom. It looks like the briefcase was all he left.”
She leaned against the doorjamb, her hair a tumble of red curls. For a moment, he forgot about his father, his work, his responsibilities to the trust or his siblings. Instead, he studied the lovely young woman who’d crossed his path and momentarily upended his world.
Her baby bump, if you could call it that, barely showed through the blousy green top she wore. Yet it gave her an intriguing appeal—the kind a man could come home to.
But he quickly shook it off. “I’m going to have to send the paperwork back to the office. Do you know where I can find the nearest FedEx or UPS place?”
“The only one I’m aware of is in Wexler, a couple of doors down from the art gallery where I worked.”
Jason suspected there was one in Brighton Valley, which would probably be closer, but rather than search on his iPhone, he decided to drive into Wexler. While he was there, he might even swing by La Galleria and check out the deadbeat dad who’d fathered her baby.
He had no idea why it mattered who the guy was and what he looked like, but for some crazy reason, it did.