Nine Months

by Beverly Barton

  “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 loo
p, 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.”

  “Are you saying that you don’t want to marry me?”

  “I was willing to do the honorable thing and marry you since you’re carrying my child,” he said. “I realize now that you’re right. Neither of us can get what we want from a marriage to each other. You’ll eventually find some man who will be able to give you the love you need, and in five years, I’ll choose my proper mate.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Paige felt as if she’d been hit by a two-ton truck. This was the reaction she had halfway expected when Jared first learned that she was pregnant. But not now. Not after he’d spent weeks pursuing her, showering her with gifts and attention, and pleading with her to be his wife.

  “You don’t have to say anything, except that you agree to my terms. I’m prepared to give you what you asked for in the beginning, and that was for you to be allowed to continue working here at Montgomery’s until the baby is born. I won’t interfere in your life, other than as your employer and as Angela’s father. I think you’ll agree that I do have a right to be concerned about my child.”

  “Yes, of course you have a right. It’s just that I—”

  “We can meet with my lawyer tomorrow and iron out all the details concerning child support and visitation. And whenever you decide about the house, just let me know.”

  “I won’t need a house,” she said. “My apartment has a small room that I use for storage. I can turn that into a nursery.”

  “Fine.” He nodded his head. “But later on, in a year or so, if you decide you want the house or one of the new condos Montgomery’s is building, you can let me know.”

  “All right.”

  “What about allowing me to finance your business?” he asked. “I’d be doing it as much for Angela as for you.”

  “I’ll think about it. But if—and that’s a big if—I allow you to help me buy my doll shop and set me up in business, I’ll consider it a loan and I’ll repay it with interest.”

  If Paige was acting, she was giving an Academy Award-winning performance, Jared decided. But it was too soon to tell. He had to stick to his plan and wait it out, until he was certain he could trust Paige.

  “All right. We’ll consider it a loan, if that’s the way you want it.”

  “That’s the way I want it.”

  Paige seemed to be disappointed that he’d given up his pursuit to marry her. But he was relatively certain that she was merely in a state of shock over his abrupt change of heart, and that once she had time to carefully consider his new plan, she would readily agree. Unless her reluctance to marry him really had been an act…. Time would tell. If he had misjudged Paige, she’d give herself away soon enough. If marriage without a prenuptial agreement had been her goal all along, then she’d be forced to pursue him from now on.

  “Is that all?” she asked. “Is our discussion concluded? May I leave?”

  “Will you meet with my lawyer and sign the agreement tomorrow?”

  “Not tomorrow. I’ll want my own lawyer to take a look at the agreement first.” Paige stood on unsteady legs, willing herself not to stumble on her way out of his office. She held out her hand. “Agreed?”

  “Agreed.” He gripped her hand in his, shaking it soundly. But he didn’t want to let her go. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. He wanted to add an amendment to their agreement. One that said she would be his lover for as long as he wanted her.

  He might not trust Paige, but he couldn’t deny the desire that raged inside him. That hot desire could easily be his downfall if he didn’t control it. A shrewd woman would know how to use it against him.

  Paige jerked her hand out of his grasp. Their gazes met and held for one long, endless moment, then she looked away and turned, hurrying toward the door.

  “Oh, one other thing,” Jared said.

  She stopped in the doorway but didn’t turn around. “I’m driving into Denver next Tuesday for a business meeting. It’ll be an overnight trip. I’ll need you to go along. As my administrative assistant.”

  “Overnight?”

  “Separate rooms, I promise.”

  “Strictly business?”

  “Business and friendship,” he said. “It will make things a lot easier all the way around if you and I can be friends.” He crossed the room, halted a foot away from her and reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder. Fighting the urge to take her in his arms and ravish her, Jared squeezed her shoulder gently. “We can put off signing the agreement until after our trip to Denver. We can take that time alone to discuss our child and her future. What do you say?”

  “I’ll think about it and let you know.”

  She walked away, through her office and out into the hallway. Jared had the oddest notion that she was rushing off in tears. Surely he was mistaken. Why would she be crying? She’d gotten what she wanted. Or had she?

  * * *

  Even after they were under way, heading south to I-70, Paige wasn’t sure she’d made the right decision. But in the week following Jared’s return from his Texas ranch, he had neither said nor done anything to suggest that he wasn’t one hundred percent sincere about their new agreement. Except for his occasional comments about the baby, he maintained a completely professional attitude toward her. He was her courteous, considerate employer and she was his competent, loyal employee.

  Her doubts followed her all the way to Denver as they connected with I-70, which took them directly into the Mile-High City.

  “Why don’t we simply fly to Denver in the company jet and return immediately following the business meeting?” she had questioned him before they left town.

  “To be perfectly honest, Paige, I want some time alone with you. Away from the office and away from Grand Springs,” he’d said. “You and I have some major decisions to make about our lives and our daughter’s life. I thought this trip would give us the opportunity to get to know each other a little better…as friends. If we’re going to raise a child together, we should at least be friends, don’t you think?”

  He was right, of course, and although her instincts cautioned her
that she might be heading into trouble, she agreed to make the trip with him.

  During the two-and-a-half hour drive in Jared’s new Jeep Grand Cherokee, he kept up a running conversation on various subjects. Gradually Paige realized that the two of them actually had quite a lot in common, despite the vast difference in their backgrounds. They enjoyed skiing, horseback riding, camping, canoeing and fishing.

  “I had no idea you were such an outdoor girl.” He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “I assumed a woman whose passion is buying, selling and restoring dolls wouldn’t be into macho stuff like camping and fishing.”

  “You forget that I grew up with a very macho father and two gung ho younger brothers. In my family, I either learned to enjoy macho stuff or I got left out.”

  When Jared put on a Luke Bryan CD, they discovered that they both loved country music. And that led to a discussion about music in general, which revealed their mutual enjoyment of classical and their dislike for hard rock.

  They arrived in Denver at ten-thirty, just in time to freshen up before Jared’s eleven o’clock appointment. Five minutes into the business meeting with a group of potential investors, Paige realized that her presence was unnecessary. The minute the meeting ended, at a quarter to twelve, she confronted him. He admitted that requesting her secretarial skills for the business trip had been a ruse.

  “I knew that if I was totally honest with you and told you that I wanted to bring you to Denver on a shopping trip, you would have balked at the idea,” he told her.

  “A shopping trip?”

  “For maternity clothes, and for a complete layette, for everything our baby will need.”

  “But, Jared—”

  “Come on, Paige. This is something I want to do for you and our child.”

  “I don’t know….”

  “Look, honey, as the baby’s father, I not only have certain rights, but certain obligations, too. Don’t you agree?”

  “Yes, of course. It’s just that—”