“Be careful, Durango.”
Durango’s eyebrow lifted higher. “Be careful of what?”
“Discovering the fact that your heart isn’t really made of stone and that it might be putty in the right woman’s hands.”
Durango frowned. “Trust me, it won’t happen to me.”
Jared laughed. “I thought the same thing. Although I’m not complaining now, mind you. I discovered the hard way that the worst types of affairs are the pretended kind.”
“What are you talking about?”
There was another pause and Durango thought he heard the sound of his brother sipping something. Probably a glass of the finest wine. He could imagine Jared doing so in that million-dollar home he owned. Jared was a hotshot Atlanta attorney who over the years had made a name for himself by handling high-profile cases involving celebrity clients. Up until a year ago, Jared had been determined to stay a bachelor like Durango, and then Dana Rollins happened, surprising the hell out of everyone in the Westmoreland family who’d known Jared’s stand on marriage. He’d always claimed it wasn’t for him. He was a divorce attorney who ended marriages, not put them together. But now he was a happily married man who didn’t care if the world knew how much he loved his wife.
“My engagement to Dana,” Jared finally said, pulling Durango’s thoughts to the present then tumbling them back to the past when he remembered Jared’s surprised announcement of his engagement at their father’s birthday party last Easter.
“What about your engagement?”
“There never was one, at least not a real one.”
Durango frowned, wondering what the hell his brother was saying. He was too tired, not in the right frame of mind to try to figure out anything tonight. “What do you mean there never was one? I was there when you announced it.”
“I never announced anything. Mom did.”
Jared’s words made him think. Jared was right. Their mother had been the one who’d made a big fuss about Jared’s engagement. Jared hadn’t really said much. But then he hadn’t spoken up to deny it, either.
“Are you saying you went along with an engagement because Mom put you on the spot?”
“There was more to it than that, Durango. If you recall, soon after that we found out about that lump in Mom’s breast. She’d made it up in her mind I was getting married and the last thing I wanted to do was to burst her bubble, considering everything.”
Durango nodded. “So you pretended an engagement? And you actually got Dana to go along with doing something like that?”
“Yes, but in the midst of it all we fell in love.”
Durango shook his head, thinking how his brother had effectively pulled the wool over their eyes. “Who else knew the truth?”
“Dare. No one else needed to know. The only reason I’m even telling you is that I want you to see how things can happen.”
“Things like what?”
“How you can enter into a situation thinking one way and in the end, your thinking can change. The more I got to know Dana and spent time with her, the more I wanted more out of our relationship. I saw Savannah that night and I sensed the attraction between the two of you. She’s a woman a man can easily fall in love with. I could see that happening to you.”
Durango sat up straight in his chair. “Well, I can’t,” he snapped. “I’m happy things turned out that way for you and Dana, but it won’t for me and Savannah.”
“Can you be sure of that?”
“Yes, I can be sure. You were evidently capable of loving someone. I’m not. At least not now. If I had met Savannah before Tricia, then I—”
“When will you let go of what she did to you?”
“I have let go, but that doesn’t mean I want to open myself up to the same kind of hurt again.”
“And you think that you will be?”
“I’m thinking that I’m not willing to take the risk.”
“And what about Savannah?”
“What about her?”
“What if she feels differently?”
“She doesn’t and she won’t. She was more against us marrying than I was. In fact, I had to convince her it was the right thing to do. She only agreed to do it for the baby’s sake. She’ll stay for six months and then she’s out of here.”
“And the two of you have agreed to all of this?”
Durango rolled his eyes. “Yes, but we haven’t put it in writing, if that’s what that attorney’s mind of yours is driving at. Hey, maybe that isn’t such a bad idea. I want her to know I will continue to do right by her even after the baby is born. Draw me up something, will you?”
“Draw you up what?”
“I don’t know. Some legal document that spells out that I will continue to support her and the baby after the time is up. I want to set up a college fund and I intend to provide generous monthly allotments for my child, which I’ll be able to afford thanks to that business venture I’m in with McKinnon.”
“Are you sure you want to bring a legal document into the picture now?”
“Why not? I’d think she would appreciate knowing I will support her, something her father didn’t. She has this thing about how her old man treated her pregnant mother when they got married and he never did right by her, Jessica and her brother. I want to assure Savannah that I have no intentions of treating her that way.”
A half hour later Durango ended the call with Jared after telling him everything he wanted to put in the document. Whether his brother wanted to accept it or not, his marriage to Savannah was only temporary and Durango did not intend to ever forget that fact.
Eleven
T he next two weeks were busy ones for Savannah. It helped tremendously that her bouts of morning sickness were infrequent and she woke each day seeing it as another adventure.
Her boss was excited about the idea of a calendar to commemorate Yellowstone National Park and the men who protected its boundaries. In addition to the calendar, he also envisioned something bigger and he had suggested a documentary film. She was excited about the idea and spent most of her days shooting footage that might be used for the project.
Her nights belonged to Durango. After dinner she would read to him from the baby book, keep him abreast of all the changes that were taking place within her body, and then they went to bed. Each night Durango did his own investigation, getting firsthand knowledge by going deep inside her body. And each time he entered her, after bringing her to a feverish pitch, she was fully aware that the private moments they shared would remain a part of her, even after they had parted ways. But then she realized that something had happened that she hadn’t counted on.
She had fallen in love with Durango.
As she stood looking out the window, a part of her wondered at what point it had happened. Had it been just last night, when they had showered together and he had made love to her in such a beautiful way that had brought tears to her eyes? Or had it been last week, when he had taken her on a hike up the mountain, and they had stopped at the hunting cabin that he and McKinnon had built and had enjoyed the packed lunch he’d made for them. Or later, before coming back down the mountain, when they had enjoyed each other, making love outside near a beautiful stream under a beautiful Montana sky. She would always relish the tender, loving moments they shared and knew that deep down she would miss Durango.
She turned when she heard the phone ring, and quickly crossed the room, thinking it was Durango, but the caller ID indicated it was her brother, Rico, instead.
“Hello.”
“I know, Savannah.”
Savannah lifted a brow having an idea of what he knew. Evidently her mother had let something slip. “You know what?” she asked innocently.
“That you’re pregnant.”
Savannah smiled wryly. That was Rico for you. Straight to the point. “I had planned to tell you when I thought the time was right.”
There was silence for a moment and then he asked, “Are you okay with it?”
Savan
nah chuckled. “I’m more than okay with it. I’m ecstatic. Of course, I wasn’t at first because I was nervous and scared more than anything. Then I decided since I never planned to marry anyway, at least I’d have a baby. I always wanted one.”
“But you did get married.”
“Only for the baby.”
“Which is something you swore you’d never do.”
She sighed deeply. Leave it to Rico to remind her of that. “This is different. Durango and I went into this marriage with our eyes open. We want what’s best for our child and we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”
“Even if it means sentencing yourselves to a loveless marriage?”
“Yes, but in our case it will only be temporary. We’ve agreed to a divorce when the child is six months old.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked simply.
“No reason, I guess. When are you coming home?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. I had thought of coming to Philly to check on things, but all my bills are paid up, so there’s no rush. Besides, I like it out here.”
“And your husband?”
“What about him?”
“How’s he treating you?”
In all the right ways that a man should treat a woman. That very thought came to the tip of Savannah’s tongue and she hesitated, thinking of just how true it was. Maybe it was because they knew that things between them were only temporary, but whatever the reason, she enjoyed every second, every moment she spent with Durango.
But then it would be easy for her to do so anyway, because she’d fallen in love with him, and could now admit that she had done so the first time she had seen him at Jessica and Chase’s wedding.
“Savannah?”
“Durango is treating me well, so don’t worry yourself by thinking anything different. He’s a good man.”
“He got you pregnant.”
She heard the anger in Rico’s voice. “And he wasn’t in that bed alone, remember that,” she replied tersely. “Nor did he have my hands tied behind my back. Remember that, too,” she added. “I’m a big girl, Rico.”
He chuckled. “And you’ll be getting even bigger in the coming months.”
She smiled, glad the tension between them had passed. “Yes, and multiple births run in the Westmoreland family. So we might be getting double.”
“Finding out that you’re pregnant and the possibility of you having twins. That’s a lot for me to deal with, Savannah.”
Her smile deepened. “But I’m more than certain that you will.”
“It was really nice of your coworkers to give this party in our honor,” Savannah whispered to Durango while glancing around the room. Beth Manning, one of the female park rangers, had contacted her at the beginning of the week to tell her of the rangers’ plans to host a postwedding party for her and Durango.
At first Savannah had felt dishonest, but then, like Durango had said, the terms of their marriage were nobody’s business.
“Yes, it was nice of them,” he agreed, placing his arm around her shoulders to pull her closer to his side. They were at the home of Beth and her husband, Paul. Paul was a veterinarian in the area.
Savannah thought that Beth and Paul had a beautiful house that was located not far from Durango’s ranch, on the other side of the mountains. Inside the decor was different from Durango’s. Instead of it having two stories, the rooms were spacious and spread out on one level. And one side of the living room was a huge picture window that had no curtains, blinds or shades to block the beautiful panoramic view of the mountains.
Savannah had met most of the park rangers who worked with Durango when she had joined him for lunch one day, but this was the first chance she’d gotten to meet their spouses. Already she liked everyone. She thought they were genuinely friendly and appreciated them for making her feel welcome and at home.
Everyone had brought a covered dish and they were enjoying themselves, having a good time basking in the decent weather as well as the delicious food. One thing Savannah noticed was that Durango rarely left her side. He was always there, either holding her hand or placing his arms around her shoulders. She knew to everyone who observed them they appeared to be a very happy couple.
“Are the two of you ready to open the gifts now?” A smiling and exuberant blond-haired, blue-eyed Beth came up to them and asked.
Durango glanced at his watch. It was nearing midnight. “Now would be good. It’s getting late.”
“When did you ever care about time, Durango? I’ve known you since college and you’ve never been known to leave a party early,” Beth’s husband Paul came to join them and asked with twinkling green eyes and a charming smile.
“Oh, but he’s a married man now, Paul,” Beth reminded her husband, grinning. “We’re seeing a new Durango Westmoreland.”
Savannah could only imagine how the old Durango had been. She’d known the first moment she’d seen him that he was irresistible to women. Any man with his dark, striking good looks and strong, masculine body had to be. She wasn’t naive to assume that before she’d met him he had lived a quiet life that hadn’t included women. In fact, Jessica had been quick to tell her that he was a playboy and chances were once he regained his freedom he would revert to his womanizer ways.
A short while later she and Durango found themselves seated in chairs that were in the middle of a circle. Everyone else sat around them.
One by one Beth handed Savannah a gift that she excitedly opened. She and Durango received wineglasses, bath towels, plants, throw rugs and various other gifts. Durango had watched the happy enthusiasm on Savannah’s face as she opened each present. But it was the huge, beautiful blue satin bedspread that had caught everyone’s attention, including his.
The lower part of his body actually stirred when Savannah unwrapped it. Immediately, he could envision it on his bed with them buried beneath it while they made love. He met her gaze and knew she had had the same vision, and that made his body stir even more. Lucky for him that was the last gift that needed to be opened.
“I’m going to load everything in my truck and Savannah and I are going to call it a night,” he said to everyone while glancing at his watch again. “It’s officially Sunday morning.”
Paul chuckled. “Nobody made you the time keeper, Durango, but I understand. I’ve been married four years longer than you have.”
Savannah didn’t know what to say other than thanks and good night to everyone once the guys had helped Durango load all the packages into his truck.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day that Durango Westmoreland fell so hard for a woman,” Penny Washington, another park ranger, came and whispered in Savannah’s ear. “The two of you look so happy together.”
It was on the tip of Savannah’s tongue to say that looks were deceiving, but then she changed her mind. She wasn’t sure how Durango actually felt about being with her, but she could inwardly admit she was very happy being with him. And that, she thought, was beginning to be the root of a very serious problem. It was all fine and dandy when the two of them had wanted the same thing out of their marriage—no emotional ties. But now she loved him, and it was getting harder and harder to pretend otherwise.
“Ready?”
She glanced up and noticed Durango had come back inside the house. She saw the look in his eyes. She recognized it. She was becoming used to it. But still, that didn’t stop the sensation of air being ripped right out of her lungs. Already she felt her entire body melting.
She cleared her throat. “Yes,” she said.
“Wait a minute, Durango. You know how these types of gatherings are supposed to end. You have to kiss your bride for us,” one of the rangers called out.
Durango smiled and hollered back, “Hey, that’s no problem.” And then he leaned down and kissed her in front of everyone, taking her mouth as passionately and as thoroughly as he’d done when they’d been alone. His kiss ma
de her want and desire him…and love him even more. The cheers, catcalls and whistles went unnoticed. She was too busy drowning in the taste of the man who was her temporary husband.
Durango had only made it partway to the ranch when he couldn’t take it any longer. Pulling his truck over to the side off the road, he cut off the ignition then, after unsnapping their seat belts, he reached across the seat and pulled Savannah into his arms. He needed another kiss.
Her lips parted instantly, eagerly. She was full of fire and heat and the more he devoured her mouth, the more she returned his passion.
He liked the sound of her whimpering in pleasure; he liked the feel of her wiggling in his lap, trying to get even closer; and he liked the scent of her scintillating perfume.
He reluctantly withdrew his mouth from hers. If he didn’t stop now they would wind up making love in his truck and he didn’t want that. He wanted a bed. “As soon as we get home I’m going to teach you a skill every woman should know.”
A quick surge of heat rushed through Savannah at his words. “And what skill is that?”
He gently squeezed her nipples through her blouse and grinned ruefully. “You’ll find out soon enough.” He then placed her back in her seat and snapped her seat belt in place.
Sitting beside him the rest of the way to the ranch was torture for Savannah. He had turned her on and there was no way she could get turned off. In silence she glanced over at him. It was a moonless night but the glow from the SUV’s console was all the light she needed to study his profile and note the intensity that lined his features. She quickly realized that he was as turned on as she was.
When they reached the ranch he brought the truck to a stop, got out, strode over to the passenger side, opened the door, unsnapped her seat belt and lifted her into his arms. Walking swiftly, he headed for the house.
“What about the gifts?” she asked, pressing her face into his chest, relishing the masculine scent of him.
“I’ll unload everything tomorrow. There’s no time tonight.”
She smiled, thinking he was certainly making time for something. He opened the door and, after kicking it back shut with the heel of his boot, he carried her up the stairs to his bedroom.
The Durango Affair Page 13