Dynasties Collection

“But you’re pregnant now? How does that work?” Guy’s brows shot up. “That is what you’re trying to tell me?”

“Yes!” She was breathing quickly, her breasts rising and falling. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. And before you even think of accusing me of trying to fob off someone else’s baby on you—”

“That never occurred to me,” Guy said heatedly, forgetting all about her breasts at the accusation. “Whatever gave you the idea I’d think that?”

“Your reaction to seeing me with Matt?”

Well, she had him there. He couldn’t precisely argue without revealing his gut-grinding jealousy before he’d discovered Matt was her cousin.

“Your idiocy over Todd.” She raised an eyebrow. “Warning me away from Louis? Need I go on?”

Guy started to feel very foolish. “Are you sure you’re pregnant? It could be a mistake.”

“Stop clutching at straws, Guy. I’m probably pregnant.”

“Probably pregnant?”

But she didn’t laugh as he’d intended at his emphasis on the absurd way she’d put it.

“I am pregnant, Guy. I know it’s the last thing you want in your life. So I have no expectations of you. You are free. But you need to know I’m going to keep this baby.”

He stared at her. What did she expect him to say to that?

Of course he didn’t want a child—he didn’t even want a wife, or a partner, or a significant other. He was quite happy the way his life was.

But he wasn’t ready to lose Avery from his life either. For days he’d been dreading the idea of her leaving. He was no longer free—nor did he wish to be.

It struck him that the baby would give him a great reason to keep her in his life, without having to define to himself—or to her—exactly what their relationship was.

“Avery—” under the water he placed a hand on her thigh “—this gives even more reason why you should move in with me. You’re pregnant with my child. That’s hardly the kind of thing you can hide for very long. It’s bound to come out.”

Her thigh tensed. “You mean we should set up home together?”

Home? He wriggled like a trout hooked by a particularly attractive lure. “I was thinking we should live together and see how things work out.”

She put her hands over her face. “Guy, a baby is about as lasting an arrangement as anything can be. It brings responsibilities like motherhood … and fatherhood. You don’t have to assume that responsibility if you don’t want to. I absolve you.”

She was deliberately misunderstanding him.

Guy gave a sigh to vent his frustration and increased the pressure of his hand to make sure she didn’t try to bolt. “Dammit—” he hesitated “—it’s hard to take in. I never wanted a family.”

“That’s why I told you I’m not expecting anything of you.” Her hand closed over his. “Please understand I’m not trying to trap you.”

“I know that.” His certainty surprised him. His outburst had been boorish—the situation they were in was as much his fault as hers. He’d acted recklessly that night in the hot tub, and they’d both reaped the consequences. “And it’s no longer about what either of us want. I’m sure this is every bit as much a trap for you as for me. The last thing you must want is a baby—particularly as your work is going so well.”

After the Food and Wine Gala was over Guy had no doubt she’d have more work offers than she could handle.

“Not at all. I’ve always wanted a family … and kids.” That dreamy look was back on her face.

Guy’s heart stood still.

Sliding his hand out from under hers, he wondered if this had been a trap he hadn’t even suspected? Giving her a narrow stare, he said, “Did you deliberately not use protection?”

“No! I stopped taking the Pill when I went back to California. I’d sworn off men.” She gave him a wry smile. “And contrary to popular belief, I didn’t come to Jarrod Ridge expecting to have an affair.”

Ouch.

Was this a trap? If it was, hadn’t he deserved to be caught? He hadn’t taken precautions that night in the spa, even though he’d taken great care every time since. But once was all it took.

Avery stood up in the water and said, “I’ll be going back to California in four days. There’s no point in my moving in with you and telling the world that your mistress is pregnant with your baby.”

Before he could temper his reaction, Guy burst out, “That’s insulting to us both. You wouldn’t be my mistress.”

“Scared you couldn’t afford me?”

Beads of water streamed over her curves … curves that Guy knew intimately. But Avery was so much more than a sexy body.

He tore his gaze away. “Don’t demean yourself! You’re far too proper, with too much sense of your self-worth, to ever have accepted such an inequitable relationship—and I have too much respect for you to suggest it.” Avery was far too independent to be any man’s mistress. Although Guy was sure there were men who would’ve loved to have decorated her with diamonds and paid for her upkeep. She was smart, sexy and spirited. What more could any man want?

She looked stunned by his heated defense of her. What could he say? It had startled him, too. He justified it by adding, “My dad would’ve torn a strip off any of his boys for making a decent woman such an offer. He always said that honor was part of the Jarrod name.”

Avery took two towels off a shelf, arranged one at the edge of the pool and sat down.

“A bit of a double standard, hmm? He must’ve kept a mistress, otherwise there would be no Erica.”

“He didn’t keep a mistress—not while my mother was alive.” Guy glared at her for even suggesting that. Then he conceded, “But he did seduce another man’s wife. Not much honor in that, I have to agree.” Which was only one of the reasons he’d so resented Erica’s existence. It went to prove that his father’s high standards were nothing more than hypocrisy.

“Maybe he was lonely,” suggested Avery.

“Lonely?” He shook his head. “That’s stupid. He had a family—maybe we were farflung, but we were his children. He had Jarrod Ridge … the business empire he always wanted.” Had it not been enough? Was Avery right? Had his father been lonely? Guilt pierced him. He shoved it aside, and focused on the woman who had turned his world upside down.

Leaning forward, Avery started to pat herself dry with the second towel. “I think it would be far better for me to stay with Melissa as you’ve arranged, and for no one to be any the wiser about my baby.”

Her baby? What about his rights? The surge of primal possessiveness took him aback. If Avery was planning to deny him access to his own child she was in for a surprise.

But it wasn’t worth fighting now. They both needed time to absorb that they were going to be parents.

Finally he sighed and pushed his damp hair out of his eyes. “If you’d rather stay with Melissa, I’ll take you to Willow Lodge.”

Twelve

Willow Lodge oozed mellow serenity.

It was set away from the main resort complex, in a spot sheltered from the winds. Inside, the walls and floors were crafted from wood the color of honey and dramatic picture windows looked out over the willows for which the lodge was named. The fragrance of lavender and beeswax lingered in the air, and Avery found herself instantly unwinding.

And Melissa did everything to make her feel comfortable.

“Treat Willow Lodge like your home,” Guy’s sister said. Avery took Melissa at her word. After sleeping under a down comforter and having a leisurely breakfast, Avery propped her leg up on a footrest in front of a window overlooking the willows and showing glimpses of the river beyond.

A constant trickle of visitors kept her entertained. Guy was the first to arrive. Shortly after Melissa departed for Tranquility Spa, he came through the back door. “How’s the ankle?”

“Much better.” Avery turned her head. Guy wore dark trousers and a black-on-white striped long-sleeved shirt with elegant European panache. The years he’d spent in France showed. She forced herself to stop gawking at the man like a lovelorn teenager.

He came closer and his breath was warm on the top of her leg as he leaned down. “No sign of swelling.”

“Only a little bruising.” With her fingertips Avery found the tender spot.

“It will go all the colors of the rainbow before it fades.”

Avery groaned. “I hope not.” He was so close that she could detect the subtle green notes of moss and musk in his aftershave. “I’m keeping it iced. It’s helping—even though it’s freezing.”

“Good.”

Avery wrinkled her nose at him. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you were the one wearing an ice pack.”

He hunkered down beside her, and put his hand on her ankle. “Probably not.”

A delicious warmth cruised through her at his touch. Avery had thought her ankle too numbed by cold to respond to stimulus.

Not so.

When he started to move his fingers in little circular strokes her breath hooked in the back of her throat. His hand stroked up her calf, across the back of her knees, and tantalizing shivers followed. The taunting fingers stopped just below the hemline of her fitted dress, and she knew if she tried to protest her voice would be nothing more than a thin thread of sound. Then Guy would know precisely how much he was rattling her composure.

She glanced away, only to be transfixed by the sight of his long, square-tipped fingers caressing her flesh.

She inhaled a deep, steadying breath, and his heady male scent filled her senses.

How could one man have such an impact on her?

Only him.

Ever.

She feared it would only be Guy for her, all her life. And now she was pregnant with the baby he didn’t want. It was over. He’d made it crystal clear he didn’t want a wife … children … a family.

On Monday she was returning to El Dorado, to her family. Undoubtedly Guy would be amiable, offer support; Christian would be asked to negotiate the terms of any agreement, which she would insist on being kept confidential. Perhaps Guy would even offer to do his duty and see the child on the odd occasion. But Avery fostered no illusions that Guy would want to be actively involved with his child … or with her. She’d likely have more contact with Christian than with Guy.

At least she would have his baby….

She glanced up into his eyes. And stilled. There was an emotion she’d never seen exposed. A mix of tenderness and desire. Or something else?

Slowly he removed his hand from her leg. “I better get going. Otherwise I might not get to work today—and with the charity auction fundraiser tomorrow night, there’s a lot to do.”

Avery’s heart skipped a beat.

For what seemed like a lifetime their eyes held. Then he leaned forward and kissed her. It wasn’t like any of the kisses they’d shared before. It was gentle, tender, with the promise of passion in the way his lips moved on hers. And it left her yearning for more.

Then he pulled away and rose to his feet. “I’ll be back later. Take care of yourself.”

It was only as he walked away that Avery realized that despite his concern for her, he’d never once mentioned their baby….

After Guy had left, Erica dropped off a pile of magazines, and Avery discovered that they both shared a passion for collecting recipes and baking.

“Christian has a meeting in town tonight, so I’ll come by with some ingredients to bake an apple pie,” Erica promised.

Avery agreed in a rush. Guy had said he would return. The more people around to act as a buffer, the better. Guy clearly had no intention of talking about the baby, and nor did she. It would only cause tension and misery between them.

Erica had only just departed when Gavin and Trevor trooped in to see how Avery was getting along.

She was rather touched by the concern the Jarrods were showing her.

Late that afternoon Guy returned with food he’d had Louis rustle up in the kitchens at Chagall’s. So by the time Melissa came home from the spa, the table was laid and candles lit, giving the honey tones of the lodge a cozy warmth.

“I seem to have taken over your home,” Avery told Melissa apologetically.

“I don’t mind.” Melissa smiled at her. “It’s nice to have company.”

“But you’ve always said you wanted peace,” Guy protested. “If you’re lonely, you should come and stay in one of the family suites at Manor Lodge. In fact, there are two spare ones right now.”

“I’m not lonely—and having Avery as company is different from living with you guys.” Rolling her eyes, Melissa said to Avery, “Believe me, sometimes a girl needs a break from her brothers. It was a pleasant surprise to discover I had a sister when Christian revealed Erica to us.”

Avery slid her gaze to Guy to see how he was reacting to Melissa’s revelation. But she detected none of the resentment she’d half expected.

“So that’s a roundabout way of saying you’re welcome to stay for as long as you like,” Melissa smiled at Avery, “but my brothers are not.”

Guy howled in protest.

Avery started to giggle. “Hey, I know exactly what Melissa means.”

More laughter bubbled up in her throat as Guy glared at her.

“Traitor!”

“I was two when my parents died. I was lucky enough to be taken in by my aunt and uncle and I grew up with my cousins—four boys. Believe me, I always wanted a sister, too.”

“Hey, now you’re both ganging up on me.”

“Wait until Erica arrives, you’ll be outnumbered three to one,” said Melissa with sisterly satisfaction.

Guy gave her an evil grin. “I’ll have to call in reinforcements.”

“No!” Avery and Melissa chorused. They glanced at each other and started to laugh.

When Erica walked in, she paused in the doorway. “Sounds like a festive dinner.”

“Avery mentioned you were coming to bake a pie. There’s more than enough food, so join us for dinner.”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

But Avery wondered if she was the only one to detect Erica’s hesitation. Her hand touched her tummy. These people were her baby’s family … she would’ve loved her baby to have grown up among them.

If only things could’ve been different. Not going to happen. Even though she’d needed Erica and Melissa present to stop the awkwardness between her and Guy, she was a little irritated that he’d made no attempt to corner her and discuss the baby.

It only underlined the fact that this was no romantic daydream; this was real life and sometimes it didn’t work out quite as planned.

Guy had hoped for time alone with Avery.

The shock and terror that had followed her announcement that they were expecting a baby had started to wear off. Perhaps it was for the best that their talk didn’t happen tonight. Avery deserved time to recover from the accident, and he could do with more time to get his head around the idea of the baby so that he could decide how he was going to handle the problem.

After they’d finished dinner, Guy found himself slouching on a barstool in the kitchen watching as the three women worked around the preparation island in perfect harmony. His sister, the half sister whom he’d treated with extreme wariness until very recently … and Avery.

Guy couldn’t quite decide how best to describe his relationship with Avery.

He frowned as he watched her kneading the dough for the apple pie, her small hands moving with sensuous grace. Melissa had cut the apples into elegant slices and at Avery’s insistence she settled down on the kitchen stool beside Guy and started to rub the small of her back.

“Did you hurt your back at work?” he asked.

“I’m not sure what I’ve done. It’s aching a little.”

For a split second the image of his mother rubbing her back in a similar fashion flashed through his mind. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Then Guy shook his head to clear the image, and said more truthfully. “Actually, for a moment you reminded me of Mom doing that. I think she used to rub her back as well.”

“How old were you when your mom died?” asked Erica from the other side of the kitchen island.

“Six.”

Guy hadn’t been there when she’d died. He’d been sleeping over at a friend’s home. For years he’d been convinced if he’d been home she might not have died. It was his fault.

Blake had gotten to say goodbye. So had Gavin and Trevor and his father. Even Melissa, though she was only two at the time.

Guy had pretended he was fine, and retreated behind a happy-go-lucky facade that everyone except him accepted as the real Guy. He’d resolved never to give another human that much power over his life.

The only sound that broke the silence was the slap of the rolling pin on dough as Avery rolled it out.

Erica was sprinkling cinnamon over the apple slices. “I’ve heard plenty about your dad but not that much about your mom.” Giving him and Melissa a swift glance, she added, “I don’t mean to be nosy, but I’ve wondered, and you are my family now.”

Melissa gave a sigh. “Dad changed after Mom died. He was very upset by her death, so we avoided talking about Mom at all.”

“How sad!” Avery stopped rolling. “I never realized how lucky I was. My uncle told me all about what my mom had been like growing up. And both my aunt and uncle regularly pulled out the photo album and showed me photos of my parents’ wedding, of my first birthday party. I always knew who they were.”

“Guy used to stare at Mom’s paintings.”

Melissa clambered off the seat and started to cut the left over pastry into strips, while Avery pressed the dough into a baking tin. Erica carefully arranged the apple slices on top of the dough.

“He used to say they made him remember Mom, what colors she liked and how she smelled,” Melissa continued after putting the pie in the pre-heated oven, “but Dad sold all the pictures—he didn’t want anything to remind him of Mom. We’ve since managed to buy some back.”

“Dad also got rid of the camera he and Mom had given me for my sixth birthday.”

Melissa looked horrified. “I never knew that.”

He didn’t look at Erica … or Avery. “I used to say I wanted to take photos like Mom’s paintings when I grew up. I suppose it was too painful for him to contemplate. Later I bought my own camera and joined the school’s camera club.”

“I remember that,” said Melissa. “You wanted to be a photographer.”

“But Dad wanted me to do a business degree. Like Blake.” Guy shrugged. “Eventually we compromised. I did the business degree, but only after he agreed to let me go to culinary school.”

“How could he do that?” Erica protested.

“Easily. He was Don Jarrod, he was used to imposing his will on everyone around him.”

All three women had fallen silent, their eyes focused on him with varying degrees of … pity.

Guy forced an easy smile. “It was a long time ago. At least I got to do something that I loved. Something creative and satisfying, yet still lucrative.”

“But you never forgot your mom,” said Erica.

“No, I didn’t, but it took a long time for me to stop resenting her for leaving us,” he admitted in a rush of honesty. “Losing her wrecked Dad’s life. I didn’t like the kind of man Dad became after Mom died.”

“How did he change?” Avery asked in a tentative voice. She’d propped her elbows on the island and her chin on her hands.

Guy shrugged. “None of us could do anything right.”

“He had huge expectations of us all and wanted us to stay in the business doing what we were told,” added Melissa, shaking out her blond hair. “Just like Guy said.”

“And he let you go to France?” Avery’s voice was filled with disbelief.

“He tried to stop me. He’d planned for me to stay closer. I won that battle.” Even all these years later Guy could remember the satisfaction he’d gained in that moment.

“Guy wasn’t the only one who left. Blake went to New York and I escaped to Los Angeles where I ran an ultra fashionable spa,” Melissa added from where she’d perched herself back on the stool beside him. “And once Gavin finished university, he worked all over the globe, as far from home as possible. Only Trevor stayed in Aspen—yet even he wouldn’t work for Dad at Jarrod Ridge.”

“So Don Jarrod’s empire was in danger of crumbling.” Erica said, her hands busy as she wiped the surface of the island clean. “But he had the last say from beyond the grave, and forced you all to come back and work together if you wanted anything of the estate—”

“Don’t forget his will also introduced you into the family,” interjected Melissa. “You also stand to inherit a share of his empire.”

Erica put the cloth in the sink and pulled a face. “Much to everyone’s dismay.”

“Not mine,” said Melissa quickly. “I told you I always wanted a sister. You’re part of the family now.” There was a silence.

Avery was looking at Guy expectantly. What did she expect him to say? That he wanted another sister? That he was glad to discover Erica’s existence?

Hell, no. It only proved that his father had not been as inconsolable as Guy had foolishly believed all his life. So much for his resolve never to love a woman as faithfully as his father had loved his mother because he didn’t want to risk the same heartbreak. He’d never been the kind of man who dug too deep into feelings, and he wasn’t about to start now. It hurt too dammed much, revealed too much of what was missing in his life.

Except he couldn’t for the life of him think of a flippant comment to make.

He turned away only to have Erica raise a questioning eyebrow at him from the other side of the kitchen, then glance meaningfully toward Avery. She was matchmaking! Erica had suspected his interest in Avery on the night of the oyster-and-champagne cocktail party, and it had become a certainty, he could read it on her face. Yet instead of irritation, Guy experienced a sudden unexpected bond with his half sister. And couldn’t stop himself from winking at her.

Instantly Erica winked back.

“Okay, maybe it won’t be so bad having another female in the family,” said Guy with feigned reluctance.

“Good to know you feel that way.” The sparkle in Erica’s eyes outshone the radiance of the diamond solitaire on her ring finger.

Without intending to, Guy found himself seeking out Avery, and the approval in her sweet smile caused warmth to pool deep in his chest. For the first time since he’d come back to Jarrod Ridge he felt some degree of peace.

He had to remind himself that he wasn’t the kind of man who indulged in emotion and soul-searching.

“The timer just went off,” he said. “Which one of you three is going to cut me the first slice?”

Wearing her dressiest outfit the following night, a gold satin Versace dress that had been a gift from her aunt and uncle for her twenty-fifth birthday, Avery arrived early at the ballroom—more out of habit than anything else. She’d taken care with her makeup, and barely limped in the gold ballet flats she wore.

Camera crews were setting up for a segment that was to be filmed for a television show.

Guy was nowhere to be seen, and Avery rather suspected he was caught up in the kitchens overseeing the chefs, making sure that every detail was perfect. She was learning that the laid-back, carefree persona he cultivated concealed a far more complex, intense man. A perfectionist.

The wine selections had already been made—a collaboration between herself, Guy and Louis—and Avery was pleased with how well they complemented the dishes. Guy had been pleased, too.

She had done the job Uncle Art had wanted her to do. She would be leaving with her pride intact. Her heart was a different matter. There would be a large chunk left behind at Jarrod Ridge.

But she’d have Guy’s baby to fill the hole.

Erica and a woman Avery had never seen before were fiddling with the flower arrangements.

“The flowers look beautiful,” Avery told Guy’s half sister. She smiled, and for the first time Avery saw a hint of Guy in her features. Her heart tugged. Would their baby have that look, too?

“Don’t they?” Erica introduced Avery to the woman standing beside her, a local florist, who was overjoyed to have been given the job for the fundraiser.