Having The Cowboy's Baby

Jules held up his hand. “I know we’d planned to do a lot of things together while you’re here in Louisiana. But that’s off. And now I’m asking a favor from you. If you don’t want pay for it, that’s fine—even better.”

Cordero let out a long breath. “I don’t think your daughter wants my help.”

Jules features twisted into a sardonic expression. “Anne-Marie has never known what the hell she wants. That bastard in her past ruined her. Or so she thinks. She sees herself as spoiled goods. She was always so virtuous before him. And then after she fell for him—well, she’s hidden from life. Now she’s secluded herself at Cane’s Landing, telling herself that her father needs her constant attention.”

“And you don’t?”

Jules swatted the air with his hand and muttered another curse. “No. And I’ll confess to you, Cordero, I’m only here in the hospital because I made my doctor put me here!”

Stunned by this revelation, Cordero sank into the seat Anne-Marie had vacated. “How did you manage to do that?”

“Threatened to take away all my donations to the hospital fund,” he said smugly. “Money will do it every time.”

Cordero’s head swung back and forth as he tried to get the whole picture. “I don’t understand. Why do you want to be in this place?” Glancing around the room, Cordero figured he’d have to have a mighty good reason to be cloistered in such a place if it wasn’t necessary. “And why drag me into this?”

Jules looked as if he considered Cordero to be as slow as molasses on a cold morning. “Because I knew you were bringing the horses and if I’d been home, Anne-Marie would have stayed hidden in her room and let me deal with you and the animals. Me being out of the house forces her to act like she’s alive. Now I need to stay in here a few days longer-until you’re able to get her into the saddle and her mind on something else besides—”

“Besides what? Has your daughter had some sort of health problem or something?”

The old man’s mouth snapped shut and he looked at Cordero for several long, thoughtful moments. “Look, Cordero, my daughter is too good for her own good. She never thinks about herself, only others. She’s wasting her youth—hiding herself because she’s afraid to deal with real life. I bought the horses hoping she’d be interested in something that would get her away from the plantation. I think someone like you could nudge her into it if you’d just give her a little push. I know you like a son. You come from a good family and I trust you with my daughter.”

What did Cordero look like? A psychologist in cowboy boots? He was feeling more awkward by the minute. Especially since Anne-Marie had more or less told him that she wanted her own life, not the one her father wanted for her.

“It sounds like what you want for your daughter is a companion. And I can’t be that, Jules. Not even for a week. It wouldn’t be right.”

The old man’s eyes narrowed perceptively. “You’ve told me before that you weren’t married. Have you gotten engaged or something?”

Cordero had to stifle a groan. “No. And I damn well don’t plan to. But that’s not the point.”

Relief, or something close to it, crossed Jules face. “Good,” he said with a smile. “You’d already planned to take some time off from the Sandbur. You can think of the next few days as a vacation.”

Las Vegas would be a vacation, Cordero thought. Bright lights. Music and gambling tables. Beautiful, scantily dressed showgirls. That was his idea of fun. Not a plantation where the most action he was likely to see was a hound treeing a squirrel. And yet, he had to admit that the thought of spending more time with Anne-Marie was an enticing notion. She might present a prim appearance on the outside, but she wasn’t completely innocent on the inside. She’d already admitted that she’d had a lover. If Cordero played his cards right, he might persuade her that a brief tryst with him would be perfectly harmless. And giving the beautiful redhead a few instructions in bed would be far more enjoyable than giving her riding lessons.

He glanced thoughtfully at Jules. Here he was making plans to seduce his good friend’s daughter. Did that mean he was betraying Jules’s trust? Of course not.

Hell, Cordero thought, he shouldn’t even let that question cross his mind. Not when Jules was handing over his daughter on a silver platter.

“All right, Jules,” Cordero said after a moment. “I’ll stay. For a day or two. If by then Anne-Marie doesn’t seem to resent me being around, I’ll wait until Sunday to leave for Texas.”

Today was Monday, Cordero silently calculated. That would give him six days with Anne-Marie. A shrewd smile crossed his face. In that length of time, he could make most anything happen.

Chapter Two

Slapping his knee, Jules beamed. “I couldn’t ask any more than that from you, son. And I won’t forget this. I’ll pay the favor back. You can bet on that.”

This was looking more and more like an attempt at matchmaking. Admitting himself into the hospital and asking a friend to keep his daughter company, wasn’t a normal request from a father. But whatever Jules had planned, it originated in the love he had for his daughter.

“You’ve already done enough for me, Jules. And don’t thank me yet. Anne-Marie isn’t a pushover. If she isn’t interested in the horses, I can’t twist her arm.”

Jules snorted. “If she isn’t interested in the horses, then get her interested in you! The girl needs her temperature raised a little and I don’t care how you do it.”

Before Cordero could make any response to the old man’s remark, a swishing noise sounded behind him. Cordero glanced over his shoulder to see Anne-Marie pushing through the door. The foam cup she carried was steaming.

“One of the nurses just made a new pot, so it should be fresh,” she told him.

With a tender smile for his daughter, Jules took the coffee from her. “You’re the best, sweetheart.” He took a careful sip and his eyes twinkled as he gave Anne-Marie another big smile. “And I have good news for you. Cordero has agreed to stay on with us for a few days—just like he first planned.”

With a stunned expression, she whipped her head around to stare at Cordero. “You—you’re not going home tomorrow after all?”

The strained timbre to her voice reminded Cordero of someone in a panic. Was she frightened of him? If that was the case, he was glad he’d decided to stay. He wanted her to discover for herself that he was a gentleman, not a wolf in a cowboy’s clothing.

“That’s right. Your father persuaded me that I’d be doing you both a favor if I stuck around and helped you get acquainted with the horses.” He gave her a harmless grin. “I’d feel pretty awful if I left and then you had a nasty fall or something.”

Forget about the horses, Anne-Marie thought wildly. The only nasty tumble she was in danger of taking was for him. And that was something she wasn’t about to let happen. Going back to her missionary work was all she wanted. And she intended to do just that as soon as her father was well enough to live on the plantation without her help.

Jules spoke up in an all-too-casual way. “Now that I think of it, Anne-Marie, I’d planned to take Cordero over to New Orleans tomorrow night for some blues music and dinner at Antoine’s. Now that I’m stuck in this place, you’ll have to take him.” Jules tossed Cordero an innocent look. “If you’ve never visited the French Quarter, I think you’ll find it a real treat.”

Cordero had visited that colorful part of the city more than once. But with Anne-Marie as a guide, visiting Bourbon Street would be more than a treat. It would be a double dose of sensuality. Just the thought had his eyes sliding over her slim figure.

“Sounds nice. But Anne-Marie might have something else planned,” Cordero said as diplomatically as he could.

Normally he’d pitch a fit if someone tried to manipulate him as this old man was doing. But he liked Jules. And a man would have to be crazy or half-dead not to want to spend time with a woman like Anne-Marie. It might be tricky to keep everything between them light and fun, he thought with a grain of concern, but he was damn well going to try.

Jules let out a mocking snort. “Don’t worry about that. The last time Anne-Marie went out for entertainment, I still had black hair.”

Anne-Marie gasped. “Father! Really! Cordero didn’t come up here to get involved in our personal lives. And frankly—”

Jules interrupted her in a voice that had suddenly gone hoarse and weak. “I’m tired. I need to get back in bed. You take Cordero on home and I’ll talk to you about this tomorrow. “

Anne-Marie wanted to argue, but with her father looking so weary she bit her tongue and decided it would keep until later. After all, Cordero had already planned to stay at Cane’s Landing for the coming week. Maybe one night of solitude, without her father around to entertain him, would make the man change his mind and head on back to Texas. No doubt Cordero had a bevy of girlfriends waiting there for him.

She sighed. “All right, Father. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

After she kissed his cheek and Cordero shook Jules’s hand, they headed down the hospital corridor. When they were safely out of earshot, Anne-Marie whirled on Cordero.

“Why did you do that?” she asked through clenched teeth. “Why did you let him hire you like some common gigolo?”

His green eyes darkened to the color of a dangerous swamp and a muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. The anger on his face was a tangible thing and she swallowed hard as she eased a couple of steps back from him.

“Is that what you think?” He growled out the question. “That I hire myself out to pitiful spinsters who can’t find themselves a man?”

Anne-Marie’s nostrils flared as her temper shot straight to the top of her head. “Is that what you think I am? A pitiful spinster?” She heaved out a breath as she glanced frantically around to make sure no one was nearby. “Look, cowboy, I don’t have to pay for a companion! Furthermore, I don’t want one! Especially not the likes of you!”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed her by the arm and led her firmly toward the elevator. Once they stepped inside the cubicle, Anne-Marie prayed for someone, anyone, to join them, but the doors swished shut and the two of them were left alone.

Bracing herself for a volley of insults, she watched him push the button for the ground floor. But once the elevator stirred into motion, he surprised her by remaining stubbornly silent.

“What’s the matter?” she finally asked in a sardonic voice. “Are you shocked that I’m not falling in a worshipful heap at your feet?”

“No. I’m just waiting for the right moment to shut you up,” he said with cool casualness. “And I think I’ve found it.”

Jerking her head up to his, she opened her mouth to blast him with another retort. Instead, a silent O formed on her lips and she watched in shocked fascination as his head swooped toward hers.

Anne-Marie’s dazed hesitation caused her to miss the chance to turn her head and gave him the perfect opportunity to plant his lips over hers.

She was so stunned by the intimate contact that she went stock-still. Her heart and lungs felt as though they’d stopped working as his mouth made a quick, thorough search of hers.

From somewhere inside her, heat rose up to scald the roots of her hair and scorch her cheeks. With each passing second, her knees grew weaker. She was about to grab onto the front of his shirt to keep from falling when he jerked up his head and gave her a cutting stare.

She said in a tight, low voice, “Whatever was said between you and my father—this wasn’t part of the deal!”

His black brows lifted to become two sardonic arches. “What makes you think you’d even be worth a deal?”

Her mind spun. She searched for the most ridiculing words she could find to hurl at him. But she didn’t have to bother coming up with anything. The elevator doors opened and she marched out of the cubicle without him.

Behind her, she heard him chuckling and the cruel sound had her biting down on her swollen lip and blinking back tears. Damn the man. He wasn’t worth crying over. No man was. Still, she couldn’t stop one lone teardrop from rolling down her cheek.

She was in the foyer when, from behind, a pair of hands snaked around her waist. A gasp rushed past her lips as she spun around to face him.

“Let me go! Haven’t you insulted me enough for one night?” Her words were pushed through clenched teeth as she tried to wriggle away from his grasp.

“Hold on a minute, Anne-Marie.”

His voice was soft and threaded with regret. The sound stilled her and brought her eyes up to his.

He hurriedly tried to explain. “You’ve jumped to the wrong conclusions. Your father didn’t hire me for anything. Jules is my friend. I only agreed to stay and help you with the horses because he asked me to. I agreed as a favor to him.”

The grip he had on her waist eased to a warm clasp and Anne-Marie knew she was a fool for responding to it. But she’d never met a man like him before. One that could make her feel fury and passion all at the same time. It was scary.

“I’m sorry,” she said after a moment. “I shouldn’t have said any of those things to you. But this is all so—embarrassing. My father—it’s obvious he’s trying to manipulate us and I thought you’d agreed to go along with him.”

Regret twisted his lips. “Forgive me, Anne-Marie. I shouldn’t have reacted the way that I did. But I don’t take too kindly to being called a gigolo.”

Mortified all over again, Anne-Marie dropped her gaze to the floor. “Believe me, Cordero, I don’t normally say that sort of thing to anyone. But Father has never put me in such an awkward situation before. I really don’t know what he’s thinking—I’m even beginning to worry that he’s getting senile.”

Cordero could have told her that there wasn’t anything senile about Jules’s mind. Calculating would be more like it, he thought wryly. But as far as he was concerned, the old man’s manipulating was harmless. Even though that kiss he’d stolen in the elevator had jolted him right down to the heels of his boots, Cordero needed to make Anne-Marie see that she was taking this much too seriously.

“Look, Anne-Marie, we both need to take a deep breath and start over. There’s really no need to make an issue out of this. Even if Jules is trying to maneuver us—we’re adults, we can see through it. It won’t hurt either of us to indulge a sick old man and pretend we’re having a good time together these next few days.” His hands slid gently down her forearms and the act was like brushing his fingers against a bird’s wing. He’d never felt anything so soft, so fragile. “I have a feeling it would make him happy.”

Anne-Marie didn’t know what to make of his words. Confusion warred with the indignation she was already feeling toward this Texas cowboy who had kissed her as if he owned her. But perhaps he was right. She didn’t want to put any undue stress on her father. And just because he was trying to throw her at Cordero didn’t mean she had to fall into the cowboy’s arms.

She drew in a troubled breath, then let it out. “I suppose you’re right. But all that talk about taking you to Bourbon Street—that has nothing to do with you helping me with the horses. It was so obvious and humiliating.”

Cordero suddenly grinned and she felt her stomach flutter as though she’d just swallowed a hummingbird.

“Actually, I thought your father’s idea was a good one. I’d like for the two of us to make a trip to New Orleans. I’d planned on going anyway before I left for Texas and it would be far more enjoyable to have your company.”

He was as smooth as water on a windless night, Anne-Marie thought, and just as enticing. If she ever really let her guard down around him, she’d be totally lost.

Trying not to dwell on that danger, she said, “We’ll see. Right now we’d better go home. Darcella is waiting to serve supper.”

He silently complied by taking her arm and leading her out of the double doors. By now darkness had fallen and Anne-Marie felt the confines of the car even more with only the dim lights from the dashboard illuminating the small space between them.

She tried to close her eyes and pretend his long lean body wasn’t there beside her, but his presence was too strong to ignore. The scent of him drifted to her, reminding her of wide-open ranges, sagebrush and wild mustangs. It was a scent that called to her senses and all she could think about was the feel of his lips upon hers, the warm touch of his fingers on her arm.

The practical part of her wished that he’d never kissed her, but the woman in her was still swooning, still wondering what it would be like if he were to take her into his arms and really kiss her with desire. It was indecent of her to think such things. She didn’t even know the man. Only a few hours had passed since she’d first laid eyes on him. Yet something about him had stirred up ashes in her that she’d believed were stone-cold. She had to find her will to resist.

“I’m not a doctor, but I thought your father looked pretty good.”

Cordero’s comment jerked Anne-Marie out of her erotic thoughts. “Yes, I thought so, too. His doctor says he doesn’t think this little flare-up is anything to be concerned about. I think he’s just taking extra precautions with my father’s health.”

What would she think, he wondered, if she knew Jules had purposely put himself in the hospital so it would force her to play hostess to Cordero? She’d really think the man had gone senile. But Cordero had no intention of giving away his friend’s secret. It would be no gain to any of them and only cause worse feelings all around. “I’m glad,” he said. “Your father is a great guy. He’s always laughing and full of jokes.”

His remark surprised her. Most young men didn’t have time or patience when it came to dealing with the older generation. Some of them only feigned respect for their elders. Like Ian, she thought bitterly. He couldn’t have cared less about her father. And she’d been stupid for believing that he’d loved Jules anymore than he’d loved her. The guy had only cared about two things. Himself and money.

“Father has always been full of life. Even after Mama died he managed to hold himself together and find joy in other things. I realize he wants me to be more fun-loving, like him. But I’m just not made that way.”

Cordero had known for a long time that Jules was a widower. He’d not thought much about that until he’d met Anne-Marie. She was young. Her mother couldn’t have been very old when she’d passed away. And the fact that the two of them had prematurely lost their mothers connected him to her in a way he’d never expected.

“How long has your mother been gone?” he asked.

“Sixteen years. I was ten at the time. She died quite suddenly from an aneurysm. For a long time after that Father couldn’t bear to look at the horses. You see, they belonged to Mama. She rode all the time.”

Cordero heard something more than sadness in her voice; a tinge of bitterness edged her words. It made him wonder exactly what sort of relationship she’d had with her mother. Or maybe she was angry with God for taking away her parent? Maybe losing her mother had more to do with her not entering a convent than her broken affair? He could only guess.

“And now it’s just you and your father?” he asked quietly. “You don’t have any siblings?”

Anne-Marie shook her head. “No. I was an only child and Father was never interested in remarrying.”

“Neither is mine.”

He could feel her blue eyes on his face and he darted another glance at her.

“Your mother is dead, too?” she asked with surprise.

Cordero nodded. “Seven years ago. Complications from diabetes. She was only fifty-six.”

“Oh. Then you know how it feels to have a parent gone.”

His throat grew so tight that for a moment all he could do was manage a nod. He’d been very close to his mother, far closer than his older brother, Matt, or his sister, Lucita. Which seemed strange whenever he thought about it. He was a replica of his father, who had a magic hand with a horse and had taught Cordero everything he knew about raising the animals. Cordero was also like Mingo in the fact that he loved a pretty woman’s company and considered life something to be enjoyed rather than endured. He loved and respected his father, who was thankfully alive and well today. But his mother still lived like the warm glow of a candle in his heart. And after seven years without her, he missed her. Really missed her.

“Yeah. It’s tough,” he murmured. “Damn tough.”

He could feel her regarding him with a thoughtful eye, but she didn’t say more about his mother. Cordero was glad. He didn’t want to dwell on that part of his past.

Reaching across the seat, he folded his hand around hers. “Let’s not think about such sad things. I want to enjoy these next few days and I hope you’ll enjoy them with me.”

His fingers were warm, the skin hardened with calluses. She tried not to think how they would feel sliding across her naked skin or cupping her breasts, but the images wouldn’t budge from her mind. Her whole body flushed with heat as she swallowed and turned her head toward the passenger window.

“I’m not a fun sort of woman, Cordero. I’m afraid you’re going to end up being very bored during your stay at Cane’s Landing.”

His fingers tightened on hers. “Maybe I can teach you how to have a little fun.”

Anne-Marie wasn’t about to ask him what sort of fun he had in mind. The man was already putting sinful thoughts in her head. She didn’t need any more added to them. And as for having fun, she wasn’t at all sure she’d ever known how to enjoy herself as other young women seemed to do. From the time of her mother’s death, she’d viewed life as a serious journey. Even her relationship with Ian had been slowly and carefully entered into, one step at a time.

She still hadn’t replied to his suggestive words when the footlights illuminating the turnoff to Cane’s Landing came into view. Glad for any reason to ease her hand from beneath his, she motioned toward the entrance leading off the left side of the blacktop road. “There’s our turnoff.”

The drive up the tree-lined lane to the house took less than two minutes. Once they were out of the car, Cordero offered her his arm for the walk through the dark shadows between the garage and the house. Anne-Marie realized that touching him, for any reason, was not something she should do. But he was being a gentleman and it wasn’t his fault that her senses went haywire around him, so she curled her arm through his and rested her hand on his strong forearm.

As they passed Cordero’s truck, Anne-Marie suggested that it might be a good time to get his bags. After he pulled out two leather duffel bags, he offered her his arm again and they made their way into the house.

Darcella met them in the front room. The cook was a tall, big-boned woman with graying brown hair that was cut in a pixie style that framed her round face. Her wide smile seemed to deepen as she spotted Anne-Marie’s arm looped through Cordero’s. Anne-Marie knew that Darcella had been initially shocked when she’d first met the Texas rancher. Both women had expected Jules’s friend to be much closer to his age. That assumption couldn’t have been more off base.

“How was Mr. Jules?” the cook asked. “Feeling better?”

Anne-Marie sighed as she slipped her arm from Cordero’s and moved away from his side. “He seemed full of life,” she told the woman. “In fact, I think he looked better than he has in months.”

“Oh. That’s good. Real good. Maybe he’ll get to come home soon.”

“We’re all hoping that, Darcella.” Anne-Marie walked across the room and placed her handbag on a small table.

Behind her, Darcella said, “Well, I’ve left a tray of drinks out on the back porch. I thought you two would like to unwind before I serve supper.”

Walking back to the center of the room, Anne-Marie glanced from Darcella to Cordero then back again. She wanted to tell the cook that there was no need to make a big deal out of this supper. She didn’t want Cordero to get the impression that she was going out of her way to entertain him. But if she urged Darcella to leave, it would only look as if she wanted to be alone with the man.