Falling For Fortune

“You would have had to call her on the mobile. She’s here at the hospital with us.”

“That’s not surprising. I’m sure she’s been nearly as excited about the new baby as your mother is.”

“That’s true. They’re both beside themselves and planning shopping trips already—now that they know the baby is a girl.” Jensen laughed.

“Well, thanks for calling,” Amber said.

“I also wanted to let you know that Amelia would like to speak with you.”

Amber glanced at the tabloid on the kitchen table. No doubt Jensen’s sister had gotten wind of the latest gossip. The realization poked at her like a pinprick to a helium balloon, and all the levity she’d experienced a heartbeat ago whooshed out, leaving her empty, deflated.

Was the new mother upset about her providing more Chesterfield fodder for the news rags? Had it caused her more grief and uneasiness on a day that should have been one of the happiest of her life?

Maybe Amelia wanted to ask Amber to stay away from her, Quinn and the baby from now on.

If that was the case, this would be her first—and maybe her only chance—to see the baby. At least, until Jensen left town and news of the poor and desperate cowgirl’s attempts to land a royal husband died down.

“Can you slip away for a while?” Jensen asked. “The nursing staff have strict orders not to allow any visitors, other than the ones who are already here and are now leaving, but I can get you in.”

“Amelia wants to see me in person? Today?”

Couldn’t it wait until she was released from the hospital? Until she was feeling better?

“Yes,” Jensen said. “So I thought it might be best if you met me someplace discreet.”

No doubt because the reporters hadn’t shown up at the hospital yet. And since they probably assumed Amelia and Quinn were still at the ranch. Maybe they were staked out there, so Jensen was afraid to go home. Or maybe they were now following Amber.

“Sure,” she said. “Of course. Where do you think we should meet?”

“I know this sounds pretty clandestine, but if your grandmother wouldn’t mind driving you into town later this evening, she could drop you off at one of the local eateries. Then maybe you could slip out the back door, and I could pick you up.”

“Perhaps I should wear a costume of some kind.”

“I don’t know if that would be completely necessary.”

Amber had meant the comment to be tongue-in-cheek, but Jensen clearly hadn’t picked up on it. So she took it a step further. “A black trench coat might be better than cutting eyeholes out of a brown paper bag and wearing it over my head.”

“Are you annoyed?” he asked.

“Mostly with myself and this darned predicament I seem to have gotten us into. I should have known better than to have kissed you.”

Silence stretched across the telephone line for a moment, and she was suddenly more embarrassed about bringing up the kiss rather than the entire incident itself. And why was that?

“For the record,” he said, “I thought that kiss was rather nice.”

“Nice? Well, that’s a relief. At least you didn’t find it dull or nasty.”

“In spite of what you said to the contrary, it appears that I’ve managed to offend you yet again and that was never my intention.”

Amber blew out a sigh. “I’m sorry, Jensen. It’s just that I’m looking at a blasted tabloid and reading about how I’ve set my sights on marrying a British prince so I can move to London and drink tea with the queen. And all I was trying to do was help you and your family. Now people are going to think I’m some kind of highfalutin gold digger.”

“I know better than that. And I would wager that most people who know you would agree.”

A slow smile stretched across her face. “Thank you for that. I just hope your sister and the rest of your family does, too.”

“We’re aware of how the paparazzi creates stories out of nothing. This is old hat for us. So don’t worry about anyone from my family believing that rot.”

She supposed that was true. But his sister was trying to live a normal life in Horseback Hollow, and she probably didn’t care for any extra notoriety these days.

Still, Amber couldn’t imagine why Amelia would want to speak to her, especially now—and in person. It couldn’t possibly be about anything other than the media headlines. And to be honest, Amber dreaded the meeting.

But she wasn’t a coward. So she’d have to face the music—or in this case, the new mama.

* * *

In spite of Jensen’s assurance that they act normally, it still seemed pretty cloak-and-dagger to Amber.

At exactly seven o’clock, she and Gram pulled into the parking lot of the VFW, where they left the Ford Taurus next to Elmer Murdock’s army-green Dodge Charger. Amber wore her customary Wrangler jeans, although she’d chosen a white feminine blouse and a new black sweater to ward off the winter chill. She’d also applied more makeup than usual and had left her hair long and loose, the tendrils glossy and curled on the ends.

Then she and Gram went inside to meet her grandmother’s unlikely gentleman friend. Amber stayed long enough to drink a diet soda, to make small talk and to ask Elmer to drive Gram back to the ranch. Needless to say, the Korean War vet was more than happy to oblige—and Gram was pleased with the game plan, too.

Twenty minutes later, as dusk was settling over Horseback Hollow, Amber excused herself and walked to the feed store, which was closed. But that didn’t matter. She had no intention of going inside. Instead, she slipped around to the back, where Jensen was waiting for her in Quinn’s pickup, the engine idling. Then she opened the passenger door, climbed inside and off they went.

They traveled a circuitous route to the hospital in Lubbock, arriving well after dark—and right before visiting hours ended for the night.

As they entered the lobby, which still bore Christmas decorations although New Year’s had just passed, Amber said, “It looks like we managed to avoid those pesky reporters.”

“This time, and when you outwitted them two days ago and helped me escaped. You’re a clever actress. Your ploy worked.”

Jensen probably had no idea how his compliment pleased her, how it pumped her confidence and encouraged her to go ahead and audition for Madame LaRue’s Lone Star Review. Why not? It might be fun, whether she landed the spot or not.

When they stopped at the elevator, he pushed the up button, then turned to her and smiled. “Perhaps you should be living in Hollywood instead of Horseback Hollow.”

Fortunately for her, with Cowboy Country USA opening just outside town, she wouldn’t have to move from the ranch at all. “Thanks. Play-acting is a talent I’m just learning to perfect.” And just in case he’d read too much into that little kiss she’d given him, she added, “So don’t get too caught up in the local gossip about me being swept off my boots by you. That little smooch was all part of the show.”

“Is that right?” His lips quirked into a sly grin.

He might be having fun at her expense, but she ignored the tease and merely nodded.

“Then you really are a jolly good actress.” He reached out and fingered her throat, where her pulse fluttered. Dang. Did he feel it trembling?

She swallowed, no doubt giving him something else to feel in there.

Where the heck was that darn elevator?

But she shook off the pesky little flutters and trembles. “What are you getting at?”

“That kiss on Quinn’s porch. The one you said was no big deal.”

“What about it?”

“Afterward, when we went inside, your cheeks were rosy. But so was your neck and throat. How did you manage to get that flush to spread like that? I’m amazed that you were able to just close your eyes and conjure it there with no help from me or any good, old-fashioned chemistry. Like I said, you’re a very good actress. Either that, or a very bad liar.”

She had to admit she’d been shaken by the kiss, although she hadn’t wanted to admit it to him—or even to herself.

But the trouble was, she had been thinking about it a lot more than she should. It may have started out as an act—all fun and games. But she’d never experienced a kiss quite like that before and she doubted she’d ever experience the like again.

Fortunately, the elevator door finally opened, interrupting the intense questioning of his eyes and allowing her to pretend as though they’d been talking about something else.

“All aboard,” she said. “Which floor is Amelia on?”

“The fourth.”

Before she could push the button, two other people joined them. Thank goodness! Saved by strangers.

A couple of elevator dings later, Jensen walked Amber through the double doors that led to the maternity ward and on to room 411, where they found Amelia comfortably nestled in her hospital bed, holding her daughter in her arms.

The tired but glowing new mother looked up from the precious swaddled bundle. “Oh, good. You’re here. Thank you for coming, Amber.”

“Where is everyone?” Jensen asked.

“Mum and Aunt Jeanne Marie just left with Quinn. They’re having dinner at a restaurant down the street. I believe they’ll be heading back to Horseback Hollow, but Quinn will be staying the night with the baby and me. And he promised to bring me back some shepherd’s pie. I don’t know when these pregnancy cravings will go away, but this hospital food isn’t really to my liking.”

Amanda eased closer to the bed and peered at the sweet newborn who dozed in her mother’s arms. “She’s beautiful. And so small. But I’m sure she’ll be playing dress up with her cousin Piper and pushing dollies in their strollers in no time at all.”

“I’m sure you’re right. Plus, Quinn’s sister Jess just gave birth to a baby girl two nights ago. So she has another new cousin to play with.”

“Three little girls all close in age,” Amber said. “Won’t that be fun?”

“What’s especially nice is that Jess and Mac have five sons so, needless to say, they’re delighted to finally have a daughter to love and spoil.”

“I’ll bet they are!”

As Amber and Amelia marveled over the sweet newborn, Jensen asked his sister, “Is there anything you need? I’d be happy to pick it up for you.”

“I talked to Stacey,” Amelia said, “and I think I’m going to need more nappies.”

“I’m sure you will,” Amber said. “From what I hear, newborns don’t sleep through the night for several months. So you won’t be getting much sleep.”

Jensen furrowed his brow. “What does sleep have to do with it?”

“Taking naps?” Amber asked. “I would think that your sister will need to take plenty of them.”

Amelia laughed. “I was talking about diapers. We call them nappies in England.”

“You’ve sure done some strange things with our language,” Amber said.

Jensen gave her a little nudge. “I beg to differ. If I remember my history lessons, the English language was well established before your little American colony began butchering it.”

Amber elbowed him right back. “And we dumped your tea into the harbor and taught you a lesson or two, if I remember correctly.”

“Listen, you two, if your revolution reenactment wakes the baby, I’ll have to ask you to take it outside my hospital room,” Amelia said, as she smirked and nuzzled her newborn closer.

“We’ll save it for later,” Jensen said. “Besides, visiting hours are nearly over.”

“Then, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Amber alone.”

“Of course,” Jensen said. “I’ll step outside into the hallway.”

Here it comes. Amelia was going to lay into her for practically mauling her brother in public. But Amber was a big girl. She could take her licking.

“Thank you for distracting that reporter at the ranch,” Amelia said. “It allowed Quinn and I to have our privacy during this special time in our lives.”

“You’re welcome. Although, I apologize for opening up a whole new can of worms for those crazy tabloids. Now they think Jensen and I are a hot topic.”

“Would that be so bad?”

Amber drew back. Was she kidding? While a lot of mothers opted for natural childbirth, the British woman must’ve chosen to use drugs. Was Amelia flying high on some kind of medicine that bypassed her baby’s bloodstream but had her dreaming romantic fantasies?

Amelia studied Amber carefully, smiled and nodded. “You’re just what Jensen needs.”

Seriously? Amber slowly shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ve got it all wrong. It was just a little kiss between friends.”

“The camera caught a spark. And I’ve seen the banter between you. My brother hasn’t lit up like that since before my father passed away. And even then...well, I think there’s something going on.”

Oh, boy. Maybe the euphoria of being a new mother was making her see things that clearly weren’t there. “I’m afraid it was all an act.”

Amelia shook her head. “You can deny your feelings the way I denied mine for Quinn. But it will be futile. Once my brother sets his sights on a prime piece of horseflesh, he can be as stubborn as Churchill’s bulldog.”

Had Amelia just called her a horse?

The Brits had such an odd way with words. Maybe it was best that Amber not take offense, especially when the new mother had been so sweet and so understanding.

Amelia glanced down at her little one, then checked the baby’s diaper. “Well, what do you know? I’m going to have to change her nappy, then put her down for a nappy.”

They both laughed.

“I’ll let you get to it, then,” Amber said. “And it’s probably a good idea if you both get some rest. Thanks so much for understanding about that darn photo.” Even if Amelia didn’t understand that nothing was going on between Amber and her brother.

“Thank you. We might need you to pull another stunt to help us sneak home undetected.”

“I don’t know about that. I’m afraid this cowgirl isn’t used to being front-page news. But I’ll run the idea past Jensen.” She tossed her new friend a smile. “You have a beautiful baby, Amelia. Take care.”

Then she slipped out of the room and went in search of Jensen. She found him near the water fountain in the corridor.

“That was quick,” he said. “What did she have to say?”

“Not much. She thanked me for helping lead the paparazzi astray. That kind of thing.”

As they continued out of the hospital, he glanced her way a couple of times. She figured he wasn’t buying her explanation. But there was no way she’d tell him what Amelia had really said, especially about there being some kind of spark in that kiss—as nice and moving as it was. Or that he needed someone like Amber. Imagine that.

He opened the lobby door, and they stepped out into the winter night.

“I forgot to ask if they’d chosen a name for the baby.” In truth, she’d been so worried about the conversation Amelia intended to have with her that she’d been thrown off step.

“Clementine Rose.”

“How cool is that? Your sister gave her daughter a Western name.”

“What do you mean?”

Amber broke into song, singing the familiar old diddy that Pop used to hum all the time, “Oh, my darlin’, oh, my darlin’, oh my darlin’, Clementine...”

“Actually,” Jensen said, “the baby was named after my father’s mother—Clementine.”

“Oh. And the Rose...?”

“Amelia just likes the name.”

Jensen opened the passenger door of Quinn’s pickup, and Amber slid inside. Then he climbed behind the wheel and they were off.

The ride back to Horseback Hollow was pretty quiet, the silence stretching between them like a taut rubber band that was ready to snap.

When they finally reached the feed store, where they’d met earlier, he parked in front, under an old streetlight that wasn’t working. It was only a couple of doors down from the VFW, where Gram had left the Taurus for Amber to drive home.

When Amber reached for the door handle, Jensen asked, “What’s really bothering you?”

She turned back, deciding to finally level with him. But instead of taking her time to think up a careful explanation, her words came out in a near rush after being pent up for so dang long. “It’s just that Amelia thinks we’re really a couple, and I know that’s not true. Heck, we’re barely even friends. Anyone can see that. A man like you would never want a girl like me, and you’re probably laughing on the inside and—”

Jensen leaned across the seat, placed a hand behind her neck, drew her lips to his and stopped her deluge of words with a kiss that soon deepened to the point that her hands didn’t want to stay put.

Amber wasn’t sure how long it would have lasted or what it might have led to if Jensen hadn’t inadvertently leaned against the horn, setting off a loud, earsplitting honk that made them jerk apart and left them both breathless.

“What...was...that...kiss?” She stopped, her words coming out in raspy little gasps.

“...all about?” he finished for her.

She merely nodded.

“I don’t know. It just seemed like an easier thing to do than to discuss.”

Maybe so, but being with Jensen was still pretty clandestine, what with meeting in the shadows, under the cloak of darkness.

The British royal and the cowgirl. They might be attracted to each other—and she might be good enough for him to entertain the idea of a few kisses in private or even a brief, heated affair. And maybe she ought to consider the same thing for herself, too.

But it would never last. Especially if the press—or the town gossips—got wind of it.

So she shook it all off—the secretive nature of it all, as well as the sparks and the chemistry, and opened the passenger door. “Good night, Jensen.”

“What about dinner?” he asked. “I still owe you, remember?”

Yep, she remembered. Trouble was, she was afraid if she got in any deeper with him, there’d be a lot she’d have a hard time forgetting.

“We’ll talk about it later,” she said.

“Tomorrow?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“I may have to take my brother and sister to the airport, although I’m not sure when. I’ll have to find out. Maybe we can set something up after I get home.”

“Maybe so.” She wasn’t going to count on it, though. Especially when she had the feeling he wouldn’t want to be seen out in public with her—where the newshounds or local gossips might spot them.

But as she headed for her car, she wondered if, when he set his mind on something, he might be as persistent as those pesky reporters he tried to avoid.

Well, Amber Rogers was no pushover. And if Jensen Fortune Chesterfield thought he’d met someone different from his usual fare—he didn’t know the half of it. Because he’d more than met his match.

Chapter Five

Jensen wasn’t surprised that his younger sister and brother wanted to return to London as soon as Amelia came home from the hospital with baby Clementine Rose. He’d briefly contemplated flying back with them, then returning for the weddings next month. But his mother wanted him to stay awhile longer, and he’d agreed for more reasons than one.

He’d broken things off with Monica Wainwright just before the holidays, so the trip to America had allowed him to put some distance between them.

The early days of their short-lived romance had been somewhat pleasant, but then she’d let down her guard and had shown him a selfish and haughty side he couldn’t tolerate.

Besides, he owed Amber dinner for that horse race he’d lost, something he was actually looking forward to. But as soon as the weddings were over in February, he’d be making this trip to the airfield himself, rather than driving his two younger siblings and dropping them off.

So, with the flight plan set, Jensen waited for Quinn to retrieve the car keys.

“Here you go,” the proud new father said.

“Thank you. It won’t take long.”

“It doesn’t matter. Keep the car as long as you want.”

Lady Josephine, who’d just entered the living room from the kitchen, said, “Wait for me, Jensen. I’d like to ride with you.”

“You don’t need to do that, Mum. I’m sure Charles and Lucie will understand if you’d rather stay here with baby Clementine.”

“Yes, I know, but Quinn and Amelia would probably like some time to themselves, and I’d enjoy an outing. It also gives me a chance to see Sawyer and Laurel. I haven’t talked to my brother’s son or his wife since Christmas. Just let me freshen my makeup. I’ll meet you in the car.”

A few minutes later, Lady Josephine had not only applied a fresh coat of lipstick and face powder, but a subtle touch of Chanel No. 5. After she slid into the passenger seat, Jensen drove them to the B and B in Vicker’s Corners, where Charles and Lucie had been staying.

Just as he’d suspected, his younger brother and sister were waiting in front of the quaint, three-story building with its green-and-white striped awnings. After they loaded the luggage in the car, they headed to the small airfield.

As Jensen turned onto the country road that led to the small terminal, his mother glanced over her shoulder and into the backseat, where Lucie and Charles sat. “Be sure to check on Oliver and ask about Ollie. I miss that little boy so. And let me know if there is anything I should be concerned about.”

Oliver, their oldest half brother, had divorced last year. His toddler son lived with his ex-wife.

“We’ll do that,” Charles said. “But I’m sure Oliver would let you know if there was anything to worry about.”

Jensen wasn’t so sure about that. He wasn’t the only one who didn’t like to see their mother overly concerned about things she had no control over.

“But, Mum,” Charles asked, “can Lucie and I trust you to take care of baby Clemmie for us?”

At that ridiculous notion, laughter erupted. Even Lady Josephine smiled at her youngest son’s attempt to lighten the mood.

She was still grinning from ear to ear when Jensen parked in front of Redmond-Fortune Air, the flight school and charter service owned by Sawyer Fortune and his wife, Laurel.

The new building they’d built last year, with its gray block walls, smoky glass windows and chrome trim, had modernized the small airport, which up until that point had only amounted to a small control tower, a couple of modular buildings, several hangars and the airstrip.

Jensen had no more than shut off the engine when Josephine exited the car and was heading for the entrance.

How strange. But then again, Mum had mentioned that she was eager to see Sawyer and Laurel.

Lucie trailed their mother while Jensen and Charles brought up the rear, carrying the luggage.

The small reception area was empty, although Orlando Mendoza, one of the pilots, sat in a chair, holding his smartphone and sending a text.

Upon seeing Lady Josephine, the handsome man with graying hair and sun-bronzed skin broke into a smile then stood and took her hand. “Good afternoon. What a pleasure to see you.”

She flushed. “Will you be flying Charles and Lucie to Dallas?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” Orlando said. “I had an early day. I just completed a charter flight to Houston, so I’m heading home. At least, I will be as soon as Sawyer returns.” Orlando glanced out the window toward the parking lot, then back to Jensen. “I don’t suppose you happen to be heading back through town?”

“No, but it’s not too far out of the way. Why?”

“I had car trouble this morning, and my nephew, Marcos, gave me a ride to work.”

Marcos Mendoza and his wife Wendy owned the Hollows Cantina.

“I’d be happy to drop you off,” Jensen told Orlando.

“Are you sure it won’t be any trouble?”

“Not at all.”

While Orlando made small talk with his mother and siblings, Jensen wandered off to look at a table that held a plastic-enclosed display of miniature-sized scale-model aircraft. As he did so, he reached into his pocket and felt the gold watch that rested there.

He and his father used to stop by the small airfield near the Chesterfield estate, where they would watch the planes take off and land. It had been a special time, when they talked about life and hopes and dreams. Not a plane flew overhead without Jensen remembering those days.