A Willing Wife

Maggie became introspective. Her mother might love the Fortunes, but she certainly didn’t. Neither did she dislike them; they were simply there, rich beyond belief, and obviously bored with life, because one or more of them was forever getting into or causing trouble.

Well, she wanted no part of them. She’d come home to see her family, and to get herself back on track, not to get involved with the Fortunes.

But today’s event seemed to have worked against that philosophy, she realized, and though it would bring Dallas’s name back into their conversation, she couldn’t keep it from her mother.

Maggie related the incident as calmly as she could manage. “Travis could have been—” she couldn’t force the word killed out of her mouth “—seriously injured.”

“Well, thank God Dallas was there,” Rosita exclaimed. “I’m so glad you met him again. He’s a fine man, Maggie, but so alone. My heart goes out to him every time I see him.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t have to be alone, Mama.”

“He’s an honorable man who loved his wife,” Rosita said with defensive pride in Dallas’s lonely existence. “Mourning Sara’s death the way he’s done indicates respect for her memory. Too many people seem to forget a beloved spouse within months of their passing, which I will never understand. Do you think I could forget your father so soon if something should happen to him, God forbid? No indeed, Dallas is to be admired for holding his grief so close to his heart.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Maggie said quietly, recalling quite vividly the way Dallas had looked at her today. He hadn’t been thinking of Sara then, Maggie thought. And she knew that he would have stayed and talked to her for longer, if she had encouraged further discussion.

But what did a Fortune and a Perez have to say to each other? Oh, they might do business together, as Dallas and Cruz were doing, but Dallas breathed the rarefied air of the very wealthy, and Maggie was the daughter of a housekeeper and a cowhand. Not that she was even a tiny bit ashamed of her parents’ life-style or history. Rosita and Ruben had raised their five children in this very house, and it had been a home brimming with love and good morals.

Still, the distance between the Fortunes and the Perezes was much farther than the walk from Ryan’s southwest mansion to this cozy little house.

Strangely, knowing how far apart the two families really were didn’t seem to keep Maggie from thinking about the unique color of Dallas’s eyes or his wonderful smile. Sensible or not, she knew that he had stirred something within her today that had nothing at all to do with gratitude over his rescuing Travis.

She gave her head an almost angry shake to push Dallas from her mind. She was absolutely not going to get silly over Dallas Fortune.

“So, Mama,” she said matter-of-factly, “how did your day go?”

Rosita frowned. “For me it went well, but it wasn’t a good day for Ryan. His lawyer, Parker Malone, delivered some very bad news. Ryan’s wife, Sophia, is demanding half of everything Ryan owns in the divorce settlement, which she certainly doesn’t deserve. That woman is a disgrace,” Rosita exclaimed disgustedly.

“She must be the same woman today that she was when Ryan married her, Mama,” Maggie said gently.

“She was his first wife, Janine’s, nurse, and I would bet anything that conniving Sophia set her cap for Ryan Fortune long before his wife and the mother of his children passed away! Oh, I remember so much about that sad time, Maggie. Ryan was devastated, and Sophia was there to console him. Console him, hah! Why did she stay on the ranch after her patient was dead and buried? I’ll tell you why. It was to get her greedy hands on Ryan’s money! She was never a nice woman, Maggie, never. Ryan was vulnerable, and Sophia took advantage of him. She’s still trying to take advantage of him!”

Maggie couldn’t help smiling. “Mama, do you eavesdrop on the Fortunes’ conversations?” she asked teasingly.

Rosita looked hurt. “How could you say such a thing?”

Maggie reached for Rosita’s hand. “Mama, I was only teasing you.”

“Sometimes I hear things—how could I not? But I do not deliberately sneak around and spy on the Fortunes.”

“Of course you don’t.”

“And sometimes they tell me things themselves. They know I care about them, Maggie.”

“I’m sure they do.”

Rosita became thoughtful for a few moments, then she smiled rather impishly. “You know, Maggie, Dallas is considered to be the area’s most eligible bachelor. He’s very good-looking, he’s educated and he’s a hard worker. Maybe you should be nice to him.”

Maggie’s eyes widened. “You just told me a few minutes ago how much you respected his long mourning period. And then we talked about Sophia, and you said that she took advantage of Ryan while he was in the same state after Janine’s death. Surely you’re not suggesting that I chase Dallas as Sophia chased Ryan!”

Rosita looked aghast. “Oh, my, I did sound as though I was, didn’t I?”

“Yes, Mama, you did.” Maggie studied her mother’s stricken face. “But I know you didn’t mean it. You were only teasing, too.”

“Well…yes,” Rosita said slowly, almost reluctantly, Maggie noticed just before her mother smiled again. “But you are not like Sophia. You are a good, honest, kindhearted, decent woman, and Dallas would be lucky to have you for his wife.”

“Mama, you’re incorrigible!” Maggie got up. “I’m going to bed.” Leaning over, she kissed Rosita’s cheek. “Good night, Mama.”

“Good night, Maggie.”

Chuckling under her breath over her mother’s brass, Maggie went into her room and shut the door. How could her mother possibly think that Dallas Fortune would ever marry a nobody? she thought while getting ready for bed. Especially when he was still in love with his deceased wife.

Maggie stopped buttoning her pajama top, as today’s meeting with Dallas overwhelmed other thoughts. Unquestionably, he had looked at her as a man looked at a woman. She could get his attention, if she put out the effort. But then what would happen? she asked herself with a disdainful toss of her head. A fling? A short-lived affair? She wasn’t here permanently, for one thing, and besides, her sexual experience was limited solely to the man she had married. She wouldn’t even know how to have an affair. For that matter, she didn’t even like the word affair.

Flirting with Dallas Fortune would undoubtedly end up in shame for herself and her family. She wanted no part of that sort of heartache, nor did she deserve it.

Settling down in bed, she told herself to forget Dallas’s whiskey-colored eyes and great smile. Forget his long, lean body. Forget you even met him again!

“Good advice,” she whispered, and took a vow to heed it.

Two

Dallas put in a restless night. He kept picturing Maggie, and reliving the feelings he’d had while talking to her. Was he being disloyal to Sara because he found another woman desirable? He’d honestly believed it would never happen again, and the fact that it had was still surprising him, even at midnight.

How best to approach Maggie? he wondered, knowing he was driven to do it. Was she a lady who would like being treated delicately? Somehow that image didn’t mesh with the blatant sensuality she exuded. Maybe she liked the he-man approach.

Truth was, Dallas finally had to admit, Maggie made him nervous. It had been a long time since he’d made advances toward a woman with anything in mind but a friendly chat. He was out of practice as far as flirting went—rusty as hell, actually. Maybe straightforward simple honesty was all he had to offer.

Punching his pillow because he was tired and his eyes wouldn’t stay closed, Dallas tried again to steer his obstinate mind away from Maggie Perez. This time he thought about Travis and what a great little kid he was. Was he five years old? Six? He was a handsome boy, with his mother’s dark skin and hair, and bright blue eyes that could only have been inherited from his father.

Where was Maggie’s husband? Okay, Dallas thought disgustedly, obviously he was destined to torture himself all night with questions about Maggie. She hadn’t said that she and her husband were moving back to Texas—she’d said that she was going to look for work in the Houston area. Did that mean that the man she’d married was no longer in the picture?

It occurred to Dallas at some point in the night that he was almost as drawn to Maggie’s son as he was to her. Truth was, he realized, he would like to see them both again.

Something else occurred to him. He could ask Rosita, Ruben or Cruz about Maggie’s husband. Rosita was the logical choice, because both Ruben and Cruz were rather closemouthed. But Rosita loved to talk; if Maggie was divorced, Rosita would tell him.

But, dammit, he’d rather ask Maggie herself! No, he would not take his questions to her mother, he’d take them directly to Maggie.

With that decision made and final, Dallas slept.

The following day Maggie was startled to look out the kitchen window—just to check on Travis’s whereabouts—and see Dallas outside in the yard with her son. A pickup was parked near the front gate, obviously Dallas’s. Maggie’s stomach instantly tensed, and she chewed uneasily on her bottom lip. Why was he here?

In the next breath she couldn’t help smiling. Dallas had taken off his western hat and placed it on Travis’s head. Then he let himself be led around the yard while Travis showed him his toys. Maggie was amazed that a grown man would give some of his valuable time to a little boy he barely knew.

“How old are you?” Dallas asked the youngster.

“I’m five,” Travis said with a big-boy swagger. “And I’m tough, Dallas.”

Dallas swallowed his laughter and said solemnly, “Five is almost a man.”

“Yep, and I’m gonna be a cowboy like Grandpa and Uncle Cruz. They’re tough, too.”

“Yes, they are,” Dallas agreed. Ruben wasn’t a tall man, but he was built like a bull and possessed astounding strength. Cruz had the height in the family, and everyone knew he was Rosita and Ruben’s pride and joy. He wore his shiny dark hair long and sometimes tied back with a leather band, and it was common knowledge that Cruz had attracted women like flies to honey since he was twelve years old. Now, at twenty-nine, Cruz was settled down and happily married.

Dallas felt that their business arrangement was a good deal for both of them. Cruz had a special talent with horses, and Dallas was positive that Cruz would work hard and make his longtime dream of breeding and raising quality horses a huge success. Besides, Dallas personally like Cruz, who was two years older than himself.

“Trav,” Dallas said, unconsciously shortening the boy’s name, “is your mama in the house?”

“Yep! Want me to call her?”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll knock on the door.”

“Want me to come with you?”

“I’d really like to talk to her alone for a few minutes, if you don’t mind, that is.”

“No, that’s okay.”

Dallas ruffled the boy’s hair. “See you later.”

Maggie saw Dallas heading for the front door, and was instantly on edge. Did she look all right? She was wearing jeans and a pink blouse. Her wardrobe wasn’t anything to boast about. Raising a child alone was an expensive endeavor and she’d had precious little money to spend on clothes.

But her hair was fixed and there was makeup on her face—not much because she didn’t use a lot of makeup— Actually, she realized, she looked as good as she could—other than wearing glamorous, more expensive clothing, of course.

When Dallas knocked, Maggie held her breath for five counts, then opened the door. She hoped her smile was only pleasantly welcoming.

Before she could say hello, Dallas huskily said, “Maggie,” in such an intimate way that she backed up a step. She swallowed hard and forced a “hello” out of her mouth.

Dallas suddenly believed he knew the best way to approach Maggie. She was so sexy-looking that she must prefer a man to act like a man. He figured he could carry it off.

“May I come in?” he asked.

“Uh, sure, yes, of course.” Standing back, Maggie held the door open wider so he could enter. Her knees got weak when he passed by her at a snail’s pace and even appeared to be inhaling the faint scent of the cologne she used so sparingly.

She couldn’t think of one sensible thing to say to him. Why are you here? was just too blunt, although that particular question was definitely at the root of her confusion. Unnerved, she slammed the door shut a little too hard.

Dallas grinned. Obviously he was ruffling her feathers, which was a good sign that he was right about her preferring a man to be a man.

His smile broadened. “How are you today?”

“Fine,” she said stiffly. “I’m fine. And you?”

“Right as rain,” he quipped.

Maggie was beginning to remember her manners. “Would—would you like something cool to drink? There’s fresh lemonade in the refrigerator.”

“Thanks, I’d love a glass of lemonade.”

Grateful that she had dusted and vacuumed the house that morning, Maggie said, “Go on into the living room. I’ll get the drinks.”

“Thanks.” Dallas went one way, Maggie another.

When she walked into the living room a few minutes later with two glasses of lemonade, Dallas was standing at the one window in the room from which he could see Travis playing in the yard.

Dallas accepted a glass and said, “That’s some boy you have, Maggie. You must be mighty proud of him.”

“Yes, I am.” She sat on the sofa. “Sit anywhere,” she told him.

“Thanks.” Dallas chose Ruben’s favorite chair and took a big swallow of his lemonade. “This is good. Getting back to Travis, he sure seems focused on being tough—like his grandfather and uncle.”

Maggie groaned. “He wants to be tough so badly, and I don’t think he even knows the true meaning of the word.”

“He’s all boy, Maggie. Let me ask you something. Would you mind if I took him riding sometime?”

“He’s never been on a horse, Dallas. Papa told him he would teach him to ride, but he hasn’t had the time yet.”

“I’d put him on our most gentle horse, Maggie, and guarantee his safety. For that matter, you could come with us and see for yourself that he’s all right.”

While she was trying to think of a response to that somewhat troubling invitation, Dallas’s expression became caressing and intimate. “Know what I’d like to do right now?” he said softly. “Make love to you, Maggie. You’re just about the only thing I’ve thought of since we talked yesterday.”

She knew she should feel insulted: no man had ever spoken his mind so clearly to her before. But she was stunned because instead she felt overheated and achy in personal places.

“You—you don’t mean what you just said,” she whispered hoarsely. “We don’t even know each other.”

“We grew up together.”

“Knowing each other as kids doesn’t mean we know each other now.”

“You’re evading the issue. Will you go out with me tonight?”

Maggie felt as though a steel band around her chest was cutting off her air supply. “So we—we can make love? How dare you even suggest such a thing!”

“You’re trying very hard to be angry, aren’t you? Surely you don’t prefer that a man hide his true feelings and seduce you when you’re not looking.” Dallas set his glass on the table next to his chair and then leaned forward. “Maggie, with you I think everything should be out in the open. I was struck dumb by you yesterday. You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, but there’s more to you than an incredible face and body. You hit me precisely where it counts for a man, and I thank you with all my heart for that.”

“So I should sleep with you just because you—you feel grateful for something I didn’t even know I did?”

“Not sleep, Maggie. I doubt that we’d be doing much sleeping. I need to know something. Where’s your husband?”

“You don’t even know I’m divorced—and you’re asking me to go to bed with you? That does it!” Jumping to her feet, Maggie angrily advanced on the crudest man she’d ever known. “So you want to take Travis riding? You louse, you actually have the gall to use my son as an excuse to get to me! Well, read my lips, Mr. Fortune. I will never, let me repeat, never, have one personal moment with you! Is that clear enough?”

She’d made a tactical error. Dallas recognized it, Maggie didn’t. In her fury she’d gotten close enough to Dallas that it was a simple matter for him to reach out, take her by the waist and pull her down on his lap. She didn’t want to scream and risk scaring Travis outside, but she wiggled and fought and did her best to scratch out Dallas Fortune’s whiskey-colored eyes!

“So you’re a little wildcat,” Dallas said with a satisfied laugh after catching her flailing hands in his. “I figured you were. Come closer, little wildcat, and let me tame you.”

Maggie never did know how he managed to hold both her hands and press on the back of her head at the same time, but the next thing she did know was that his mouth was devouring hers. Fighting him did no good, so she did exactly the opposite. She sat statue-still until he stopped kissing her and looked at her with puzzled eyes.

“You didn’t like being kissed like that?” he asked.

“I don’t like anything about you!” she shrieked loudly enough to endanger his eardrums. Remembering Travis just outside, she lowered her voice. “Take your hands off of me and get the hell out of this house, you…you Fortune!”

Dallas’s heart sank clear to his toes. He’d completely misread Maggie Perez. She might look sexy as sin, but she obviously preferred a more gentlemanly approach from a man.

“Maggie, I— I’m sorry,” he stammered, red-faced and embarrassed over the way he’d talked to her. “Look, I can explain everything I did and said here today.”

“Are you going to let go of me?”

Dallas quickly released her hands and held up his own. “Whatever you say.”

Maggie leaped off his lap, crossed to the other side of the room, then turned around and hit him with a murderous look. “I have never been treated so—so boorishly by a man in my entire life. You Fortunes think you can do anything you want, don’t you? Well, your caveman tactics leave me cold, and I’d just as soon never set eyes on you again.” She took a breath. “And to think my mother believes you’re an honorable man!” she spat scornfully.

Dallas got up. “Maggie, I am an honorable man. If you’ll let me explain—”

“Not today!” Maggie pointed at the door. “Get out!”

With a hangdog expression, Dallas walked to the door. But he couldn’t leave without one more stab at making her understand. He looked at her pleadingly.

“I wasn’t conning you about how I feel about Travis. He’s a great little kid, and I really would like to be his friend.”

“Go to hell! If I told my dad or brother what you tried, they’d…they’d—” She stopped herself. This man’s family was her father’s employer. Her mother’s, too. And Dallas himself was her brother’s business partner. Oh, God, she thought miserably.

“What did I try, Maggie? Was kissing you really that terrible?”

She didn’t yell again, but the disdain in her voice was thick enough to slice. “You didn’t just kiss me. You asked me to go to bed with you.”

“Well, obviously I shouldn’t have spoken so plainly, and I apologize. But I can’t help wanting you,” he said quietly. “You’re the first woman who’s made me feel like a man since my wife died. That was two years ago.” Dallas took a deep breath. “Guess I’d better go. If you change your mind about anything—”

“Good Lord, I’m not going to change my mind! Just go!” Maggie threw up her hands.

“Okay. Don’t get mad again. See ya, Maggie.” Dallas went out the door.

“Not if I see you first,” Maggie fumed under her breath, then dashed to the window to make sure he didn’t do something else crazy when Travis was out in the yard alone.

Dallas walked up to the boy. “Trav, would you like to keep that hat?”

It was way too big for a child, but Travis beamed. “Could I? I’ve been wanting a hat like this one, Dallas.”

“It’s yours, son. I’ll be going now.”

“Will you come and see us again?”

Dallas glanced at the house and sighed. “I’d sure like to, Trav. I’d sure like to.”

The second he’d driven away, Maggie ran outside. “Travis, why didn’t Dallas take his hat?”

“He gave it to me, Mama. He said I could keep it.”

“Oh.” Maggie slowly turned and went back inside. Had she ever been more disappointed in a person than she was in Dallas Fortune? How could he have been so nice yesterday and so awful today? Oh, the things he’d said!

Maggie paced the house with her arms wrapped around herself. Something was wrong with her; she felt hot and cold at the same time.

Finally her emotions got the better of her. She collapsed on the sofa and cried her eyes out.

Cruz dropped in that afternoon, and Maggie threw herself at her brother to give him a big hug. He laughed and hugged her back.

“I wish you’d come around more often,” Maggie scolded, thinking that if she was ever going to tell her family about Dallas’s arrogant and insulting pass, this was her chance to do it. But, Lord, the stink it would cause! No, she couldn’t tell anyone. She would handle Dallas Fortune by herself.

Cruz grinned. “Savannah and I have both been really busy. You’re looking good, Maggie.”

She felt better just because her brother was here. “Did you see Travis?”

“No, where is he?”

“In the yard.” Maggie went to the kitchen window. “He’s not in the yard! Oh, Cruz, he almost felt into a corral of longhorns yesterday, and I’ve threatened him with everything from a paddling to a week of sitting on a chair in the house if he left the yard again. What am I going to do with that boy?” She went outside and shouted, “Travis! Where are you? Travis, answer me!”

“I’ll go and find him,” Cruz offered. “He probably just wandered off again.”

“Cruz, he’s only five years old,” Maggie wailed.

“But he’s a Perez, Maggie.”

“Which makes him immortal? I don’t think so, Cruz. Come on, you go one way and I’ll go another. I’ve got to find him before he pulls another naughty-little-boy trick and gets himself really hurt this time. He thinks he’s tough, you know, and he doesn’t have the strength of a flea.”

Cruz laughed again as he walked off, conveying a boys-will-be-boys attitude. Ignoring it for the time being, Maggie headed for the corrals and barns, because that was where she’d found Travis yesterday. Cruz could laugh off her motherly concern, but her son’s disobedience was no laughing matter for Maggie. This time he was definitely going to be punished, she promised herself.

Unless he’s hurt! she thought with a burst of panic that caused her to start running. Travis wasn’t anywhere near the corrals, and she started peering into outbuildings. Spotting the huge horse barn where the Fortunes had always stabled their best horses, Maggie’s heart skipped a beat. With the hat that Dallas had given him, Travis might be playing cowboy, and she knew that often horses could be high-strung and skittish!

Maggie hurried to the barn and went in. It was well-lit and very clean. A wide aisle ran through the center of the building, with stalls on each side. She could hear horses snorting and moving around, and she wondered if her five-year-old son would actually have the nerve to go into a stall with a strange horse. Sometimes Travis’s boasts about being tough were funny, but Maggie knew that he really did believe that telling people how tough he was made it true.

Scared to death, she began walking the aisle and looking into stalls. “Travis?” she called at each one.

About halfway through the barn, she heard her own name. “Maggie?” Dallas said as he stepped out of a stall. “What’s wrong?”

Talking to Dallas again was the last thing Maggie wanted, but right now she had no choice. Still, her voice was cold as ice when she said, “Travis is missing again. I thought he might be in here.”