“Make up your mind.” He had a deep voice, cultured and controlled. She knew that he was a whiz when it came to being educated. He had gone to the best colleges in both the US and the UK and was well traveled He was an experienced world traveler and had been to ranches all around the world to lend his expertise at breaking in horses. She had seen the pictures with the different women he had posed with. He was a womanizer and she had been so careful in her twenty-six years not to fall prey to men who used and discarded women like yesterday’s news. Now she had done just that.
“If you could sit?” She gestured towards one of the polished wooden chairs around the wide counter. “Would you like something to eat? I have some tacos left over….”
“I already ate.” His sapphire blue eyes were making her uncomfortable as he marched into the room and went straight to the liquor cabinet and chose a bottle of bourbon. Twisting off the cap, he poured a generous amount into the squat glass and took the bottle with him. “If you are telling me that you are quitting, I am going to be pissed at the inconvenience”; he warned her as he sipped the drink. “I lost two horses today because of carelessness and I had to fire two very good ranch hands.”
“I am sorry to hear that.” Now more than ever, Sophie wished that she did not have her news to impart.
He eyed her for a moment, taking in the simple ponytail, the wide dark eyes in a small face and the pointed chin, steering clear of the sensuous lips. He had done a dumb thing by sleeping with her, even though sleeping was not an appropriate word for what they had done. He had been avoiding her for the past couple of days and had been annoyed with himself by being caught up in her emotional state. She was wearing a plaid shirt and faded denims that showed her curves. He would not be making the mistake of taking her to his bed again!
“It happens.”
She slid onto the stool and folded the dishcloth.
“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?”
“Of course…” She took a deep breath and then rushed into it. “I am pregnant.”
The glass of bourbon was poised near his mouth as he stared at her. “I had no idea you were involved with anyone here. I don’t get involved in the staffs’ personal affairs….!”
Her dark brown eyes flashed. “It’s yours.”
He put the glass down slowly, his eyes on her face. “What?”
“We – you did not use anything and I – I have not been with anyone. I am sorry….!”
“So am I.” He told her grimly.
She stiffened at that. “I did not expect this to happen.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I have been feeling off for a few days now and decided to check it out. I am two months pregnant and should be delivering in early January.” She took a deep breath. “Look, I know this is not something you want to hear….”
“It is definitely not.” He swallowed the drink and poured some more. “It seems that this day has no ending. It definitely has been a very crappy one.”
She stiffened again. “I am not getting rid of my baby. I am a Baptist….”
“I never asked you to. This complicates things though.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” She muttered.
“Dammit!”
“I am sorry….”
“Stop apologizing. He told her abruptly.
“Well stop making me feel like I have to!” She snapped. The silence that followed made her want to apologize again but she managed to restrain herself.
“Good point.” There was something like a glimmer of amusement on his hard-handsome face. He eyed her for so long that she squirmed in her seat. “Will you be able to continue working?”
“I am not terminally ill.” She pointed out. “I just had to let you know and to let you know that I do not expect anything.”
“Like a ring?” He asked her sardonically.
She stiffened again. “Certainly not that! What I meant was that I do not expect anything from you other than some small support.”
“I intend to give my full support.” He frowned a little. “Maybe you should move into a bigger suite.”
“Mine is quite comfortable and large enough.”
“You are carrying my child which means your status has been elevated. A bigger suite is appropriate.”
“And will draw attention to myself. I can just see the look on Ms. Jennings’ face,” she said dryly.
He actually grinned at that. “She is going to be mighty pissed. She is always saying that getting involved with an employee was courting disaster.” He leaned forward and cupped the glass. “Tell me something, when you were in here bawling your eyes out was it to get my attention?”
Sophie wanted to hurl the empty cup at his insufferable face! “Oh yes! I deliberately orchestrated the crying jag to get you into bed with me. I am not that good of an actress Mr. McTaggart.”
His eyes glimmered at the fire in her eyes and the passion on her exquisite face. She really was a beautiful woman, he thought objectively, feeling the stirring of desire which, he deliberately ignored. His dick had put them in this position in the first place.
“Hunter.”
“What?” she blinked at him.
“I planted my seed inside you; I think it is appropriate for the use of first names.”
“Only when we are alone.”
“I don’t think we should be alone.”
“We are alone now.” She pointed out.
“Right,” he finished the drink in one swallow. “I suggest you go to bed.”
She got up abruptly. “Will we be telling anyone?”
“No!” He poured some more drink and realized that he was eventually going to finish the alcohol. He figured he needed it to get through the rest of the night. He was still smarting over the two horses he had to put down and the men he had had to fire. Now on top of all that, he discovered that his one-night stand with an employee had resulted in something that was going to involve both of them for the rest of their lives. He was not loathed about getting an heir to carry on the family name, but he would have preferred it to be on his own terms and something carefully thought about. He had been thinking about it for the past months and had chosen someone. Marie Langston, the beautiful Southern belle from the adjoining town would do well as a wife and mother of his offspring. He did not relish the idea that now he was going to have to curtail his dealings with the various women he went to bed with. He was a man of varied tastes and would fly out of town and wine and dine a beautiful woman and take her to his bed. It could last a day; a week or some had lasted even months. No, he was going to have to change his lifestyle or maybe not.