“No,” he repeated, his blue eyes wandering over her face and settling on her bosom, making her feel warm all over. “Not until you are about to start showing. You are small so that will take some time. I don’t want gossips starting up.” His mouth tightened fractionally. He never got involved with staff members, not even to pay their salaries, so this one was going to be fodder for gossip for months and he did not want to have any focus on himself or on her. She was here to do a job and he wanted her to continue doing it. She was an incredibly good cook and had shown him that she could handle herself and the staff assigned to her. He was aware of the dissensions that usually took place among the staff members, whether the household staff or the ranch hands and knew that initially, she had had problems with Joe, the man who had thought he was going to take over the kitchen after Pierre had left to go back to France. But even though Joe was a good cook, he was too lax in management and had not been the right person for the job. He had given her a hard time for the first couple of weeks, but she had handled herself very well. “Keep me in the loop with the doctor’s appointment. When is the next one?”
“The first Monday in August.”
He nodded. “I will be there. Arlene is a friend and can be prevailed upon to be discreet.”
She fiddled with the dishcloth a moment before speaking. “I don’t expect things to change.”
“What things?” his thick eyebrows a shade darker than his hair, lifted.
“Your personal life.”
His lips curled in amusement. “It won’t.”
Sophie felt her heart plummet. She was pregnant for a man who she was going to have to watch be with other women. She should not care but she did. After one night with him, she had started to view him as more than her employer which she supposed was only natural, considering the way he looks. “Of course,” she fiddled with the dishcloth some more.
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“Go to bed.” He repeated. “You are going to have to get up in a few hours. We ride range at four in the morning and the men are going to need sustenance when they get back. Make sure that breakfast is set up underneath the tent by the barn so that they can have breakfast. They are already salivating over the blueberry pancakes that are on the menu.”
“I have added sausages and goat’s milk as well.”
He nodded his approval. “Sounds delicious. Go to bed Sophie and from now on, delegate most of the duties to the people who work under you. You are carrying another life and will have to take that into account.” He sipped the drink, somehow reluctant to have her leave. “This is going to be quite an adjustment for you. I am telling you right now that I am not going to allow my child to leave the ranch.”
She eyed him a little balefully. “I expect that we will discuss this when the time comes like reasonable adults.”
His lips quirked. “I am being reasonable. Surely, you do not expect me to let you leave with my child?”
“It is my child too and I will be doing most of the work.”
He inclined his blonde head. “I have the greatest respect for women who bring children into the world. My own mother had a difficult time of it, or so I was told. She was in the delivery room for more than twenty-four hours and it almost cost her life. She wanted more children, but the doctors advised against it. I appreciate what you will go through and I will lend my support wherever possible, but my child belongs on the ranch.”
She glared at him and he felt the desire deepened. Damn, but she was sexy! He felt like shucking his resolves and dragging her into his room. A shudder went through him as he remembered being buried deep inside her and being sheathed like a glove. He also recalled how her mouth had tasted when he had explored. And Ah! Her nipples and the way she had moaned when he had suckled. He tossed the remainder of the drink and grimaced as it hit his stomach lining. “Goodnight.” He said abruptly as he slid off the stool. His cock was so hard that it was rubbing against the hard material of his denims and causing friction, painful friction that was driving him crazy! Dammit! He thought explosively as he went up the stars, taking the steps two at a time. She was already pregnant with his child; there was no harm in them getting physical. But to what end? A voice whispered inside his head as he pushed the double doors open and went through his sitting room and into the bedroom. He did not want her to expect anything other than the child between them and he was damned if he was going to be forced into marriage because of it!
Chapter 2
Hunter uncapped the bottle and poured the water over his head, relishing the coolness running down his face. He shook his head to get rid of the excess moisture and drank the rest of the liquid. It was as hot as hell and he could feel his shirt sticking to his skin. His horse moved restlessly beneath him as he squinted against the late morning sun. They had done the rounds and rounded up the cattle. The men had finished the excellent meal that had been waiting beneath the tent when they got there right when the sun was making its way over the horizon. The coffee had been unending. He made sure they got the best and they had smelled the rich Brazilian brand from several miles away. Every meal was buffet style with the men helping themselves. It was also a chance for rough ribaldry and catching up as well as relaxing until it was time to get back in the saddle. Dragging his fingers through his wet hair, he shoved his hat back on and pulled at the reins. For the first time in his career as a ranch owner, his mind was not on the job. He had deliberately left the ranch yard a bit earlier to avoid seeing her. He had gone to bed last night with a hard-on that had refused to quit and had spent a miserable night of it. Now he was in bitch of a mood. The remnants of yesterday had spilled over to today with the men looking somber and quiet, with the usual gaiety visibly absent. It was times like these that he realized the crushing weight of being in charge. He had been doing this since he was twenty-two and was now almost thirty-years old. In fact, his birthday was in September, which meant that it was right around the corner. He turned the horse around in a tight circle as he heard the thunder of hooves coming his way. His foreman, Ben Gills had been working at the ranch since he was a teenager and was the longest member of staff. He was exceptionally good at his job and was loyal to the family. His weather-beaten face was screwed up against the brilliance of the sun and his iron gray hair was stirring in the stiff breeze.
“Ben?”
“Sorry boss, we have a problem at the east section.”
Hunter’s frown deepened. “What kind?”
“Uprooted fence posts and signs of vandalism!”
Hunter swore beneath his breath. “Show me.”
*****
“I thought we were doing the rack of lamb.” Joe heaved the bag of rice onto the counter and slit it open. “It’s on the menu.”