Safe In The Rancher's Arms: Stranded with the Rancher / Sheltered by the Millionaire / Pregnant by the Texan

Nine

Drew lay perfectly still, waiting for his thundering heartbeat to return to a normal cadence. Beth had fallen asleep immediately, worn out by their long day and his crazed lovemaking. As promised, he had taken her more than once—the second time sitting in an armchair with Beth straddling his lap, and finally, bending her over the foot of the bed and making the last coupling slow and sweet.

By all rights, he should be exhausted as well. But adrenaline pumped through his veins. Being with Beth tonight had been far more than physically gratifying. The connection they forged had opened his eyes to what was missing in his life. Falling in love with a woman had been something for the future...the kind of thing a man did when he was ready to settle down.

Apparently, unbeknownst to him, love had grown in spite of his self-deception. As incredible as it seemed, his frequent trips to Beth’s place of business had been about far more than her patrons spooking his horses.

He had been irresistibly drawn to her spirit and her beauty. The storm’s wrath had ripped away wood and metal and shingles, but it had also laid bare an astonishing truth. Drew Farrell had feelings for Beth Andrews. Deep, messy emotions.

Her head lay pillowed on his shoulder. He combed her curls with one hand as contentment slid through his veins like honey. Tomorrow she would probably fuss about how her hair looked because she had not dried it. But Drew liked the wild tangle. It was a reflection of the intimacy they had shared.

She had let down her guard with him tonight. For a woman so fiercely independent, he understood very well what a gift she offered. They had met as equals and by her choice. What he didn’t know was the outcome of tonight’s excess.

Tomorrow would be the test. Would he see the real Beth, or would the walls be up once again?

* * *

Beth awoke at first light, disoriented, but very relaxed. It took a handful of seconds for reality to come crashing in. Drew’s room. Drew’s bed. Drew’s big, muscular body wrapped around hers.

What have I done?

The wanting had been building for over a year. No surprises there. But why had she acted on it? Why now?

She could tell herself it was because of the storm or because she was staying in Drew’s house or even because she was lonely and displaced. But the truth was far simpler. Yesterday, she had felt the relentless pull of sexual need, and she had given in. Not only that, she had wallowed in it without shame or regret.

The truth was shocking but impossible to ignore.

Gingerly, she lifted his heavy arm and scooted away from him. He stirred, grumbling, but buried his face in his pillow and continued to sleep.

Fortunately, gathering her things was not an issue. One shirt. That was it. One shirt to protect her modesty as she scuttled back to her room. She had no idea how early the household staff arrived, but surely not at this hour.

When she made it without incident to the relative safety of her own suite, she debated what to do. It would probably be a good idea to wet her hair and dry it again before getting dressed. But a yawn caught her by surprise. It had been a harrowing three days. Removing her one item of clothing, she tossed back the covers on the decadently luxurious bed and climbed naked beneath the sheets.

It was a warm autumn in Texas, but the crisp cotton felt chilled after snuggling with Drew all night. Her body was pleasurably sore as she settled into a comfy spot. Remembering Drew’s attentions was not a good idea. After a long hiatus, her libido was alive and well.

Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to the numbing drug of sleep. She had acted rashly, impulsively, totally without forethought. The results had been amazing, but it was time to retreat and regroup.

She knew now what it was like to be with Drew. It was good. Really good. Before she got in too deeply, she had to set some ground rules for herself. Drew’s amicability was only temporary. When she was living in her house again, they would revert to the same impasse. Drew had the time and the money and the determination to badger her until she gave in to his wishes. Plus, the storm had weakened her resolve and her certainty about the farm as her life’s work.

Equally depressing was the fact that Audie would always be a millstone around her neck. She came from questionable roots. Everyone in the horse business knew that breeding was everything.

Even if a tornado had thrown Beth and Drew together—literally—they had nothing in common but sharing a frightening ordeal. That wasn’t enough on which to build a relationship.

After an hour of tossing and turning, she gave up and got out of bed. Perhaps a hot shower would settle her jangled emotions. The prospect of coming face to face with Drew made her ridiculously nervous. What would she say to him?

She dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a comfortable sky blue polo shirt. No need to make a good impression. There was work to be done.

After a quick call to her insurance agent to follow up on Allen’s report, she went in search of breakfast. If she were lucky, Drew would be somewhere out on the ranch tending to business. The thought of a hot cup of coffee with a side of morning solitude was irresistible.

Unfortunately, only half of her order was on the menu. When she entered the kitchen, she pulled up short, dismayed to find it full of people, or so it seemed. Though the housekeeper excused herself to go tend to the laundry, the kitchen table was occupied. Drew and Jed and a woman who looked strangely familiar were helping themselves to bacon and sausage and eggs as well as pancakes and grapefruit.

“Sorry to intrude,” she said quietly. “I’ll just grab a cup of coffee.”

Drew stood up and pulled out a chair. “Don’t be silly. Join us.” The look in his eyes dared her to disagree.

With her cheeks warm and her legs quivering, she sank into the chair and tried not to flinch when Drew’s hand brushed her shoulder. Had the motion been deliberate? The last thing in the world she had expected or wanted was an audience for their inescapable morning after.

Jed touched the woman’s arm. “Kimberly, this is Beth Andrews. Her house was damaged by the tornado, so she’s staying here at Willowbrook for a bit.”

The brunette smiled. “I know who you are, but you probably don’t remember me. I came to Green Acres several times last summer to buy vegetables. Your heirloom tomatoes were so good.”

“Thank you,” Beth said. “And yes, I do remember you now. You used to come into the bank when I was working there...you made deposits for the dress shop.”

“Yes, I did.”

“So,” Drew said, changing the subject and lifting an eyebrow as he stared at his brother. “I’m always glad to have guests for breakfast, but I’m sensing your visit has a particular agenda.”

Jed looked at Kimberly. She motioned for him to do the honors. Jed took her hand and faced his brother. “Kimberly and I are going to get married.” After noting the shocked silence from Drew and Beth, he continued. “We had planned to do something quick and easy at the courthouse, but obviously that’s out of the question. And we’re not sure it’s appropriate to have a marriage ceremony at all with so many people suffering.”

Jed and Kimberly sat shoulder to shoulder, their fingers entwined. Between them shimmered an almost palpable tenderness. Beth couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Jed looked at Kimberly as if she were the answer to all his prayers wrapped up in one lovely package.

Drew cleared his throat, obviously emotional about his younger brother getting hitched. “Congratulations, you two.”

Beth nodded and smiled. “And from me as well. But I have to say, I think a wedding might be the perfect occasion to bring some joy and cheer to what have been pretty bleak days in Royal.”

“You could have the ceremony here,” Drew said. “We’ll invite all our friends.”

“I’d be honored to help any way I can,” Beth said. “Though to be honest, I don’t know much about planning an event like that. But I am pretty organized if that counts for anything.”

Kimberly’s smile held gratitude. “You’re both being very sweet about this, but the thing is...” She trailed off, biting her lip.

Jed picked up where she left off. “The thing is...an affair like that takes time to put together.”

Drew frowned. “What’s the rush, Jed? Can’t Dallas do without you for another six or eight weeks? You could fly back and forth if you needed to.”

Jed’s cheekbones flushed with color. The look he gave Kimberly was so fiercely and intimately personal, Beth felt as if she were witnessing something very private.

“Go on,” Kimberly whispered, her cheeks rosy as well. She gazed at Jed with starry-eyed adoration.

Jed kissed her gently on the cheek before turning back to his brother. “Kimberly and I are going to have a baby. In about six months.”

Beth had seldom seen Drew speechless, but he couldn’t have looked any more surprised if someone had whacked him over the head with a two by four. “A baby? Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

Jed and Kimberly exchanged wry glances. “I only found out myself right before the storm hit. I had just asked her to marry me when all hell broke loose.”

Beth laughed softly. “That must have been some proposal.”

Drew stood up and tugged his brother and Kimberly to their feet, hugging them fiercely. “I’m damned happy and excited for the both of you.” He kissed Kimberly’s cheek gently. “Welcome to the family. Jed’s a lucky man.”

After that, the conversation escalated, everyone talking at once and making plans. Beth glanced at her watch. “Oh, shoot. I’ve got to run. I promised Megan that I’d help her again today.”

Drew’s brows drew together as he frowned. “I’ll take you.”

Beth stood her ground. She needed a little personal space. It was hard to be rational with Drew in touching distance. “It will be better for me to drive myself,” she said. “I don’t know how long I’ll be there. And besides, the three of you have lots to talk about. I’ll be back by suppertime.”

She cut and ran before he could argue. With his brother and soon to be sister-in-law in his kitchen, he couldn’t very well chase after her.

By the time she reached the shelter, she had made a firm decision not to think about Drew for the rest of the day. It was a good goal if she could stick to it.

Megan was delighted to see her. “Beth, you’re wonderful to come help when you have your own problems. How are things going with your house?”

“Believe it or not, and thanks to Drew who got me in with a building inspector, it looks like I may have a check in hand by the middle of next week. Now all I have to do is line up a contractor.”

“You two are being awfully chummy considering your history. Couldn’t you ask Drew to help with that, too?”

Beth shook her head. “I’m sure he could, but I’m not going to let him. I’m a grown woman. My house is my responsibility. Besides, he—” She stopped short, realizing that Jed and Kimberly might not want their business blabbed all over the county.

Megan cocked her head, her arms full of wriggling kittens. “He what?”

“You have to promise me you won’t say anything. I don’t know if this news is ready to go public yet.”

The other woman mimed locking her lips. “I’ll take it to my grave.”

“Drew’s brother Jed is getting married. To Kimberly Fanning. And the wedding will be at Willowbrook, I think. Drew is going to be plenty busy without me playing the helpless female.”

“That’s exciting. But I’m sure no one looks at you as a helpless anything, Beth. Look at how you started your farm from scratch.”

“Well, the tornado took care of that. I’ll bet my pumpkins ended up smashed to bits all over the county.”

“At least you can joke about it.”

Beth shrugged. “I’m one of the lucky ones. I wasn’t injured, and my house is not a total loss. I can’t complain.”

“You certainly have a great attitude about all of this. I suppose it helps to have a handsome rancher in your back pocket.”

“I told you before. Drew is only being kind.” The excuse was not quite as easy to stand behind today. Not with everything that had happened in Drew’s bed last night. She felt her cheeks heat. Her vow not to think about the sexy billionaire was shot already, which didn’t say much about her willpower.

Megan deposited the kittens in front of a large bowl of milk and touched Beth’s arm. “Your new friend has been waiting for you.” She pointed to a cage nearby.

“Oh, Stormy.” Beth’s heart melted. The little dog looked healthy, but his mournful eyes seemed to say he had hoped Beth would come back. She unlocked the mesh door and scooped him up for a hug. “I didn’t forget about you, I swear. You are the sweetest thing.”

Stormy burrowed closer with a bark of happiness.

Megan grinned. “He knows a soft touch when he sees one.”

“Has anyone asked about him?”

“No. I traced the number on his collar and spoke with his owner. Turns out they dumped him on my doorstep because they couldn’t afford dog food anymore. Stormy is an orphan.”

“What is his real name?”

“Do you honestly want to know? Or would you rather think of him as Stormy?”

“Good point. Will it confuse him if I call him that?”

Megan laughed. “As long as you agree to be his mama, I think he’ll let you do anything you want.”

* * *

Drew was happy for his brother and Kimberly. He really was. But a man had a finite amount of patience for wedding details—unless of course, it was his own woman bubbling over with joy. With one ear he listened to Jed make suggestions to his newly-minted fiancée about ways to use the elegance of Willowbrook Farms for a romantic occasion. Even keeping things simple, the timetable would be a challenge.

Drew chimed in when appropriate, but in truth, all he could think about was Beth. Wet and willing in his shower. Naked and naughty in his bed. Limber and luscious in any number of heart-pounding scenarios. The previous night was etched in his memory. Probably forever. He knew they were attracted to each other. What he hadn’t expected was the feelings that went beyond the physical.

The raw need and urgent passion Beth stirred in his gut alarmed him. It had been a long time since a sexual encounter turned him inside out. He’d felt invincible.

But when he woke up this morning, Beth was gone. He told himself there was no need to jump to conclusions. Maybe she was bashful about rehashing their experience in the cold light of day...or perhaps embarrassed that someone might see her come out of his room.

Or maybe it hadn’t been good for her.

He refused to believe that. Beth had been like sunshine in his arms...passionate, teasing, warming him in every way possible. When he showered this morning, his body had reminded him painfully of last night’s excess. His sex hardened as he remembered the feel of her hands on his body.

Instead of hunting her down in her room, he’d done the gentlemanly thing and waited for her in the kitchen. Then all his plans had gone awry when Jed and Kimberly showed up. Drew had not had a single opportunity to talk privately with Beth. In fact, she’d barely made eye contact with him.

And now she was gone for the day. He could drop by the shelter again, but he had no real excuse for doing so. He’d never lacked confidence when it came to women. But he’d rather not have witnesses to a post-coital confrontation that might not turn out the way he hoped.

He glanced at his watch and stood up. “You two lovebirds stay as long as you want. But I promised to help at the courthouse today. They’re trying to recover as many documents as possible before it rains again. I may try to speak to Colby Richardson, too. Offer my sympathies. He’s come back to town to bury his brother, Craig, and to be supportive of Craig’s widow, Paige. That and dealing with the ranch will be a lot for one man to handle.”

Jed nodded. “Yeah, it will. I’m supposed to work a shift later. I’ll see you down there.”

Drew hugged Kimberly, stunned to realize that the thought of being an uncle was pretty damned exciting. “Welcome to the family.”

* * *

As Drew neared the turn to Green Acres, he pondered Beth’s attitude toward Audie. Forget about my brother. Surely she didn’t really mean that. He turned his truck onto Beth’s road, calling himself all kinds of a fool. But try as he might, he couldn’t ignore the fact that Audie needed a job and Drew could help. Surely that would ease some of Beth’s emotional burden. She didn’t need to be worrying about her brother in addition to everything else she was juggling.

The house looked much the same. Fortunately, the moderate temperatures had continued, so no one was in any danger of freezing to death, even if the shed wasn’t heated. Audie sat on a tree stump smoking. He didn’t move when Drew put the vehicle in park and got out.

Drew lifted a hand. “Thought I’d stop by and check on you.”

Audie’s nodded. “Where’s sis?”

“Helping out at the animal shelter. I’m sure she’ll see you later.”

“Wouldn’t count on it.” Audie paused to flick a mosquito off his knee. “Can I help you with something?”

“Actually, I might be able to help you. One of my stable hands quit last week, so I have a job available. It’s not glamorous work. The pay is decent but not great. But since you’re staying here, you could save up a deposit for another place in town.”

“Does Beth know you’re here?”

A warning flag went up. “No. This is between us.”

“She won’t like it. She doesn’t believe I’ve really changed.”

“Changed how?”

“I’ve been a drunk most of my life. But I finally started going to AA, and now I’ve been sober for six months. My history is why I’ve had trouble getting a job.”

“How bad is it?”

Audie shrugged. “I’ve had a few run-ins with the law. Nothing major. I had to clean up my act when the baby came along.”

“We run a tight ship at Willowbrook. You would be answering to my manager. I’m doing this for your sister, but I expect a lot from my men.”

“I hear what you’re saying.”

“In that case, do you want the job?”

Audie took off a stained baseball cap and scratched his head. “I don’t much like gettin’ up early.”

Drew winced inwardly. He was beginning to see why Beth had issues with Audie. “The job is 7:30 to 4:00 with half an hour for lunch and two fifteen minute breaks. No smoking anywhere on the property.”

“Okay. I guess I can live with that. I appreciate you taking a chance on me.”

“Let me be straight with you, Audie. I could have a dozen guys lining up for the chance to work at Willowbrook. My stable hands are the best in the business. You’ll learn a lot from them. The only reason I’m offering you this job is because I care about your sister.”

Audie nodded. “I bet you do.”

Drew inhaled sharply. With two hands, he took Audie by the collar and lifted him to his toes— wishing he could put his hands around his neck.

Audie went the color of skim milk when Drew got in his face and snarled, “You will not disrespect your sister. Are we clear?” When the man nodded, Drew released him, chest heaving.

Beth’s skinny sibling got to his feet, grabbed up his dust-covered ball cap, and had the audacity to ask for more. “I’ll need a way to get to work. Can’t leave the wife and kid without a car.”

This time Drew had to count to ten. “One of my guys passes here every morning. I’ll see if he’s willing to pick you up. Now do you want the job or not?”

“Yeah. I appreciate it. I really do. But Beth may get her feathers ruffled. She’s not big on taking help.”

“Are you the only family she has? I know your parents are gone. But no aunts and uncles? Cousins?”

“Wouldn’t know on my dad’s side. Mama was an only child. Me and Beth aren’t bosom buddies. She’s a little uppity. Thinks she’s better than me.”

“I warned you.”

Audie took two steps backward. “I gotta check on things.”

“You’ll be ready in the morning?”

“Yup.”

“Don’t waste this opportunity.”

“I won’t, Mr. Farrell. You won’t be sorry.”

Ten

Drew brooded about the unsettling encounter with Beth’s brother all the way into town. No wonder Beth had warned him off. Audie’s reinvention of himself might or might not be the real deal. Only time would tell. But Drew was determined to insert himself between Beth and the stress of looking after her brother. She didn’t need to worry about Audie and his family if Drew was around to help. It was the least Drew could do.

In Royal, reality hit once again. Sifting through the wreckage of Town Hall was a distraction, but not a welcome one. Knowing people had lost their lives on this very spot was sobering. A pall of tragedy lay over the site. Though at least two dozen volunteers worked side by side in an attempt to recover valuable records, there was no joking, no camaraderie. Faces were grim. Eyes were shadowed with grief.

Lord knew how anything would ever get back to normal.

In the midst of the backbreaking work, once again Drew realized how lucky he and Beth had been. Imagining her snatched from his side by a killer tornado made him queasy. And it could have happened. So easily....

Today, the skies above were innocent and blue, nothing at all like what he remembered from the day of the storm. He had a feeling that many in Royal would experience post-traumatic stress in the weeks and months to come. Thankfully, the calendar said they were on the tail end of tornado season, but next spring would be another story. Every thunderstorm promised to be nerve-wracking, especially for the children who didn’t really understand these things.

Pausing to take a swig of water, he noticed a piece of paper flapping in the breeze, anchored by a chunk of concrete block. He squatted to pick it up and saw that it was a fragment of a marriage license. Neither of the names was familiar to him. But for a moment, he was struck by how many people would be affected by this mess at Town Hall. Were any of the computer records recoverable?

After his long, difficult shift wrapped up, he acknowledged he wasn’t going to have any peace of mind until he had it out with Beth. He was hot and tired and second-guessing himself about getting involved with Audie. Sooner or later he would have to confess to Beth what he had done. His job offer had been motivated by a desire to help Beth, perhaps even to earn her gratitude. But he was coming to realize that she didn’t always see things the way Drew did. He would postpone that hurdle for as long as possible.