“Three days to plan a wedding!”

“You’ll have one day to decide, then we need to go to the county clerk’s office to apply for a license. I suggest you call your relatives, friends and business associates tomorrow and make travel arrangements for them. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Jodie looked completely stunned as she sat upright in the chair, framed by the window. In the dark glass, Travis saw a reflection of the room. He saw himself, looking stiff and determined. Well, fine. That was how he felt. His decision was firm—he wasn’t getting married again unless it was for keeps. Maybe he and Jodie didn’t have enough in common to build a marriage.

But maybe, just maybe, they did.

Dear Reader,

Ranger Springs, Texas, is the type of place that exists in stories I’ve heard from my wonderful native-Texan in-laws, Vaughn and Lillian Huffstutler, and in my imagination of what a small town should be. It’s the type of place where I’d love to live—if only they had a major mall, a large grocery store and a Starbucks! In that regard, I’m very similar to the heroine of Coming Home to Texas, Jodie Marsh. She’s a California “city girl” who marries Texas rancher Travis Whitaker. She must then adapt to his adopted hometown in the Texas Hill Country. I’m a Kentucky “city girl” who married my very own Texan thirty-three years ago.

Jodie and Travis Whitaker are modern characters in a traditional setting. She’s a plus-size model and he’s a famous architect. They are introduced by characters you might recognize from The Prince’s Cowboy Double and The Prince’s Texas Bride. Their attraction is immediate—with consequences that extend well beyond the nine months she anticipates.

I hope you enjoy this sixth book in my Ranger Springs series. Please write to me at P.O. Box 852125, Richardson, TX 75085 and include a SASE for reply, or e-mail me at victoriachancellor@msn.com.

Best wishes and happy reading,

Victoria Chancellor

Coming Home to Texas

Victoria Chancellor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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To my lovely niece Laura Madrill, her wonderful husband, David, and their precious Garrett Adam. All the best forever.

Thanks to former model and supermother Cari Manderscheid for her expertise.

Books by Victoria Chancellor

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

844—THE BACHELOR PROJECT

884—THE BEST BLIND DATE IN TEXAS

955—THE PRINCE’S COWBOY DOUBLE

959—THE PRINCE’S TEXAS BRIDE

992—THE C.E.O. & THE COOKIE QUEEN

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter One

Jodie Marsh gathered her courage along with her Kate Spade tote and umbrella, preparing to make a mad dash toward Travis Whitaker’s front porch. A mad dash toward her immediate future. With one last sigh, she pushed open the door to her rental car and swung her legs out. Her feet landed in a puddle and she watched as her Manolo Blahnik sandals disappeared in a small pool of muddy water. Great. Now she would squish when she confronted him.

Travis wasn’t expecting her and she doubted he’d even heard the car pull into the driveway over the persistent rain. His house looked spacious and new, although it also reminded her of the old rock homes and weathered-wood barns she’d seen dotting the countryside. She assumed he’d designed it since he was an architect.

Jodie stopped on the porch and folded her umbrella, shaking the water from it. Frowning, she wiggled her sandals, but they were still wet enough to make her feet feel slippery. And cold. She’d assumed Texas would be warmer and drier. Now she was mentally and physically uncomfortable. She took another deep breath and peered inside the house.

The windows were dark and looked rather intimidating beneath the leaden sky, but she wasn’t going to let rain or her imagination stop her from talking to the man with whom she’d spent one spectacular weekend almost five weeks ago. He’d been a blind date, but a fantastic one. They’d shared an immediate attraction—and much more—for two and a half days in Monte Carlo.

She’d hesitated long enough. After placing a hand on her stomach, she rang the doorbell. And waited.

And waited. Where was Travis? She’d called from the airport but had hung up as soon as he’d answered. Calling had been a mistake. She couldn’t talk to him on a crackling, staticky cell phone during a thunderstorm. What she had to say needed to be said in person, so she’d driven here as quickly as possible from the San Antonio airport.

“Where are you, Travis Whitaker?” she whispered as she pressed the doorbell again then added a few knocks in case the electricity was out. The lunch crowd at a quaint diner in downtown Ranger Springs had told her how to find the ranch, and she had to assume he hadn’t left in the past hour.

Just when she thought she might have to search elsewhere on the property for the elusive architect, the door flew open.

“Jodie?”

“Hello, Travis.” She stared at his disheveled, sun-streaked hair, frayed University of Texas sweatshirt and faded jeans. His beautiful feet were bare. He looked so much like he had just after they’d made wild, passionate love that her heart skipped a beat.

“What are you—Never mind, that was rude, and not what I meant. Please, come inside.”

She leaned her umbrella against the house, shook more water from her sandals and slid past him into the warmth of his home. Mmm. He even smelled the same, like clean, warm male and Mediterranean sunshine, despite the rainy, cool Texas day.

“Can I get you something? You look a little cold.”

She wasn’t about to tell him she was shaking more from nerves than the weather. Instead she shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Come into the great room. I have a fire going.”

She followed him down the slate-tiled hallway, her wet sandals slapping against the floor, like a prisoner being led to the gallows. Not that they really used gallows anymore. Not that she’d done anything wrong, or wanted to feel like a criminal…or a victim.

Not that she was so nervous that she was babbling inside her head. With each step, an unaccustomed sense of panic increased until she couldn’t stand the tension a moment longer.

“Wait,” she said, grabbing his arm as they reached the doorway. “I have something to tell you and I need to do it now, before we get comfortable in front of the fire.” Before he made her feel welcome in his home.

“What’s wrong?” He looked so handsome, so concerned, as he reached out to steady her. His hands felt strong and comforting on her shoulders, as if he’d reached out to her many times before. As if they’d had more than a couple of fantastic days together.

She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, to hold him tight and to whisper the truth. But she needed to see his face, not retreat to his warmth and strength, when she broke the news.

“Not quite wrong, but…” she began. “Well, I’m not sure how you’re going to react, so I need to just tell you this. Right now, right here.”

“What’s going on, Jodie?”

She took a deep breath, then the words rushed past her cold, trembling lips. “I’m pregnant. The baby is definitely yours. And we need to get married right away.”

He looked as stunned as she’d felt when the doctor had confirmed the pregnancy kit test result. America’s new “girl next door” was going to be an unwed mother unless she could get Travis Whitaker’s immediate cooperation.

“PREGNANT?” he repeated, dropping his hands from her shoulders and stepping back. His immediate joy that she’d arrived in Ranger Springs, coupled with surprise that she’d sought him out, came to an abrupt halt. He felt as if he’d been poleaxed. Him, a father?

But he shouldn’t be all that surprised. They’d used protection all but one time, when she’d surprised him in the shower. He hadn’t been prepared for her sexy smile, her slippery, soft skin and very talented use of a body puff. In so many ways Jodie was unlike any other woman he’d been involved with.

“Yes, pregnant,” she said. “I know I said we should be okay, that it was a safe time of the month, but apparently I was wrong.”

“I—I don’t know what to say.”

She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her curvy hips. “You don’t have to say anything, but I’m hoping I can get your cooperation. Travis, this is important to me.”

“Having a baby is rather important to everyone involved, wouldn’t you say?” he asked with barely controlled sarcasm. What did she mean, it was important to her, when she’d just dropped a bombshell on him and added that they needed to get married right away?

“Look, I know you’re shocked and disappointed—”

“With all due respect,” he interrupted, running a hand through his shaggy hair, “I don’t think you know me well enough to decide what I’m feeling.”

She stepped back, turning a little pale beneath her golden, California-girl tan. “Okay, I understand your position. I’d just go away and leave you alone, but—”

“I didn’t ask you to leave.”

“You don’t seem especially glad to see me, either. Which I can understand, given what I just told you.”

“I was—am—glad to see you. But you did throw me for a loop. You certainly don’t mince words, do you?”

“Not on anything this important.”

He ran his hand through his hair again, wishing they could start over. “Look, let’s go sit down and talk like reasonable adults. The fire is warm and, quite frankly, you look as though you need to sit down.”

“Great. Just the look I was going for—helpless female.”

“Jodie, I don’t think anyone would call you helpless, or weak, or any other unflattering adjectives. But you are definitely female.”

When he’d first met Jodie, he’d been pleasantly surprised. His friends had mentioned she was a model who’d just finished a swimsuit photo shoot in Monaco. He’d been expecting a silicone-enhanced, tall, tanned, self-indulgent, waiflike creature. Not his usual type of petite, acquiescent woman, but heck, he was flexible. What red-blooded American male would turn down a date with a swimsuit model? Then he’d met her in a café in Monte Carlo and he’d immediately known he’d gotten her all wrong.

Jodie wasn’t just a swimsuit model. She was a famous model, a minor celebrity. And she wasn’t just a regular model. She was a plus-size model. Size fourteen to sixteen, she’d told him over a generous meal of pasta, salad and dessert. She had to eat heartily to maintain her size because she was so active, participating in a variety of sports.

Definitely not the usual dainty, blond and predictable type of woman he preferred to date. His friend Hank McCauley would also add “airhead” to the description, but Travis thought that was an exaggeration. So what if his girlfriends didn’t have strong career directions or advanced degrees? He liked women whose jobs didn’t interfere with his somewhat erratic work and vacation schedule. He wanted to be able to call someone at the spur of the moment and say, “Let’s go to Tahiti.”

“All right,” she sighed. “Let’s sit down and talk this through. Maybe I could use a cup of tea.”

“Coming right up. Make yourself comfortable in front of the fire,” he said, carefully taking her arm and steering her toward the center of the large house. “I’ll be right back.”

He gratefully retreated to the kitchen to prepare mugs of Earl Grey, placing them with honey, sugar and artificial sweetener on a tray. He wasn’t sure what pregnant women were supposed to drink. About all he knew about pregnancy was that it took nine months and sometimes involved unpleasant morning sickness.

Had Jodie been ill? Is that why she’d paled at his sarcastic comment? He was a heel for upsetting her, but dammit, he sure hadn’t been expecting an announcement that she was carrying his child.

He grabbed a couple of spoons and felt a sudden urge to hurry back into the den. One part of him dreaded the upcoming conversation, but another wanted to know every little detail. How she’d learned of the pregnancy. What she was feeling. What were her plans for the baby…and how did they include him?

Marriage? He definitely didn’t plan to get married again. Marriage involved messy emotions that led to botched expectations, then disappointments, and finally, crying and yelling. But still, she was pregnant…

“Here you go,” he said as cheerfully as possible, placing the tray on his large tufted ottoman. “I hope you like Earl Grey.”

“One of my favorites,” she said, pushing her shoulder-length blond hair behind her ear. His eyes settled on her neck and he remembered, with a flush of heat, how sensitive she was in that particular spot, just below her ear. He’d felt an enormous sense of possession when he’d kissed her there, hard, as he’d moved inside her.

Shaking away the memory, he straightened and tugged on the hem of his old U.T. sweatshirt. Jodie was sitting in one of the big carved wood and upholstered chairs near the fireplace. He took the other one, then grabbed a mug of tea, searching for a safe way to begin this conversation.

“So, have you been in California?”

“Mostly, although I spent some time in New York City. That’s one of the reasons I needed to see you right away. Something has developed in my career.”

“Something good?”

“Absolutely. I think I mentioned a possible cosmetics contract last month when we were…well, in Monte Carlo. As soon as I returned, I found out that they want me to become their new image. I signed the contract two weeks ago to become ‘the girl next door,’ as they call it.” Jodie looked away and laughed mirthlessly, a sad sound against the soft crackle of the fire. “Some girl next door. Unless, of course, your neighbor is pregnant and unwed.”

“If you’ve already signed the contract, surely they’ll work with you on the ad campaign. Maybe change the timing or just show you from the chest up.”

Jodie shook her head. “It’s not that simple. The contract has a morality clause. I can’t do or say anything that will negatively impact myself or the company while I’m representing them. Keep in mind that I’m supposed to be the girl next door, not the jet-setting California tramp.”

Ouch. Becoming an unwed mother would probably violate the contract, even with the relaxed morality of big cities as opposed to small towns. “I see your problem.”

“It’s rather obvious, isn’t it? Without your cooperation, I can have my baby or I can have my career.” She leaned forward, holding the mug like a talisman. “Well, I want both.”

Travis took a deep breath. “I’ve tried being married, Jodie. I didn’t like it.”

“Tough. Look, I’m not asking you for eternal love and commitment. I’m asking for your name for our baby, your cooperation in a marriage. A temporary marriage. Perhaps make some appearances with me. Act happy over the baby, that sort of thing. I promise I won’t bother you all that much. After all, I’ll be pretty busy with my endorsements, assignments and other activities.”

“Not to mention the baby.”

“Of course. I meant, before the baby is actually born. My agent is quietly working on a deal with a maternity clothing line.”

“Sounds like you have it all planned out. Hell, this could be a great break for you.” He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but knew he failed. So what? Although life had handed her a basket of lemons, it sounded to him as if Jodie was making lemonade with great gusto. Or maybe she’d been “expecting” these lemons all along. Was he just another part of her plan?

“Everything seems to be coming together for you nicely. All you need is a husband, now that you have the new contract and a baby on the way.”

“I didn’t plan to get pregnant! I knew nothing about this ‘girl next door’ campaign the company has planned.”

His suspicions must have shown on his face. Travis shrugged. “Still, you got pregnant, and now you’re here, demanding my cooperation because of all your contracts and endorsements.”

“Hoping for your cooperation,” she interrupted, “so I can save my career and support this baby.”

“Whatever. All I know is that you claim to be having my baby, but I haven’t had any say in your plans.”

“This baby is affecting my career, not yours.”

“Don’t be so sure about that.”

“What do you mean?”

He leaned forward, facing her over the edge of the ottoman. “I mean that I live in a small community with traditional values. I don’t want my friends and neighbors thinking I’m an irresponsible man or a dead-beat dad. I don’t want them assuming I have indiscriminate affairs.”

“Oh, so now I’m to blame. I’m indiscriminate?” Her voice rose with the color on her cheeks.

“It takes two to tango, Jodie, and I remember both of us being involved. Look, I’m not saying you planned to get pregnant by me, but since you did, you’ve gone ahead and made a lot of assumptions. A lot of plans. In all fairness, I should be a part of your decisions.”

“I’m not asking for much, Travis. I need your cooperation in going through the ceremony, making a few appearances, that sort of thing.”

“And I need to be involved. You’ve had several weeks to think this through. The least you can do is give me several days.”

“I’m running out of time!”

“And I’m not running to the altar again until I’m sure about who I’m marrying and why!”

JODIE FELL BACK AGAINST the bed and threw her arm over her eyes, certain she wouldn’t be able to sleep even though Travis had suggested she “rest up” before dinner. Just as he’d strongly suggested she would stay with him rather than find a hotel somewhere.

She wished she could make the past five weeks go away as easily as she could shut her eyes and block out the gray Texas day. Or change just that one moment when she’d decided to step into the shower with Travis. She hadn’t given a thought to protection and apparently neither had he. And now they were both paying the price.

No, she shouldn’t think that. The baby was completely innocent. And Jodie realized she was already starting to have feelings for the tiny life, even though it was bad timing for a pregnancy.

In all honesty, she didn’t wish she’d never met Travis. Or fallen into his bed so easily. Or anything about that weekend—but she did wish they had been more careful. A baby hadn’t been part of her plans for the near future, despite the fact that she was getting to the age where she had to start seriously considering having children…or not. No, this wasn’t great timing, but then, Travis certainly had good genes to give to a child. He was tall, fit, muscular and intelligent, never mind gorgeous, and had a terrific personality. Otherwise she wouldn’t have fallen for him so quickly and completely.

He’d been a great guy, a fantastic lover. She’d seriously regretting leaving him on Monday to return home. He’d seemed equally sad that they’d had to part so soon.

But did he call? She shook her head. Not once. Of course, she hadn’t called him, either, despite the fact he’d left her with a card. Just in case, he’d said. They’d both agreed they weren’t looking for a relationship, just a brief fling. They’d known their lives weren’t compatible. He was Texas; she was California. He was laid-back in his established profession; she was hard-charging about her rising career.

Apparently her egg and his sperm hadn’t realized how incompatible they were outside the bedroom. The little critters had teamed up at the first chance to make a baby.

Jodie let her hand drift to her stomach. Somewhere inside a tiny life nestled, completely unconcerned about the problems of the two irresponsible adults. She couldn’t let her baby down. She’d make a darn good single mother. Of course, she’d allow Travis to have visitation if he wanted to be part of the child’s life. She wasn’t unreasonable. On the other hand, she wouldn’t push for money or anything else.

Her mother had provided a good home for her. Jodie planned to do the same for her baby. Her father hadn’t wanted to be part of their family and they hadn’t needed him—financially, emotionally or in any other way. Jodie had always believed that independence was the key to happiness.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. It took a moment for her to remember where she was—Travis’s guest bedroom. Because, as he’d explained, Ranger Springs had only a two-room bed-and-breakfast, which was probably full for the weekend. She’d never been in a town without several hotels and motels—and had certainly never thought about staying in one for a couple of days while Travis digested the fact that he was going to be a father.

“Jodie?”

She swung her legs off the bed, feeling a little light-headed when she stood. She steadied herself with a hand on the nightstand just as the door swung open.

“What’s wrong?” Travis’s voice showed his genuine concern and, for a moment, she wanted to once again have him hold her. She heard him stride quickly across the room, but didn’t risk looking up. She didn’t want to make herself any more dizzy than she already felt.

“I got up too quickly. Nothing to worry about.”

“Are you sure? Have you been to the doctor yet?”

“Yes and yes. I’m sure I just need to eat a bite.” She probably had been overdoing it a bit, flying from coast to coast, then stopping in Texas. Not to mention the stress of facing Travis and breaking the news so abruptly.

“Good, because I came to tell you that dinner’s ready. It’s not fancy, but maybe that’s best on your first day here. You can get some more rest after we eat.”

“I’m not that fragile, Travis,” she claimed, rising to her full five-foot-eleven height. Even then, she wasn’t eye level with him. She liked a big, tall man. She didn’t like to think she was superficial, but she didn’t date shorter, slightly built men because they made her look huge in comparison. With her height and generally “sturdy” and athletic build, she preferred a man she could look up to.

“Yes, but you are pregnant. And based on what you told me last month, I’m sure your schedule has been a little hectic lately. A few days in the Texas Hill Country is just what you need to relax.”

What she needed was a husband, but she didn’t say that out loud. She was certain Travis would come to the same conclusion…hopefully very soon.

“I am hungry, and I’m glad we’re not going out. I’ve eaten every meal in a restaurant with my agent, publicist or executives for potential endorsement deals for the past five days, and I could really use a night off.”

“Good. Well, I’ll leave you to freshen up. Come down to the kitchen whenever you’re ready.”

Jodie nodded, then added, “Thanks for understanding about my schedule, Travis, but just so you’re clear, I don’t have days to lie around the Hill Country. I have decisions to make.”

“You’ve already decided to have this baby, right?”

“Yes. That isn’t up for discussion.”

“Good, because I don’t want to argue about that.”

She nodded again. At least Travis wasn’t the type to suggest she make this “little problem” go away.

Within a few minutes she’d splashed water on her face, brushed her hair and dabbed on a little lip gloss. There was no reason to appear glamorous when she didn’t need to pose for the cameras. Besides, Travis had seen her many times over their one weekend together without makeup. Or without clothes, for that matter.

He’d just never seen her pregnant and desperate enough to ask a man she’d known for only three days to marry her.

What if he didn’t say yes?

Chapter Two

“So I hear you have a very attractive lady visitor,” Hank McCauley taunted on the phone line.

Travis ground his teeth and silently wished his friend a slow and painful injury.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” he replied, glancing toward the second-floor hallway that wrapped around the great room like a balcony. He hoped Jodie didn’t walk in on him having this conversation. “She’s my guest, so butt out.”

“Hey, I heard she came into the Four Square Café looking for directions to your ranch. It’s not my fault most of your friends and neighbors were there to gawk.”

“I’ll bet you were gawking most of all.”

“I don’t gawk at other women much since Lady Wendy and I tied the knot.”

“Too bad she didn’t put a zipper on your mouth.”

Hank chuckled. “She likes my mouth way too much to mess with any modifications.”

Travis rolled his eyes. Hank could be completely outrageous. They’d known each other since their freshman year at the University of Texas. Hank had later dropped out to pursue his rodeo career, but Travis had gone on to get his master’s degree in architectural design. They’d lost touch for a few years while Hank was on the circuit. Now they were neighbors and best friends again.

Although, Travis reminded himself, with friends like that, he didn’t need any enemies. The gossip mill at the café would be going full steam for several days.

For at least as long as Jodie stayed in town. Alone with him at his ranch.

“So who else were you jawin’ with downtown?” He glanced at the clock over the wet bar. “It’s too late for lunch.”

“There was another meeting of the Fourth of July committee, which lasted longer than usual. They’re getting an early start this year, planning a big parade and celebration. So yeah, basically everyone was down here and talking about you and Jodie Marsh.”

“I suppose they all know by now who she is.”

“Yep. Very intriguing. Of course, I had to tell them I played a role in getting you two fixed up over in Europe.”

“Prince Alexi did most of the ‘fixing up,’ if I remember correctly.” Travis, Hank and his wife, Lady Gwendolyn, and Carole and Greg Rafferty had visited Prince Alexi and Princess Kerry—a former Ranger Springs native and Carole’s sister—along with the new little prince Alexander, in Belegovia in January. The country was building a new cultural center and wanted Travis to design the facility. That’s where he’d been when the lot of them had arranged a blind date in Monte Carlo with Jodie, whom Alexi knew through their charitable activities.

A date that had quickly turned into a passionate weekend.

“Heck, Travis, you’re the best entertainment we’ve got since most of us are married now. We’re depending on you for a little controversy.”

“Well, just leave it alone, okay? When I’m ready to tell you snoops anything, I’ll give you a call.”

“Tell us anything? Like what? Don’t tell me the blind date got really serious. Not with Travis the Confirmed Bachelor Whitaker!”

“I’m not telling you anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a meal to prepare for a lady.”

“Cooking for her, too. That does sound serious.”

Travis started to hang up the phone, but Hank shouted, “Wait! Wendy wants you and Jodie to come for dinner Wednesday night. Seven o’clock, okay?”

Travis sighed. He supposed the social engagement was necessary, even if he wasn’t ready to share Jodie with his friends and neighbors. “All right. See you tomorrow.”

“Anyone I know?” Jodie’s sexy, husky voice tore his thoughts away from his friends and neighbors and back to the woman who had just complicated his life. Not that she’d done it all alone. No, he’d participated very actively.

“Just Hank McCauley. He’s as nosy as coon dog on the first day of hunting season.”

“I thought he was nice.”

“You just don’t know him well.”

“He’s a good friend of yours, isn’t he?”

“The jury’s still out on that one,” Travis replied with a shake of his head.

Jodie chuckled. “You really are a private person, aren’t you?”

“I try to be. That’s why I bought this ranch. I wanted to get away from the congestion and hectic pace of a big city, plus I wanted to get a few horses and run a few head of cattle. I like living in a small community, but my neighbors can be bigger gossips than the tabloids.”

“Oh, I’ll bet they’re considerably nicer.”

“That’s true.” Travis looked over Jodie’s fresh face, glossy lips and lush figure. No one would suspect she was an internationally known model. Or that she was pregnant. She truly did appear to be “the girl next door.”

“The cosmetics company made a good choice when they decided you would be their new representative.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You look so young and fresh. So ordinary, but in an extraordinary way, if that makes any sense.”

“Thanks…I think.”

“My thoughts were extremely complimentary even if my words didn’t convey my feelings.”

She turned away, looking a bit embarrassed. “In that case, thanks again.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Famished. How may I help?”

“Why don’t you get some glasses out of that cabinet,” he said, gesturing with the salad tongs, “and decide what you’d like to drink.”

He turned his attention back to the roasted chicken he’d fixed in his smoker last night. It was his favorite meal, although he never let on to his cattle-ranching friends that he preferred chicken over a nice big steak. Folks had been run out of Texas for less.

When he turned to get the potato salad out of the refrigerator, he and Jodie collided. With a gasp, she stepped back.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’m not used to having someone else in the kitchen.”

“My fault,” she said breathlessly, looking flushed and adorable. “I’m not used to being in someone else’s kitchen.”

He did his best to ignore the feeling of Jodie’s breasts brushing against his arm, but like the proverbial elephant in the room, he could barely think of anything else. Despite the distraction, though, within a few minutes they had the meal on the table.

“So,” he said after they’d started their salads, “tell me again why I should break every promise I made to myself about getting married again.”

“I’VE ALREADY EXPLAINED about the contract, the morality clause and my career. I don’t see how it could be any more clear.”

“What about how you feel about having this baby? How you’d feel about getting married? I don’t think either one was in your plans for the near future.”

“No, they weren’t, but the pregnancy happened. I can’t change that.” Some women might, and that was fine for them, but eliminating “the problem” wasn’t something she could do. Not when she had other options. She was going to have this baby, even if it meant giving up the contract—which she wasn’t about to admit to Travis. Her mother and her agent had always told her to negotiate from a point of strength. Never admit your weaknesses. Compromise, but don’t settle.

“I’m glad to hear it. Now, you’ve told me all the logical reasons why you need to get married. Tell me how you’re feeling about it.”

Wow, this was a reversal. A man asking her to talk about her feelings? Had she entered an alternate universe when she’d driven across the Ranger Springs city limit? “I feel like I should do the right thing. I feel like I want this baby to have a mother who can provide for him or her.”

“That’s just more logic. What about getting married? How are you going to react to us living together as man and wife? Are you ready to compromise, or have you even considered me in your plans?”

“I…of course I’ve considered you.” She wouldn’t have considered marrying someone she couldn’t tolerate. But then, she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant by a man who was repulsive. “I didn’t think marriage—especially a temporary marriage—to me would be that distasteful.”

“I’ve been married before and I made a vow that I never would again. I don’t make vows lightly, Jodie. There’s a reason I’m against the institution of marriage.”

“Why? What happened to make you bitter?”

“Who said I’m bitter? There are other reasons to want to avoid the state of matrimony.”

She couldn’t think of any. “So, what happened between you two?”

“I don’t talk about that time in my life.”

“Oh, but it’s fine to grill me about my life?”

“Ask me whatever you want to know about my life right now and I’ll answer the questions. But I didn’t ask you about your past and I don’t want to discuss mine.”

“Just tell me this. Is there anything in your past that would damage my career if we were to marry and the information was leaked to the media?”

He thought for a moment. Took another bite of salad, chewed and swallowed. “No.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay then. What’s the problem? We liked each other well enough five weeks ago. I’m not that difficult to live with. As I mentioned, I won’t even be around all that much. Why, you’d hardly know I was here.”

“And this is supposed to make me feel better…why?”

“Because I’m not asking much from you in the way of compromise! I’m trying to be thoughtful.”

He pushed his half-eaten salad aside. “I’d like to be thoughtful before we stand in front of a minister.”

“A justice of the peace or even an Elvis impersonator at a wedding chapel would be fine with me, as long as the marriage is legal.”

“I’m not running away to Las Vegas or going to some county clerk’s office to get married.”

“Fine. Then we’ll do whatever you’d like. After all, you’re doing me—and the baby, of course—a favor by agreeing to marry me.”

“Okay, then answer this. What’s in it for me?”

Jodie immediately thought of twisted sheets and hot, damp bodies. Not that they’d talked about having a sex life after the ceremony. Pushing the image aside, she sighed. “The knowledge that you’re doing the right thing?”

“Maybe you don’t know me very well. Maybe I’m not the kind of guy who wants to do the right thing. Maybe I’m irresponsible and selfish.”

She didn’t think for a minute that was the case. Travis had been a generous and inventive lover—not the kind of man who thought only of himself. “I’m not buying that line. I think you’re a man who would acknowledge his child, who would try to help that child’s mother out of a difficult situation.”

“And you’re basing this on…?”

“Just what I know about you! You’re a nice guy, Travis Whitaker. I wouldn’t have gone to bed with you on our first date if you hadn’t been.” She pushed aside her salad bowl, surprised to note she’d eaten most of the healthy green stuff without ever thinking about it.

He looked amused as he calmly cut into his roasted chicken. “Okay, maybe I’m a fairly nice guy. At least most of the time. When I’m not dealing with a temperamental client or an incompetent contractor. Or a stubborn cow or a nosy friend. But that doesn’t mean I’m good marriage material. You can’t be sure I’d be a good father.”

“I think you’d try. And besides, if you don’t want to be a part of this baby’s life, you don’t have to be. I’m not trying to force you to take part in parenting if that’s not what you want. I have the money to hire a nanny, to pay for the best schools and to give this child a wonderful future. I’d like for you to be a part of his or her life, but it’s not necessary.”

“It’s necessary to me.”

“Then what’s the problem?” She felt like throwing up her hands in exasperation. They kept having circular arguments, with Travis revealing as little as possible about how he felt, but asking her to bare her soul.

“The problem is that you marched in here demanding that we get married on your terms. You didn’t even let me be happy about seeing you again before you were telling me your plans and expecting me to play this minimalist role of husband and father.” He pushed his plate aside and leaned closer. “Well, Jodie Marsh, maybe that’s not what I want. Did you ever think of that? Did you ever consider that I might have other plans?”

She sat back in her chair, feeling as if the floor had shifted beneath her. When they’d first met, she hadn’t considered Travis’s life much at all. She’d never asked him personal details, such as if he had someone back in Texas. Because he’d been so hot for her, she’d assumed he was unattached. “Oh, God. Do you already have a fiancée? A serious girlfriend?”

Travis laughed. “Relax and finish your dinner, Jodie. You’re eating for two now.”

“That’s an old wives’ tale. And you didn’t answer my question.” Still, she took a bite of tender chicken and followed it with some potato salad.

“No, I don’t have a fiancée or a serious girlfriend. What would be the point of getting engaged? I already told you I’d never planned to marry.”

“Then you never wanted children?”

A look of pain, maybe regret, passed over his face, but it was gone before she could wonder too much about his past. The one he didn’t want to discuss.

“I have friends with children. I have a sister who has a son. If I feel the urge to be around the little monsters, I have opportunities.”

“You think all children are monsters?” she asked.

“No, I was just joking. I’m actually quite good around them. I can even change diapers.”

“You have me beat, then, because I don’t have the foggiest idea how to care for a baby.” She took another forkful of food while she waited for him to chide her for being unprepared. “Although I do like children.”

“No brothers or sisters? No nieces or nephews?”

Once again he’d surprised her by not rubbing her nose in her inadequacies. “I have a younger sister, Chelsea, who is twenty-seven. My mother divorced when I was three and never remarried.”

Travis nodded. “I have nothing against children, but since I’d never planned to marry, I didn’t think the opportunity would arise. Also, I like my freedom. I take jobs I want, I travel quite often and I have my ranch to keep me from being bored. I don’t think I’d make a good candidate for a single dad, in the unlikely event I decided to adopt. Which I’ve never seriously considered.”

“Sometimes nature takes over and we become better parents than we could have imagined.”

“I’ve heard that. I’ve also seen parents who tried awfully hard and were terrible at the job.”

“I’m not going to be terrible. I’m going to be a terrific mom. I’m going to ask my mother how she raised such a great kid—namely, me—and then follow her example.”

Travis laughed. “All that and modest, too.”

“Darn right.”

She looked down at her plate and saw that she’d eaten all of her chicken and potato salad, along with a handful of grapes. She and Travis had been talking so intently that she’d been oblivious.

“Did you have time to unpack?” he asked as he reached for her plate.

“I don’t mind living out of my suitcase. I’m used to it.”

“Jodie, why don’t you unpack? You’re going to be here awhile.”

“I am?”

“Well, aren’t you going to try to talk me into getting married? Or have you changed your mind?”

She shook her head. “No. But like I mentioned, I’m on a really tight schedule. I’m counting down nine months!”

“Giving me a week or so isn’t going to make any difference.”

“It might!”

“Jodie, given the fact that we’re both tall and not skinny, I don’t think this baby is going to be a tiny little thing. We’re not going to pass it off as premature.”

“Well…”

“Just unpack, relax and enjoy a short vacation in Ranger Springs. Get to know the people. Get to know me.”

“So I’m supposed to relax while you make the most important decision of my life?”

“That’s right.”

“How about you go ahead and decide, then we can both relax?”

“I’m going to defy my basic nature and not rush into this decision.”

“You were willing to rush into my hotel suite in Monte Carlo!” she exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him. Probably not the smartest move when she was still trying to get his compliance, but she could only take so much baiting.

“That was…different.”

“Make an exception!”

“About getting married? I can’t do that, no matter how much I like and respect you.”

“You…you like me?”

“Of course I like you. Do you think I sleep with women I can’t stand?”

“No, but—”

“Even though I like you, I can’t just jump into marriage. I have to think this through.”

“What do you want, legal agreements? No problem. I’ll have my lawyers draw up a prenuptial. I’ll make whatever promises you need if you’ll just cooperate.”

“Give me some time, Jodie. I want to do what’s best for all of us.”

“I know what’s best! I’ve already explained what we need to do and why.”

“No, Jodie. You know what’s best for your career. I’m talking about our lives and the life of our baby.”

AFTER THE MEAL, Travis excused himself, saying he had some chores. In truth, he just needed to get away. Away from Jodie’s tempting presence. Away from his chaotic thoughts. Since she’d arrived back in his life a few hours ago, she’d turned his thinking completely around. His future now included a child—and possibly a wife.

But for how long? Jodie said she expected their marriage to be “temporary.” He didn’t like the sound of that. In his opinion, temporary items tended to be inferior in quality and comfort.

He liked to build things to last.

Fortunately the showers had stopped shortly after Jodie arrived. The ground was soft, the dry winter grass slick with rain, but not enough to keep him indoors. He saddled one of the horses he’d purchased from Hank several months ago, glad he had the acres and the time to ride. There was something about being in the saddle that cleared his head, centering him in this suddenly mixed-up world.

His favorite spot was only a fifteen-minute ride away, just over a small hill and around a stand of pecan and live oak trees he hadn’t yet thinned. He’d have to do that later in the year for firewood. Using a chain saw and a hatchet was right up there with chest thumping for manly pursuits.

At the base of the hill was a small swimming hole formed by the springs for which the town was named back in the 1880s when a Texas Ranger was shot by outlaws. According to local lore, a widow living nearby had nursed him back to health using water from the spring.

Travis wasn’t sure whether the story was true or not, but the spring was a refreshing relief from the summer heat. On this cool, late winter day, he wouldn’t be swimming, but he still liked to visit the spot where the water bubbled up from the underground aquifer and ran out into the stream that bisected the town.

Usually the peaceful spot helped him relax. But today, as the sun set and the sky turned to deep pink and mauve, he knew he didn’t have answers. Should he marry Jodie—even temporarily? The idea didn’t set well with him. He and Jodie needed to find a compromise, but all she wanted was a temporary husband to satisfy her contract.

He didn’t want to be anyone’s disposable husband. But did he want to be a permanent part of Jodie’s life when he’d sworn he’d never marry again?

Chapter Three

Jodie spent some time soaking in the big bathtub in Travis’s guest suite, wondering where he’d gone so suddenly after the early dinner he’d served her. It had been dark for several hours and he hadn’t returned. Should she go looking for him? Call someone? Where would she report a missing rancher? Dialing 9-1-1 seemed extreme when the man in question was probably just avoiding further discussion of their situation.

She sighed and decided the water was too cool to stay in any longer. She rose from the tub, then went through her nightly ritual of brisk towel-drying and moisturizing. Her skin was one of her best features. She took very good care of her assets.

After dressing for bed in a short gown and longer robe, she wandered into the bedroom. She wasn’t used to having so much free time. She should have picked up a new novel to read, but she hadn’t been thinking clearly. She’d just impulsively booked a flight to Texas to talk to Travis.

The father of her baby.

“Could you want to be a daddy, Travis?” she murmured as she looked out the window. There were lights in the barn, but she didn’t know if they were automatic or if it meant someone was working in there. If Travis was there, avoiding her.

The house was so quiet that she turned on the small CD player she found in the entertainment cabinet. After searching through several country-western stations, she located one that played some generic sort of easy listening. Curled up in a chair where she could see the barn, she let the tension drain out of her as the music flowed in. She shouldn’t be sleepy, but she was, perhaps because of the time zone change, perhaps because of the pregnancy.

Outside the window, a branch from a tree swayed in the night wind. She felt the hypnotic pull, aware that she was drifting off, but not caring at the moment. She was safe and warm, she’d presented her plan to Travis, and all she could do was wait for him to agree.

TRAVIS REMOVED HIS BOOTS in the mudroom, walked quietly over the cold slate floors, then toward the master bedroom. Before he went looking for Jodie, he needed a shower and a change of clothes.

He hadn’t found solace at his favorite spot, but he had been able to think while he’d cleaned out stalls. His barn now sported the cleanest floors, the most spotless feed buckets and the neatest tack room in the entire Hill Country.

And he’d come to some conclusions. He needed to throw out his vow to never marry again. Jodie had presented him with the one reason that would get him back to the altar—a child. He wouldn’t have married for companionship or sex or any other reason since he could have all those things without the problems a wife represented. His past experience had made him associate marriage with manipulation, frustration and disappointment. But that was marriage based on love—or more accurately, two people who thought they were in love. He and Jodie didn’t suffer from that delusion. If they married, it would be for sound, logical reasons.

He stripped quickly and eased beneath the warm water, grateful that he’d installed a top-of-the-line shower stall with multiple jets of water to soothe tired muscles. Big enough for two. Not that he expected Jodie to open the glass door and join him, but that was exactly how their baby had been conceived.

Thinking back, he even knew the date. January fourth. He counted forward nine months. That meant their child would be born around October first. By Halloween, he could get one of those cute costumes for the baby. By Christmas, he’d have a son or daughter to buy gifts for. The idea was mind-boggling, nearly surreal, since Jodie looked exactly the same as she had when they’d first met.

He certainly hadn’t planned on having children—since he’d sworn never to marry again—but now it was almost all he could think about. Unlike his own father, he wanted to be a dad who changed diapers and took his child to the mall and read stories to him at night.

Would Jodie try to exclude him from their baby’s life, just as she’d tried to make all the decisions about their relationship? Their marriage?

He showered quickly, dried off and dressed in comfortable sweats. The house was silent as he made his way down the hall. The few lights on automatic timers revealed no sign of his guest. She hadn’t been in the kitchen, or if she had, she was one neat person. Not a glass or spoon was out of place.

He silently climbed the steps. Walking softly in his socks, he paused outside the guest bedroom. The faint sound of music filtered through the thick oak door. He knocked softly.

She might be sleeping. He’d heard that pregnant women needed lots of naps and a good night’s sleep. If so, he didn’t want to bother her. But the urge to check on Jodie, to make sure she was comfortable, overwhelmed his need to respect her privacy—and his good sense. He slowly turned the knob and eased open the door.

By the soft glow of an accent lamp, he saw her curled up in a chair beside the window. Her feet rested on an ottoman and she’d hugged her arms around herself, tugging her robe tight. She should be wrapped in a soft throw or blanket, but she hadn’t taken the time to do so before she’d fallen asleep.

He leaned down and looked out the window. She’d been watching the barn, he realized. Was she worried about him? Had she thought he’d gone off and deserted her?

He should have been more forthcoming about where he was going and how long he would be gone. He should have been more thoughtful, but he wasn’t used to having someone around. He’d had a few guests beside his sister Kate and her family, but no one else had ever lived in this house. He’d designed and built it after his divorce, when he’d moved to Ranger Springs to escape life in the city.

There was usually no one around to wonder what he was doing in the barn or to worry about him working through meals in his studio or to care whether he stayed out late at Schultze’s Roadhouse. And he liked it that way, he reminded himself.

He pulled a soft throw from the bench at the foot of the bed and draped it over Jodie. She stirred but didn’t awaken. He tucked the ends around her feet and she opened her eyes.

“Travis,” she sighed. Her husky, sexy voice invaded his mind and body like a mild electric current, putting him on alert. This was no time for sexual desire or any feelings that would sidetrack him. His focus would stay on what he had to say, because he had to make Jodie understand his position.

“You must be tired,” he said.

“I’m blaming it mostly on the time zone changes.”

“I’m thinking it has something to do with the baby.”

“Could be,” she murmured as she stretched. “Other than being a little more tired than usual, I haven’t noticed any changes.”

“No morning sickness?”

“No. I’ve been lucky.”

“I’m glad. That doesn’t sound like fun. I remember listening to my sister Kate and Kerry Jacks talk about their pregnancies. I thought then that pregnancy would be really tough on women who worked outside the home.”

“I sure wouldn’t want to have a lot of assignments, especially if I had to fly, if I were sick every morning.”

“You’ll be cutting back on your assignments now, right?”

“Very soon. Even though I’m plus size, a round tummy is going to show. I’ll probably stick with chest-high shots and my cosmetics obligations through the pregnancy.”

“But you won’t be working all the time, will you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Because I want you to take care of yourself and the baby. I don’t want you to overdo it.”

“I won’t.” She frowned. “But why the concern? I’m healthy. I’m not expecting any complications.”

“Can’t I be concerned? I care about you. And this is my baby, too, right?”

“Right.” She paused, then shifted in the chair, bringing his attention to her full breasts.

“So…where were you tonight?”

He looked back into her eyes. “Just doing some chores.” She didn’t have to know that he had a helper who cleaned the stalls and maintained the tack for him when he was busy with a project or out of town. “Thinking, too.”

“Oh? About what?”

“Us. The baby. What you want to do about it.”

She shifted in the chair, sitting up straighter. “Did you come to any conclusions?”

He could tell that what she really wanted to ask was, “Have you decided to do things on my terms?”

“Yes, I did.” He reached for her hands, noting they were cool and dry. He felt tiny tremors pass through her body, as though she was trembling in anticipation. “First, I have to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Do you think what we felt in Monte Carlo was real?”

“What do you mean, real? I certainly wasn’t faking anything!”

“I mean, do you think the immediate attraction we felt was genuine? Or was it a fluke? When you look back on that time, do you say to yourself that you were stupid? Or do you remember the weekend fondly?”

“Well…I think we were irresponsible that one time, but overall, I don’t think anything that happened was stupid. I don’t think we reacted to each other any differently there than if we’d been introduced in New York or L.A. And despite the inconvenient timing of this pregnancy, I can’t say that I’m sorry that we made a baby together.”

“For the record, I’m happy about the baby, too. It took me a while to get used to the idea, since I hadn’t planned to get married or to have children.”

“Well, it hasn’t been so long. I just showed up on your doorstep right after lunch.”

“True, but I’m an intuitive kind of guy. I just needed some time to think about us in relation to this…new development.”

“Still, this was a pretty big shock, I think.”

“I’m glad you told me right away, though.”

“It was only fair, especially since I also asked you to marry me right away.”

“Speaking of marriage, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought.”

“And?”

“I understand your position about your career and the contract you signed.”

“I feel a big ‘but’ coming on,” she said, pulling her hands away from his and tugging her robe tighter.

“I also believe that having two parents is best for a child.”

“Best, perhaps, but not necessary.”

“The thing is,” he continued, deciding to ignore her comments for the moment. She could get him into a tangential conversation far too easily. “I’ve been giving your ideas on marriage a lot of thought. And I simply don’t agree with your premise.”

“Which premise is that?”

“That this needs to be temporary. That we have no basis upon which to build a deeper relationship.”

“You want to stay married longer? For the sake of the baby?”

“If we get married, I want to stay married period. That’s how marriage is supposed to work.”

“But often doesn’t.”

“True. I’m a perfect example of how it’s sometimes necessary to end a marriage.” Getting a divorce was the best thing possible, given his ex-wife Tiffany’s priorities. He wasn’t about to be labeled a two-time loser, especially not now that he’d set down roots in a place he loved. If he married then divorced Jodie, people who cared about him would be understanding, but they’d still know he’d failed twice—either by choosing the wrong women to marry or by being unable to compromise and care enough to hold them.

“This time, I’m older and wiser. If I stand before a minister or an official of the state and say my vows, I need to mean them.” He looked deeply into Jodie’s troubled eyes. “I need to know you mean them, too.”

“Travis, you’re making a bigger issue out of this than it needs to be. There’s no reason to make this into a big production with lifetime consequences.”

He pulled back, his anger rising until he told himself that Jodie was scared. He could see it in her eyes. She felt as if she might lose the career she’d built based on her image. She was pregnant and single. And she didn’t want a lifetime commitment from him because she didn’t believe in the feelings they’d shared for one weekend in Monte Carlo.

Not that he believed in love. Depending on that fleeting emotion would be like building a house on shifting sand. Anyone could say they loved you, swear that they’d love you forever, without it meaning anything. The attraction, the mutual respect, the companionship he and Jodie shared—those were real.

He was convinced they could get those feelings back. He knew it when he looked at her sleeping in his guest room or in unguarded moments when she allowed her vulnerability to peek through the polished veneer she showed the rest of the world.

“Like it or not, we’ve made a lifetime commitment by creating a child together.”

“We can have a responsibility to the child without having one to each other.”

“Maybe you can. I don’t think so, but I might be wrong. But I can’t function that way. We should have a commitment to stay married or we don’t get married at all.”

“You’re giving me an ultimatum?”

“Just like you handed me one when you walked in the door.”

“That was different. I was trying to be considerate. I never wanted you to think that I was trying to trap you into marriage. You must know I didn’t plan to get pregnant. That’s why I still believe a temporary marriage would be best.”

“Jodie, I’m absolutely serious when I tell you this. We’re getting married on Saturday, which is Valentine’s Day, at Bretford House in Ranger Springs. That’s where we normally have receptions for local weddings. I would suggest having the ceremony in the church, but they’re refinishing the floors right now.”

He paused to take a breath. “It takes three days in Texas to get a license and make the arrangements. The date will seem romantic when your publicist prepares a press release about our whirlwind courtship.”

“Three days to plan a wedding!”

“You’ll have one day to decide, then we need to go to the county clerk’s office to apply for a license. I suggest you call your relatives, friends and business associates tomorrow and make travel arrangements for them. I’ll take care of the rest.”

She looked completely stunned as she sat upright in the chair, framed by the window. In the dark glass he saw a reflection of the room. He saw himself, looking stiff and determined. Well, fine. That’s how he felt. His decision was firm—he wasn’t getting married again unless it was for keeps. Maybe he and Jodie didn’t have enough in common to build a marriage, but maybe, just maybe, they did.

At least this time his wife wouldn’t beseech him to tell her he loved her one more time. To prove that he loved her by giving in to her demands for more, more, more. Jodie wasn’t insecure and clingy; she wouldn’t need constant reassurance.

He turned away from his austere image, then remembered an earlier conversation. “Oh, and by the way, we’re having dinner Wednesday night with Hank and Gwendolyn McCauley. Seven o’clock.”

“Travis, you can’t just come in here and turn my world upside down like this!”

“Funny you should say that, sweetheart, because that’s exactly what you did to me earlier today.”

She ignored his sarcasm. “I need time. I need to consult with my attorney and agent. I have plans to make!”

“Jodie, if you want to get married to me, you’d better make those plans in a hurry, because come Saturday, there’s going to be a wedding. It’s not going to be the biggest or the most elaborate wedding ever, but it’s going to be public, it’s going to be legal and it’s going to be ours.”

Chapter Four

Jodie had slept little after Travis’s dramatic announcement last night. She’d barely dozed off when her travel alarm buzzed. Now, showered and dressed, she felt ill prepared for what today would bring.

Still, she walked with as much confidence as she could muster down the second-floor hallway, pausing to look at the great room below. There was no fire in the large hearth, but she smelled coffee and sensed warmth coming from the kitchen. Apparently, Travis was already up, or he had a housekeeper. To take care of this large residence, Jodie wouldn’t be surprised if he had live-in help—not that she’d seen anyone yesterday.

She and Travis needed to talk about his ultimatum and she’d much rather do that in private, without even a one-person audience. She still thought a temporary marriage was best. Certainly they needed a whole new plan if he insisted they stay married. Not that she believed they would, of course. They had separate lives and might find that they weren’t compatible if they spent months rather than days together. The one thing they had in common was the baby, and she was willing to share the child with Travis. Surely they could be civilized and compromise on custody.

She hadn’t spent too much time thinking about marriage—although like many women, she’d fantasized about the perfect wedding. She’d been too busy rising in her profession. She’d always assumed one day she’d fall in love, get married and have children. In that order. Now she was doing it in reverse, only there was no guarantee of “falling in love.” But how could she get what she needed—a cooperative husband—without giving up on her dreams?

She couldn’t even call her mother, sister or publicist in California yet. They wouldn’t appreciate being awakened at six o’clock in the morning, West Coast time. But as soon as she and Travis talked again and came to a realistic agreement on their marriage, she’d let her people, family and friends know.

Perhaps a small private ceremony with a minister or justice of the peace wouldn’t be too bad. But Valentine’s Day? That was certainly quick, which was one of her needs, but was it too quick? When she’d told him they needed to get married right away, she was thinking of flying off to Vegas or Reno. Having a quiet ceremony. Perhaps with one photo that could be released to the press.

She had the perfect dress in her closet in Newport Beach. A creamy silk organza with embroidery that she’d purchased in India last year. The dress was beautiful, but she hadn’t found the perfect place to wear it…yet. She’d add medium-height Ferragamo’s and some polished capiz shell and pearl jewelry from her favorite Los Angeles designer. She’d look romantic yet sophisticated, especially on the arm of such a handsome, tall man dressed in black, classic Ralph Lauren.

She stopped and frowned. Surely she wasn’t shallow enough to consider the father of her child as an accessory! No, that’s not how she felt, she realized. She was just so accustomed to thinking in terms of how she looked in public that when she’d included him in the mental picture, she’d made him seem like part of her ensemble.

But Travis was much more. He was opinionated and decisive. Sexy and smart, yet perfectly at home in all types of situations. He possessed a strong sense of values that she admired, even when they conflicted with her need to do what was right for her life, her career and their baby.

A movement below caught her eye. As though she’d conjured him up by thinking so hard about him, he appeared. Wearing a sea-green crew-necked cotton sweater, faded jeans and heavy-soled boots, he looked every inch the wealthy, country gentleman. He could be a model for a new Chaps ad campaign.

“Didn’t anyone tell you that frowning causes wrinkles?” he said in a faintly teasing tone, placing his hands on his hips and staring up at her.

She smoothed away her expression, surprised she’d let him see her emotions so clearly. “Obviously, I’m not using Botox,” she quipped, thinking of all her acquaintances who had the injections to paralyze the muscles that caused frown lines on their foreheads.

“What’s troubling you?”

You, she felt like shouting. But that wouldn’t accomplish anything, especially when she needed his cooperation. “I have a few things on my mind.”

“Join the crowd,” he said with a sigh. “Come down and have some breakfast. Then I’ll help you with any plans you need to make.”

She turned away toward the spiral staircase leading to the first floor, feeling the telltale frown return. Her hand gripped the metal banister until her newly polished nails threatened to snap. She didn’t need his help planning—she needed his agreement that they would cooperate on a temporary marriage, she thought as she tromped down the steps. She needed him to make the media believe they’d fallen madly in love in Monte Carlo and were getting married because they couldn’t bear to be apart.

Well, at least not too far apart for too long, since she planned to continue her scheduled assignments and he probably had commissions to design buildings. Once the news of their hurried, hushed wedding hit the press and they’d granted a few choice interviews, she and Travis could go back to leading their separate lives most of the time. Then she’d fly back to Texas as often as possible and he could visit her in California, especially when she had a function to attend.

Especially when she started showing her pregnancy. She’d need a supportive husband then.

She walked into the breakfast area of the spacious kitchen. She smelled bacon and commented, “You’re quite the cook.”

“Not really. I just know enough to get by. I have a housekeeper, Helen Kaminsky, who comes twice a week. She’ll be here tomorrow and you can meet her. If I’m in town and on a project, she sometimes prepares meals for me. Otherwise, I go shopping myself. I’m amazed by the new prepared food at the grocery stores.”

She couldn’t picture Travis Whitaker pushing a cart through a supermarket, although she had no problem thinking of him in formal attire or country casual or cowboy chic. The fact that they knew so little about each other’s lives accentuated the need to avoid a permanent commitment. They’d have plenty of time to get to know each other well enough to mutually support a child, however, if Travis decided to stay involved.

“I’m constantly amazed at the variety of food available in restaurants,” she replied, forcing her attention back to breakfast.

“Maybe in New York or L.A., but you’ll find the choices much more limited in Ranger Springs.”

“But surely you have restaurants.”

“A few. The Four Square Café for breakfast and lunch. A pizza place that delivers. That’s a fairly recent addition. There’s a Tex-Mex place on the state highway, a fast-food burger chain and then there’s Bretford House for lunch or dinner. That’s where we’ll be having the wedding.”

“If we can agree on terms.”

He turned toward a beep from the oven. As he pulled a pan of perfectly browned biscuits out, he said, “There’s really not much to talk about. I’ll be glad to sign a prenuptial agreement if you’d like. We can each agree to keep whatever we came with into the marriage, although that’s pretty much the law in Texas anyway. Since there’s no baby yet, we don’t need to address that issue right now. Other than inviting family, I’m not sure what else is necessary.”

“How can you be so calm, so glib, about this? Surely you don’t get married every day!” At his chuckle she added, “Do you? You mentioned one ex-wife, but are there more?”

Travis shook his head, making a lock of tawny hair fall over his forehead. “No, one was quite enough, which is a really good reason not to have another one. Ex-wife, that is,” he clarified as he dumped the biscuits into a basket and covered them with a napkin.

“What was she like?” Jodie asked before she could stop herself. His past relationships weren’t really her business, but she was curious about his ex. In Monte Carlo he’d been so adamant that he wasn’t looking for anything past a great weekend. Had his marriage been a disaster? Her fault…or his?

He shrugged, carrying the biscuits and butter to the table. “Tiffany was cute and clever. Petite. Dainty, I suppose, but only in appearance. Inside she was a ten-foot-long great white shark with a huge appetite for anything that caught her eye.”

“And I’m sure you caught her eye,” Jodie commented, grabbing the plate of bacon and carrying it to the table. He’d set two places with place mats and heavy, dark blue ceramic plates.

“If you’re thinking of love at first sight, you’re wrong. She decided I was moving up and could give her what she wanted.” He pulled out two chairs and indicated where Jodie should sit.

She smiled to herself when she noticed the tall glass of milk at her place setting. “Which was?”

He settled into his seat before answering. “Everything. I never understood what Tiffany really wanted, but she was sure glad to look under every label and price tag to find it.”

“Other than spending your money, what was the problem?”

He placed his fork and knife down with a clatter. “Look, let’s not talk about her anymore, okay? It’s over and done with. I was young and stupid when we married, older and wiser when we got divorced. It doesn’t have anything to do with this marriage.”

Jodie didn’t want to argue with him, but she thought that anything from their past might affect their marriage—even if it were temporary. Nevertheless, she could understand why he didn’t want to discuss his ex-wife with his possible future wife, so she kept silent. There would be time to talk later—if they actually got married.

“I’d like to see the town if you have time this morning. And this Bretford House where we’re going to have the ceremony, if we get married.”

“On Valentine’s Day,” he added. “Four days from now.”

Jodie sighed. The man had a one-track mind. “So, do you have time or not?”

He nodded while chewing a bite of biscuit. After swallowing, he added, “I haven’t started on my next project yet because I’m waiting on some additional site elevations from the surveyor. I can put that off until after the wedding.”

“Great.” All this seemed to be falling into place for him, while she still felt completely turned around. She couldn’t remember her schedule. Thankfully, it was all written down in her trusty planner. She knew she had to be back in California next week, but wasn’t sure what date.

If she didn’t value her independence so much, she’d hire a personal assistant to travel with her. But she didn’t want someone with her all the time. How would she get used to a husband if they actually lived together?

She couldn’t. She’d just have to explain that to Travis after they went through with the ceremony he wanted. Something for him. Something for her. Isn’t that what compromise was all about?

TRAVIS TRIED TO SEE his adopted hometown through Jodie’s much more sophisticated eyes, but he had a hard time reading her expressions as he parked his SUV in front of Schuler’s Jewelry Store. If looking around and meeting folks went well, he hoped they could shop for wedding bands before going to Bretford House to finalize the wedding plans.

The town square appeared rather bleak on this February day, with only a few evergreen shrubs to break the faded browns of this past winter. Soon spring bulbs would appear, but today he suspected Jodie wouldn’t see the charm of the gazebo or walkways used by so many in Ranger Springs.

“The town square is real nice in the spring and summer,” Travis commented as they stepped onto the sidewalk.

Jodie nodded, but was obviously busy looking around. “The businesses seem to be doing well,” she finally said.

“We’re having a small boom. More and more people are moving out of the cities and into the countryside.”

“It’s…charming.”

Not exactly wild praise, but he’d settle for her favorable impression. “The café is on the other side of the square, near the gazebo. I thought we’d go there first and meet some of the regulars.”

He and Jodie walked side by side. He felt as though he should hold her hand, or take her arm, or make some other gesture, but he couldn’t read her mood. She wasn’t exactly as chilly as the wind whipping along the raised concrete sidewalk, but she didn’t seem all warm and snuggly, either.

Despite her somewhat subdued mood, he enjoyed walking with a woman he didn’t have to lean down to talk to, or saunter beside slowly because their strides were so different. The kind of women he usually dated wore heels almost everywhere, and they giggled when he commented on how “little” they were. Jodie didn’t giggle, although in the days they’d spent together, she’d laughed and chuckled regularly. She had a throaty, genuine laugh that came from deep inside. He hadn’t realized how irritating a high-pitched, childish voice could be on a grown woman until he’d met Jodie.

The door to the Four Square Café tinkled in welcome as he stepped inside. Normally he took a table near the front window, but he didn’t want to appear antisocial by ignoring the folks who were lingering over their coffee. None of the waitresses were up front, so he grabbed a couple of menus before guiding Jodie past the old-fashioned chrome and Formica-topped tables to the rear booths.

“Mornin’, Ambrose. You’re looking pretty today, Joyce,” he greeted the semiretired doctor and his new wife. “Dr. and Mrs. Wheatley, I’d like you to meet Jodie Marsh. She’s going to be in town for a few days until she needs to go back to Los Angeles.”

“Why, hello there, dear. You’re the famous model, aren’t you?” Joyce asked. “Thelma told me she’d met you yesterday. You just missed her, by the way.”

Jodie chuckled. “I don’t know how famous I am, Mrs. Wheatley, but I do model. I’m not sure I remember who Thelma is, though.”

“Thelma Rogers. She’s the owner, editor and lead reporter for the Springs Gazette, our local newspaper.”

“Oh, really?”

Travis sensed Jodie’s concern over hearing that the newspaper editor already knew she was in town. “The Gazette is a weekly paper, and besides, Thelma doesn’t run any tabloid-style stories.”

“Oh, I’m sure she doesn’t. I was just hoping to have a nice, quiet stay here for a few days.”

“I’ll bet you go to lots of exciting places for your work,” Joyce said.

“I stay fairly busy, but I don’t work all the time. There’s a growing market for plus-size clothes for business, casual and exercise wear. And I have some other…things I’m working on right now, too.”

Travis wondered if she meant her cosmetics contract or their baby.

“You’re not one of those skinny little beanpoles, either,” Dr. Wheatley added. “They look downright anemic to me.” He shuddered. “I like a woman with a good figure, like my sweetie here,” he added, patting Joyce’s hand.

The strawberry-blond hairdresser smiled and practically blushed. Newlyweds, Travis thought with a mental shake of his head. Ambrose and Joyce were just two more of the happily married couples populating Ranger Springs. Two more of the people making goo-goo eyes at each other and acting as silly as teenagers. Getting married without all that silliness made a lot more sense to him.

Jodie smiled at the older couple. “No one’s ever confused me for a beanpole. I tried dieting when I was a teenager, but I soon discovered that I couldn’t keep my weight down to a size six. It’s much more fun to eat enough to keep my weight up to a size sixteen.”

“Just as long as you exercise and eat right,” the doctor added.

“Believe me, I do.”

“Well, it’s so nice to meet you, Jodie. I hope you have a nice visit in our town. It’s a good place to…well, settle down if you wanted to live somewhere normal.”

The Ranger Springs matchmakers were still alive and well, Travis thought with fondness. Joyce and her sidekick, Thelma Rogers, had participated in several matchmaking projects over the past few years with great success. If one measured success by marriages, that is.

Jodie laughed. “I’ll remember that.”

Travis took her elbow. “I’d like to introduce you to Charlene Jacks, Kerry’s mother. She still works here at the café, although most of us assumed she’d retire now that two of her daughters are married to very successful men. Carole’s husband is CEO of a large food company.”

“I’d love to meet her. Although I knew Alexi first, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Kerry, also. And their son Alexander is adorable.”

The little boy was cute. Which reminded Travis that this time next year, he’d have a little boy or girl who would be equally adorable. Their baby would no doubt have blond hair, since he knew for a fact that Jodie was a natural blonde. And when the child grew up, he or she would be tall. If they had a son, he’d probably be muscular and athletic. A daughter would no doubt be long-limbed and curvy.

He’d have to lock her up until she was thirty, just in case she had any interest in boys.

“Travis?”

He shook himself out of his daydreaming and smiled at Jodie. “Sorry. I was just about to take you back to meet Charlene.”

They walked to the rear of the restaurant, toward the booths near the pickup window. The smell of bacon still hung in the air, but soon the fryer would be producing chicken-fried steak and French fries, and the grill would be full of burgers.

“Mornin’, Charlene,” he said to the woman rolling flatware inside white paper napkins.

“Travis! Good to see you.”

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “That’s from Alexi.” Travis had talked to him just two days ago to discuss plans for the cultural center he was designing.

“I’ve been blessed with two wonderful sons-in-law.” She chuckled, a gleam in her blue eyes. “Now all I need is one more for Cheryl and all my girls will be happily married.”

“Don’t look at me!” Travis replied, feigning horror.

Charlene laughed, then smiled at Jodie. “And who is this lovely lady?”

“Charlene Jacks, allow me to introduce Jodie Marsh. I’m sure you’ve already heard she’s in town.”

“Yes, indeed. Welcome to Ranger Springs, Ms. Marsh.”

“Please, call me Jodie. And I’m very glad to be here, and to meet you. I’ve known Alexi for several years and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Kerry. She’s a delightful addition to the royal family.”

“I like to think so. And what about that baby of theirs? Isn’t he the most adorable child ever?”

Jodie chuckled. “He’s a cutie.”

She glanced at Travis and he could almost hear her thoughts. Our child will be cute, too. He smiled in reply.

“Would you like a table or a booth? It’s a bit early for lunch, but I could get you some pie or coffee cake.”

“We’re just stopping by to say hello, unless Jodie would like something…”

“No, I couldn’t eat a thing. Travis fixed me a great breakfast this morning.”

“Oh, really?”

Now that bit of news was going to be all over town, Travis thought. Good thing they were getting married quickly.

As soon as Jodie agreed with his plans.

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