Highly Compromised Position (8 page)

“I'll be back about seven,” he said and she watched him walk out of the room. As he left, she remained where she was until she heard the door close behind him. She walked to the front door and watched him get into his truck while she thought about the changes in her life in the past hour—changes that might alter her future forever. Beneath his surprise and anger had been a genuine desire for the baby that she had never expected.

She shook her hair away from her face. Tom knew about the baby now.
Tom knows.
The knowledge hounded her. His discovery of the truth had been worse than she had expected, but that was because the news hadn't come from her.

“Tom,” she whispered, wondering how long it would take him to get over his hurt. His proposal dangled before her, but she had absolutely no intention of marrying him and settling on a ranch. She would never compromise on that.

She went to the kitchen, getting out chocolate syrup and a bottle of milk, when she heard a knock at the front door. Rose hurried to open the door, wondering if Tom had returned, but it was Nita who came striding in.

“Come back to the kitchen,” Rose invited. “I'm going to get a glass of chocolate milk. Would you like one?”

“No, thank you,” Nita replied and followed Rose into the kitchen. Nita put her hands on her hips while she surveyed Rose. “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine,” Rose answered, filling a glass full of milk, then adding chocolate syrup.

“You can buy that already mixed,” Nita said and Rose smiled.

“I know you can, but I like this. You're missing something by not having any.”

“Not today. I saw Tom's pickup, so I assumed he came to tell you about the Cattleman's Club guys' plan.”

“Yes, he did.”

“Connor told me about their scheme to make you a decoy,” Nita said. “Connor and Tom were opposed to setting you up as bait but finally agreed to go along. Rose, why don't you let me be the decoy?”

Rose shook her head. “No. There's no need. I'll be guarded constantly. Hopefully the killer won't know Tom is staying with me and it'll seem easy to get to me. Thanks, Nita, but let me do this.”

“None of us want you to, but if you back out, you'll have to let more people know about your pregnancy.”

“And I'm sure not ready to do that yet. I'm the decoy. Let's leave it at that.”

“Are you absolutely sure it's all right with you? I know Daddy's not going to like it one bit.”

“I think it's a good idea. None of us is safe now. Let's see if we can't get the killer to tip his hand and get this over with. Let the guys catch him.”

“Or her,” Nita said and Rose nodded.

“That isn't all Daddy isn't going to like,” Rose said. She studied Nita and knew she could confide in her sister. “Nita, Tom is the father of my baby.”

“Oh, my word.” As Nita stared in silence, Rose wondered what was going through her sister's mind.

“Does Tom know about the baby?”

“Yes. And of course Tom's already asked me to marry him—as I predicted he would,” Rose replied, glancing at her sister while she stirred her chocolate and milk. The spoon clinked against the glass in the quiet kitchen. “I declined his offer.”

“Oh, Rose. Are you sure about your refusal? Are you really thinking this through?”

“Absolutely. He didn't propose because of his undying love for me. Nita, you would have done the same and you know it.” Rose looked at Nita questioningly. “Want a cookie and pop?”

“Sure. I'll take you up on that,” Nita said, crossing the kitchen to get a chocolate-chip cookie. She opened the refrigerator, helped herself to a cold bottle of pop and opened it while Rose pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table. Nita joined her, sitting facing her. Sunlight spilled through the large windows, and Rose thought it was such a sunny, peaceful day for so much to be happening.

“If I had to make a decision, I think I'd give marriage a chance,” Nita said tentatively. “After all, you went out with him last night, so there must be something between the two of you.”

“What's between us is a very physical relationship. That's no basis for accepting his proposal that was given for one reason only.”

“It's a damned good reason, I'd say,” Nita stated solemnly.

“There's got to be more to the relationship than passion. You're friends with Connor.”

Nita nodded. “Isn't there a strong chance of you and Tom becoming friends?”

“There might be, but he's bought a ranch and wants to settle out here.”

“Oh, damn. That's why you don't want to think about marrying him,” Nita said. “I don't understand how you can feel that way when you grew up here. I think this is the most wonderful spot on earth.” She shook her head. “Well, there goes any chance of marriage to Tom.”

“I'm afraid so.”

“You might feel differently about ranch life now that you're grown up,” Nita said.

“Whose side are you on?”

“Yours—and maybe your baby's.”

“Sorry, Nita,” Rose said, instantly contrite that she had snapped at Nita. “I know you'll support me and you're interested in my welfare, not Tom's.”

“It's the first time since Mother died that you haven't been able to control things,” Nita replied quietly. “That's bound to be upsetting.”

Rose tried to smile. “That's an understatement. I know I have to tell Daddy, but damn, I hate to. A Devlin and a Windcroft making a baby.”

“Just tell him. He won't care because the only thing on his mind is that he will become a grandfather. Rose, I've never seen him like this. He's overjoyed and hums and sings all day if he isn't talking about building you a nursery.”

“This isn't what he wanted when he longed for a grandchild and you know it.”

“It'll be all right,” Nita insisted. “You'll see. Tell Daddy the truth about Tom and let him get used to the idea. If it turns out that it really wasn't the Devlins causing us trouble, he might even like Tom. Speaking of Tom—I thought the plan was for him to stay with you 24/7. I don't see any evidence of him around here.”

“He's gone home to pack. Tomorrow we'll circulate the rumor that I know the location of the treasure.”

“I hope this works. At least since the Devlins have started helping patrol the ranch, we haven't had another incident.” With a scrape of her boots on the terra-cotta floor, Nita stood and headed toward the door. “I gotta go.” She paused to look back at Rose. “Cheer up. It ought to be better now.”

“I don't know where you get that.”

“It will. You'll see. I promised I'd be there with Jimmy when they unload the sorrel we're getting today. Want to come with me?”

“I'll pass on that,” Rose replied. “Thanks, Nita, for coming to see me.”

“Sure,” Nita replied cheerfully as Rose walked to the door with her.

Aware that Tom would be back in a few hours, Rose closed the door and returned to the kitchen with her thoughts on Tom.

His marriage proposal was exactly what she had predicted from him. Well, no way. She wanted a love match, not a husband who felt duty bound to marry her.

As soon as she gave birth, Rose knew that Jane and her father were going to want her to stay at the farm permanently so they could help raise her baby. That wasn't what Rose wanted to do either. She would live here until her baby was born, but later, she wanted to return to Dallas and not be buried out in the country in West Texas. For too long this was what she had struggled to get away from.

She finished her milk, then went to her office to work. An hour later she turned off her computer because she couldn't keep her mind off Tom and on her work.
She decided to get ready for the evening and facing Tom again. She recalled the long, hard look he had given her before he'd left. What was he feeling now?

 

Tom returned home to shower and pack.

As he tossed clothes into a suitcase, he thought about the future. He hadn't intended for a pregnancy to happen and neither had Rose.

This wasn't what he had dreamed about—far from it. He and Rose did not have a loving and trusting relationship. But they were going to have a baby. The wonder of becoming a father took Tom's breath. A little girl. He didn't know a thing about baby girls, but he would learn.

Hurt tinged with anger smoldered when he thought about Rose keeping the truth from him. Yet in fairness, what could he expect when he hadn't made a commitment to her? He hadn't even looked her up after their first incredible night together.

Now he understood why she had had such an intense reaction to seeing him yesterday—the first time since Houston. And the first time here at her own home place. No wonder her jaw had dropped and she'd looked stunned.

The thought of his marriage proposal raised questions and qualms. Was he really ready for marriage? Would he fall in love with Rose? On a purely physical level she appealed to him more than any other woman he had ever known.

“Dammit!” he said aloud. He was willing to marry and try to establish a family for the sake of the baby. At the same time, he wanted to become a rancher, and being the wife of a rancher was the last thing Rose wanted. He
paused to think about the land he had purchased. Rose was strong-willed, had her own business, knew what she wanted in life.

To himself he vowed that whatever happened, he would do everything in his power to keep from hurting their baby.

Shortly after six o'clock he left for the horse farm. His emotions were stormy and fears for Rose's safety plagued him. The Club's plan to use her to lure the killer out of hiding still felt wrong. Common sense told him that she would have plenty of protection, but he knew how things could go awry so quickly with the best of plans. He didn't know if his worries had heightened because of Connor's opposition to the plan or if he truly had a premonition of disaster.

 

It was half past seven when Rose heard Tom's pickup and she went to the back door to greet him. He carried grocery sacks in both arms. Dressed in jeans, a blue shirt and boots, he was as handsome as ever, and she tried to ignore the inevitable jump in her pulse. Why did she have this intense reaction to him? Why did he look more handsome to her than every other man? Why couldn't she see him without this leap in her heartbeat?

Was it purely physical attraction? Or was it deeper than that? She had too many unanswered questions that plagued her. He brushed past her and set the sacks on the island in the kitchen. She helped him unload the groceries, catching a scent of his enticing aftershave. While they prepared dinner and made casual conversation, she was conscious of him moving around near her. Each occasional contact between them stirred more tingles.

They ate in the cozy kitchen with a fire roaring in the
fireplace. Over dinner Tom studied her. “Let me refill your water unless you want tea. Which would you prefer?” he asked.

If the moment hadn't been so solemn, she would have been amused how he had hovered over her since his arrival. “I'll take water,” she replied, watching while he refilled their glasses. When their fingers touched, she saw the flicker in the depths of his eyes and knew he experienced the same sparks that she had.

“You look pretty, Rose,” he said solemnly, and she wondered if, in spite of his anger, he was planning another seduction. Since she had turned down his proposal, she had to start resisting him physically.

As soon as they finished eating he stood and came around to her, touching her shoulder lightly. “Let's go sit in the family room,” he suggested. As they left the kitchen, he glanced down at her. “How have you felt?”

“I'm fine, and have been ninety-five percent of the time,” she said.

“That's good to hear. Do you have a doctor in Dallas and one here?”

“I don't have a local obstetrician yet.”

“I'm sure Uncle Lucas knows doctors in Royal. I'll help you find one,” Tom said.

“I'll find a doctor,” she replied, thinking that Tom was trying to take charge of small aspects of her life just as she had suspected he might.

When they sat on the sofa, he moved closer to her, revving her pulse another notch. She should move back, but he touched her shoulder lightly, a mere brush of his fingers. “I'm glad I'm with you, Rose.”

She nodded, fighting an inner battle with herself. She wanted to close the space between them and kiss
him. At the same time, she wanted to maintain some degree of aloofness.

“It's temporary,” she said softly. “You'll be here until the trouble with the farm ends.”

They gazed into each other's eyes and tension heightened. “You're not changing, Tom, and I can't change. There isn't a future for us,” she said softly.

“We'll share a future—the question is, where and what kind?” He placed both hands on her shoulders and gazed down solemnly.

“I have another question, Rose.”

She inhaled, knowing it was something she might not want to answer for him to give her a warning. “What's on your mind?”

“Rose, have you told Will that I'm the father?”

G
uilt swamped Rose again for the way she had handled this situation. She shook her head. “No, I haven't, but I intend to.”

“I'll tell him,” Tom said firmly, “and let's not argue about it.”

“I should tell him first and then you can talk to him. I know I should have let him know before now. Nita already knows. She came to see me after you left today.”

“So is some of the old hatred of the Devlins stirring?”

“Never with Nita.”

“I guess Connor told her about the plan to lure the killer, didn't he?”

“Yes, and she agrees that it's necessary. She wants to be the decoy, but the only way to get the others to accept Nita would be to announce my pregnancy, and I'm not ready to do that. I don't mind being the bait. I'll be safe with so many people guarding me.”

“Rose, I want to talk to your dad soon. In the morning if possible. He needs to know some things.”

“I'll tell Daddy you're the father and get it over with,” Rose said. “I might as well do it right now. They'll be finished supper and he and Jane will just be sitting reading or watching television.”

“I'll go with you,” Tom said. “Even if I weren't going to talk to him, I'd accompany you. From now on I'm sticking with you like glue.”

“You don't have to stay right with me when all I do is cross the drive to go to the main house.”

“Oh, yes, I do. Anytime you step outside this place, I'll be with you. End of discussion.”

Rose knew there was no point in arguing with him, so she nodded. “You know when you tell Daddy that you want to marry me, he'll side with you.”

“I don't know that, but that's interesting. I'm glad to hear that he's not going to run me off the place with his shotgun. He has more reason now than before.”

“I'm as responsible for this pregnancy as you. He can't lay all the blame on you.”

“Laying blame doesn't matter,” Tom answered. “It's our future that's important, not the past.”

“Let me call Nita and tell her we're coming over. I want to talk to Daddy alone.”

Tom dropped his hands from her shoulders and waited while she made arrangements with Nita and Connor. When Rose hung up, she got her jacket and joined Tom.

They walked to the house in silence. The sun had gone down, making the air chilly. Tom's hand enveloped hers as they strolled along, a moment suspended in time that made her conscious that, beneath the arguments, a friendship of sorts was developing between them.

She found her father in the living room. “Just wait in the kitchen if you want. I'll come get you after I tell him.”

Tom nodded. “We should be doing this together, Rose. I'm sorry we're not and that this announcement isn't going to be the joyous occasion it should be.”

Pain squeezed her heart and she turned away. When she glanced back at Tom, he was headed down the hall. Dreading the next few moments, she entered the living room.

Will sat in his big chair with his foot propped on the ottoman. He lowered a newspaper to place it across his lap. “Hi, Rose.”

“Daddy, I need to tell you something,” she said, crossing the room and shedding her leather jacket. She sat in a chair near him and leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and her hands clasped together.

“I've been waiting for you to tell me,” he said gently, and she was startled, unable to imagine that he had guessed what she intended to discuss.

“I want you to know who the father of your grandchild is.”

“It's Tom Devlin, isn't it?” Will asked.

Amazed, she stared at him. “Did Nita or Connor tell you?”

Will shook his head. “Nope. One look at the two of you and I knew.”

Surprised, she continued to stare. “We're not in love.”

Her father gave her a long, hard look. “Are you certain about that, Rose?”

“Yes, I am,” she said. “He asked me to marry him, but I'm not going to.”

“Why won't you marry him? Tell me again.”

“Because I want to marry for love,” she said, having a difficult time getting out the words and suspecting an
argument was brewing. “You and Mom had a love marriage. So do you and Jane. That's what I want.”

“And there isn't love between you and Tom? Could've fooled me, Rose.”

“We barely know each other. Tom offered to marry me out of his sense of duty to me and his child.”

“Give it time, Rose. If you have a good man who wants to marry you and he's the father of your baby, I'd say you need to think about this one.”

“Daddy, you hardly know Tom either, and it just won't work between us. Tom has bought a ranch here. He wants to become a cattle rancher.”

“Oh, Rose,” Will said, and she hurt because of the disappointment she could hear in her father's voice. “You're like your mother. You never loved it out here. The farm is my lifeblood, and it is for Nita.” He ran his fingers over his face and gazed into the distance, and she could see the pain in his eyes.

“Daddy, I'm sorry, but I can't change. And Tom wants this ranch badly. He's already bought the land. It's impossible for me to think about living on a ranch.”

Will nodded and in that moment, she felt a knot in her throat. Her father looked older and she noticed wrinkles in his face that she didn't remember from before. She hated to hurt him, but she couldn't change who she was.

“Thanks for being understanding,” she said. She was suffocating under the weight of disappointing her father and didn't want to argue with him about marrying Tom. She stood and gathered up her jacket. “Tom wants to see you. Can I tell him to come in now?”

“Sure.”

She hurried out of the room, relieved, still surprised that her father had guessed. She found Tom standing in
the empty kitchen. He was gazing out a window and turned when she entered the room.

“I told Daddy you wanted to see him,” she said.

He brushed past her, pausing a moment to give her a long, questioning look before he went striding down the hall.

It was almost an hour before Tom reappeared and he gazed at her solemnly. “Ready to go to your place?”

She nodded and wondered what had transpired between Tom and her father, but she didn't want to ask about it.

As soon as they were locked in the guesthouse again, they went to the family room, where Tom steered her to the oversize leather sofa and sat close to her, turning to face her while she scooted back into the corner.

“Are we going to spend all our time together arguing about the future?” she asked.

He stretched his long arm across the back of the sofa and caught tendrils of her hair in his hand, toying with the silky locks. The slight tugs stirred more sparks within her. Only a couple of feet separated them. When his gaze lowered to her mouth, she couldn't get her breath.

In spite of all the differences between them, she wanted to kiss him. It was an irresistible temptation, and she fought an inward, silent battle with herself as his eyes, darkened to the gray of storm clouds, showed the desire that blazed in their depths.

“No,” she whispered half to herself, her insides heating and her breath coming in gasps. He wanted her, and it was blatant in his expression.

“Rose, give us a chance,” he urged. “You want me in bed.”

“That goes only so far. It doesn't cover deeper needs.”

“I don't think you're really giving me a chance here,” he replied, closing the short distance between them and sliding his hand around the back of her head while his mouth covered hers. His lips, then his tongue, engaged in a sensual duel with hers.

Her heart thudded and desire turned hot and heavy, pooling low within her. She wanted him, and he had to know that she did.

She couldn't combat her longing. Drowning in his kiss, she slid her arm around his neck. Dimly she knew he lifted her onto his lap and cradled her against his shoulder while his passionate kiss became demanding. Currents sizzled over her nerves. She moved her hips, twisting in his arms to press more fully against him.

His hand slipped to her breast to stroke her nipple. She moaned with pleasure, tearing away from his kiss. Tingles radiated at his touch.

Winding her fingers in his hair, she kissed him with a desperate need that drummed along her with her pulse. Her thudding heart drowned out all other noises while she ran her hand across his broad shoulder.

“Ah, Tom!” she breathed, hating the problems between them. Whether he was angry with her or not, she wanted him, but this was leading to more complications and more chances he would bend her will to his.

“Tom, I want you to stop,” she said, wriggling away and catching his wrist, struggling to get her longings under control.

He raised his head to look into her eyes, his fingers threading in her hair. “I want you, Rose. It's good between us—really good. You can't ignore that.”

She knew he was thinking about marriage again and
her desire cooled. What they had was fantastic sex together, but that wasn't what she wanted as a basis for marriage.

She wriggled away, scooting off his lap to get herself together, catching her breath and feeling his gaze steadily on her. His fingers closed around her wrist. When she looked around in surprise, he framed her face with his hands.

“I want you, Rose.”

She shook her head. “You want this baby. If you're so determined, let's keep sex out of the equation,” she said, certain that he would lose interest in no time. From the little he had told her, he had never had a lasting commitment to anyone. She gathered that he was always the one to walk away—which she could well imagine—and she expected him to lose interest in her soon. There was still the baby that he thought he wanted, but she wondered if he really knew what he wanted.

She scooted back, but she was almost into the corner of the sofa to begin with, so she pushed lightly against his chest. “You can give me a little room here.”

He inched away, arching one dark eyebrow. “I disturb you when I'm close?” he asked.

“You know you do.” She shook her head to get her hair away from her face. “We need to cool down.”

He gave her a smoldering look that only heated her more. She tried to shift her thoughts to something less combustible.

“I know this decoy-and-protection plan is very secretive stuff, but I'm in the middle of it. I have a right to know more about what's going on,” she said, trying to bank the flames of desire. “In addition to you, who else
will be protecting me?” she asked and listened to him list his five friends.

“My word! I can't possibly be at risk while guarded by the men you're naming,” she exclaimed.

“Don't get complacent. You're at high risk,” Tom replied, reaching out to nudge up the hem of her skirt and run his fingers in circles on her bare knee. Tingles radiated from his touch and played havoc with her concentration, but she made an effort to focus on their discussion.

“You'll be bored out of your mind here,” she said. “I work at my computer most of the day.”

“Shut up in the house day and night with you—no way will I be bored,” he drawled in a husky voice that was like a brush of velvet. He pushed tendrils of hair away from her face and tucked them behind her ear, running his fingers around to her nape, caressing her. How easy it was for him! She took his hand and returned it to his own knee, but before she could pull away, he twisted his fingers, interlocking them through hers and holding her hand on his warm knee.

“Scared to have me around?” he asked in a seductive voice. “Afraid you can't say no? Or are you afraid you'll fall in love and want to marry me?” He leaned closer while he talked, his gaze pinning her, demanding her answer.

She raised her chin. “Tom, I'll never live on a ranch.”

The heated desire reflected in the depths of his eyes cooled, and she wondered what was running through his mind. She couldn't imagine him tossing aside his plans because she didn't like country life. A muscle worked in his jaw and she suspected that she had summed up his feelings accurately.

“I'll have to admit, Rose, I have my heart set on this
ranch. Let me show it to you when this is over and we don't have to be afraid of a sniper.”

She rubbed her arms. “Don't even talk about a sniper. As soon as Daddy can get around, there will be no stopping him from going all over the horse farm.”

“He can't yet and when the time comes that he starts to get out again, someone will go with him.”

“That wouldn't stop a sniper with a high-powered rifle,” she answered grimly.

“Don't think about it yet, because there's no immediate cause for worry. Will doesn't go any farther than the porch right now. With Devlins helping patrol around here, we should be able to keep him safe.”

“If I stay shut up here, the killer won't be able to get to me.”

Tom inhaled deeply. “I keep hoping something will happen to catch the murderer and you won't ever be involved.”

“I'm already involved.”

“All right—you won't be hurt,” he said grimly. “Maybe we'll catch the person soon.”

“You don't have any leads, do you?”

“Nothing substantial,” he replied and they became silent.

She thought about the danger and the ruse they would attempt. She prayed it would work and this threat to her family would be over soon.

“After this is over, Rose, will you go with me and look at the land I've bought? It won't hurt you to just look.”

She shook her head. “I told you before, there's no reason to see it.” He gave her a hard look and she shrugged. “You might as well hear the truth. I want love, Tom. Love is two people who can count on each
other, who want to be together through thick and through thin, who enjoy each other's company outside of bed, too,” she said firmly.

“It's people who get to be friends first and know each other long and well,” Rose continued. “I think people should develop a good, close relationship that lasts at least a year before they think about marriage.”