Do You Take This Enemy? (7 page)

Within thirty minutes he returned her call. “You called?”

“Yes,” she said, “I want to talk to you.”

“I can come over right now,” he offered.

“Thanks, that would be nice.”

She replaced the receiver, took a deep breath and went to her room to comb her hair. She wore a green cotton jumper and a white cotton shirt. As she pulled her hair into a ponytail, her thoughts churned over her situation, her dad, their future.

Finally she went downstairs and thrust her head into the family room. “I'll be outside if you want me. I have a pager if I go to the barn.”

Quinn waved his hand. “I'm fine. You don't need to hover.”

Ashley smiled and left, going outside to sit on the porch in the shade and wait for Gabe.

It was thirty minutes later when she heard his pickup. He parked in the shade by the gate and climbed out. She hurried to meet him and walked around the pickup. Facing her, Gabe stood with his hands on his hips. He wore a T-shirt with the sleeves ripped out, and he looked fit and handsome and strong. He tossed his wide-brimmed black hat into his pickup and raked his fingers through his hair.

“How's your dad?”

“He's better today. His coloring is back to normal. The doctor told him to take it easy.”

“I'm sorry.”

She shrugged. “I spent all last night thinking. We can't go on like we are, and Dad won't let Gus take charge.”

Gabe's pulse jumped as he talked to her. She looked worried, her blue eyes were filled with concern, and his hope grew.

“Marry me, Ashley,” he said. “That would solve some of your problems.”

“It would make new ones.”

“Might at that, but we can work through them. Do you want to marry me?”

The question hung in the air; suddenly he couldn't breathe. He wanted her to say yes, and it wasn't just to acquire her ranch.

She bit her lip and looked past him as if deep in thought, yet he had a feeling she had already made a decision.

S
quaring her shoulders, Ashley raised her chin.

“Don't look as if I asked you to throw yourself into a cage of lions.” He stepped closer and touched her cheek.

“It's scary to go into marriage when there isn't love.”

“We're doing pretty well together, I'd say,” he said softly.

“Maybe, but it's too soon to tell.”

“Just take it a day at a time.” His hand rested on her shoulder, and his pulse still raced. Gabe knew what he wanted. At the same time, he ignored the qualms that assailed him, the memories of a marriage filled with love and happiness, a stark contrast to what he was proposing here.

“What'll it be, Ashley? Will you marry me?”

Her blue eyes focused on him. “Yes, I will,” she answered. “I have to do something, and your offer looks like the best solution.”

He couldn't resist. His pulse jumped, and eagerness
flashed through him like lightning. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms gently around her to lean forward to kiss her.

Startled, Ashley's hands flew up to rest on his forearms. And then his mouth covered hers and she forgot all her worries and fears. She was surprised by his reaction, amazed that he seemed happy because she had seen the look that had momentarily clouded his expression, and she could guess why. She gave herself to his kiss, returning it, letting go of questions and cautions. Heat filled her, desire stirring, a longing to have a real union and not a paper one. Could she let go and trust what he said, or was she being taken in by a land-hungry, madly ambitious rancher who was still wrapped in grief over the loss of his loved ones?

Then she didn't care. She was swept away in his stormy kiss that turned her knees to jelly and made her heart pound. She wound her arm around his neck, curling her fingers in his thick hair. She placed her other hand on his chest, rock-hard with muscles.

She forgot time or place or circumstances as their kiss deepened, awakening a depth of responses. Finally she pushed against him, and he leaned away slightly to look down at her.

“It'll be good between us,” he said in a husky voice.

“You can't know that,” she said, wondering at his optimism and confidence.

“I'll try, Ashley. I swear I'll try to make it good.”

“There are a million questions and things to work out.”

Gabe framed her face with his hands. “Ashley, I'm happy. This is good.”

Her surprise at the enthusiasm in his reaction was tempered by the realization that, after all, he was getting what he wanted. She rubbed her brow. “I've got to do something. I don't want another incident with Dad like yesterday.”

“Stop worrying,” Gabe said gently. “I'll help, and our marriage will relieve your dad.”

She studied him intently. “You want a quarter of our ranch for your cattle—that's all?”

“Right. Unless you want to give me more. That'll allow me to expand a lot. I'd like to keep horses here, but I don't have many horses.”

“We've got a million things to iron out before we can marry,” she said. “Where'll we live?”

“Come to dinner tonight at my house. Your dad is invited, too. We can make our plans. Does your dad know yet?”

“No, he doesn't. I wanted to tell you first in case you had changed your mind.”

“Never,” Gabe stated, his dark eyes hard as he looked at her. “Want to go tell him together?”

“I better break the news first.”

“Let me come in with you. Unless it will really upset him, I'd like to talk to him,” Gabe said. He was elated, his mind racing over their future together. And he would see her tonight. She might come with her father, so he wouldn't get to be alone with her, but they would be alone soon enough. Her kisses set him on fire, and he wanted her in his arms. To his surprise, he realized he wanted her in his bed. He also couldn't resist imagining the two ranches joined—a sprawling ranch that he'd dreamed about for years now.

They walked to the house, and he knew he'd better think about what he would say to Julian, as well as to Quinn Ryder. When he draped an arm across Ashley's shoulders, she gave him a sharp look.

“Mind?”

“No, I'm just surprised. You're far more interested in me than I thought you would be since my ranch is really the object of your affections.”

“We might as well try to make the most of this arrangement we're agreeing to.”

“It's a marriage of convenience, nothing more, nothing
less,” she said. Blocking her path, he faced her and placed his fingers lightly on her throat.

“Your pulse is racing,” he said softly.

“You know you do that to me, but that doesn't mean a whole lot.”

“It means something to me,” he replied solemnly.

“Well, you told me that's nature.”

“Don't twist my words around. Ashley, the sooner we do this, the better off everyone will be.”

Gabe held the door for her and she went inside, still in shock over promising to marry him, just as much in shock over his reaction. Had he really meant what he'd said?

She turned to Gabe, placing her hand lightly on his arm. “If you'll just wait in the living room, I'll talk to him and then you can see him. I don't want you to be the one to tell him. It's not like we've been dating.”

“No, it's not, but I wish it were.”

“You say things like that—I find them a little difficult to believe.”

“Time will tell.”

“Yes, it will,” she answered, scared to trust his words, scared to trust a man again. She left him and went to the family room. She dreaded breaking the news to her father, yet this seemed like a solution to all sorts of problems.

“Dad?”

He put down a magazine and smiled at her while she closed the doors to the hallway. His brows arched. “What's happening?”

“Gabe Brant is in the living room and he wants to talk to you after I do.”

“Why?” Quinn asked, frowning.

“Dad, I've accepted Gabe's offer of marriage,” she said, letting out her breath.

“Aw, Ashley, don't do that! Hell, it's just because of me and yesterday. Now don't go flying off and do something you'll regret forever.”

“I don't think I will regret it. I think it might be very good.”

“How in blue blazes do you think that? You don't know each other or even like each other.”

“We're getting to know each other, and we do like each other. Dad, I'm doing what I want to do. I wouldn't do this if I really didn't want to.”

“Yes, you would. You're doing it purely for my sake and I don't want you to! Ashley, the man is after this ranch.”

“We've got lawyers to protect the ranch. We'll have a prenuptial agreement drawn up that will safeguard the place. I want your blessing.”

“You don't love him and he doesn't love you.”

“We both think there is a chance for love,” she said, knowing that was a real stretch, but desperate to get her father's agreement.

He clenched his fists, and she hurt for him, but something had to be done. “Dad, I want to marry him. I had a wonderful time with him the other night. Will you let him come talk to you? Please?”

Quinn inhaled and unclenched his fists. “All right.”

She crossed the room to hug her father and kiss his cheek, closing her eyes and saying a silent prayer that she was doing the best possible thing.

As soon as she entered the living room, Gabe stood.

“You can talk to him now,” she announced.

“He's okay with our marriage?”

The words sounded strange to her.
Our marriage.
Was she really going to marry this stranger, this Brant, a member of the family that her own hadn't spoken to or dealt with in generations? This man who excited her more than any other man she had ever known, even though he was still a stranger to her? This man she was going to have to trust?

“Not very okay, but he'll talk to you. And he'll go along with what I want to do,” she replied.

“Good.” Walking over to her, Gabe placed his hand on her shoulder. “Stop worrying. We'll work things out.”

Leaving the room, they walked down the hall together. He draped his arm across her shoulders. She was aware of the energy he exuded. Her father was ill, she was seven months pregnant. Gabe was filled with vitality that showed in every step he took and every move he made. They could use some of that energy on this ranch, and she knew it too well.

At the door of the family room, Gabe turned to wink at her and then disappeared inside, closing the door behind him.

She paced the hall, touching picture frames, looking into empty rooms, wondering what was happening with the two men. Finally after twenty minutes, Gabe opened the door.

“Ashley, come join us,” he said, sounding cheerful and looking relaxed and happy.

Her hopes jumped that her father would accept this bargain she was making because life would be easier for all of them if he did.

Gabe put his arm around her shoulders as she entered the room. Quinn looked less upset and angry, so Gabe must have settled him down, which was good.

“Your dad has given us his blessing.”

“I hope you two know what you're doing,” Quinn said, looking back and forth between them.

“We do, as much as anyone who gets married,” Gabe said cheerfully, and Ashley wondered how badly he wanted this union.

“We'll put off drinking a toast until another day,” Gabe continued. “Even so, this is a day to celebrate. I wanted you both for supper tonight, but your dad has other plans.”

She didn't know about any other plans and looked at Quinn.

“This afternoon Dusty called and said he would pick me up and take me to his place for supper. He'll bring me home later or if I want, I can stay there tonight.”

“You can come to my house another time,” Gabe said to Quinn. “We'll make our plans tonight,” he told Ashley, looking down at her. For the moment she wished with all her heart that this was going to be a real marriage with love and hope, but then she knew she was getting help for her dad and the ranch, and she would have to be satisfied with that.

“Sir, thank you,” Gabe said, shaking hands with Quinn as he stood.

“You keep your word, you hear?”

“Yes, sir,” Gabe said brightly. “I promise.”

“Promises are leaves tossed in the wind. Time will tell, but heaven help you if you hurt Ashley.”

Ashley felt the cold threat from her father, and for an instant, all Quinn's old strength seemed to return to his demeanor and his voice.

“I don't want ever to hurt either one of you,” Gabe answered solemnly, tightening his arm around her slightly to pull her closer against him. “Come to the door with me, Ashley,” he said, keeping his arm around her shoulders as they left the room.

“I think he's accepting this even though it's reluctantly,” she said, looking up at Gabe.

“It'll be better with a little time.” On the porch, Gabe turned to face her. “I'll pick you up tonight about half-past six.”

“I can drive over.”

“Nope. I'll pick you up. Start letting me take care of you.”

She laughed. “I'm pregnant, not feeble.”

“I know you're not feeble, but I want to do things for you.”

“Stop it! Two weeks ago you would barely have spoken to me.”

“Two weeks ago I hadn't kissed you.”

“That hasn't changed the world or you,” she said, but her pulse had jumped.

“Oh, yes, it did,” he answered softly, leaning closer to her and brushing her cheek with his fingers. “I keep telling you that it changed the whole world.” His fingers slid down to tilt her chin up and he kissed her a long, lingering kiss that had her heart pounding.

When he leaned away, she opened her eyes.

“See, nothing's like it was before,” he said solemnly, his expression changing. “For three years I've lived constantly with grief. From that first day I met you, something broke through and for a little while grief vanished. And it's diminishing, Ashley. I have you to thank for that. Hurt still comes, but not like it was. Not that terrible sense of loss that took my breath and made everything ache.”

“I'm glad, Gabe,” Ashley said quietly, touched and surprised.

“I'll pick you up,” he said, his voice growing lighter as he started to walk away. She caught his arm.

“Gabe, let's wait until after tonight to tell our families. Let's have the details worked out when we break the news to them. I want to call our family lawyer first, too. I'll get Dad to wait to tell Uncle Dusty.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me. The minute one of us talks, word will be all over the county within the hour.”

“I'd give it twenty minutes,” she remarked, and he laughed.

“You're right. Okay, for now, only the three of us will know our plans. But the first person I tell is Julian.” He stepped back. “See you this evening.”

She watched him stride to his pickup, climb inside and wave before he drove away.

It wasn't until she was alone in her room that doubts loomed large. She thought of how Lars had smashed her trust. Was she doing something incredibly foolish? Yet, how else could she get immediate help for her father? And a lot of help—both physical and financial.

 

Just before seven that evening she opened the door to face Gabe, who looked as handsome as ever in jeans and
a blue, long-sleeved shirt. As his gaze went over her appreciatively, she became aware of her size again. She had dressed in a plain navy jumper and simple white blouse, a silver bangle her only jewelry.

“You look pretty,” he murmured.

“Thank you. I just feel huge,” she replied.

“Well, you're not, and you're beautiful pregnant.”

“You're very nice.” She felt herself blush.

“No, I think you do look beautiful,” he said, touching her hair. “Very expectant.”