The Texas Billionaire's Baby (10 page)

“He died five years ago?”

“Yes. A year after I married Amy.”

“Did he like your wife?”

“He adored Amy. He’d known her father and—” As soon as Logan said it, he knew he shouldn’t have. “Gina, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay, Logan. Your father knew the kind of woman he wanted you to marry.”

“I didn’t ask Amy to marry me because of my father.”

“I wasn’t insinuating you did.”

“You were insinuating I chose from the right crowd.”

“Logan, I was not. You chose the woman you loved. Your father happened to approve. That was good.”

Logan knew he shouldn’t have sounded so touchy
about it, and why was he? He had married the woman he wanted. But deep down, he’d known his dad had disapproved of his involvement with Gina. Had he suspected that was one of the reasons she’d broken off her relationship with him?

The stifling silence was only broken by the sound of the tires on the gravel lane as Logan wended his way toward the house.

Ten minutes later, Logan found Hannah and his son playing in the sunroom.

“I thought he could use some fresh air,” his nanny explained, motioning to the sliding doors that pushed open to reveal long screens. The windows were all open, too, giving the feeling of being outdoors.

As soon as Daniel saw Logan, he waved, and said, “Da da da da,” then jumped up and down in his play saucer. Logan felt deep abiding happiness make his chest swell. He picked up Daniel, kissed him on the cheek, and tucked him into the crook of his arm.

“Did you miss me, buddy?”

Daniel babbled something Logan took as a definite yes. “I missed you, too. Gina wanted to come say hello. We came to play with you for a while. What would you like to do?”

Daniel pointed to the big exercise ball that Gina often used with him. “Baw,” he said.

“Good choice.” Gina captured the ball and sat on the floor with it as Logan brought Daniel to her.

Instead of going for the ball, Daniel crawled straight to her, saying, “Gee, gee, gee,” and climbed into her lap.

When Gina hugged him close, Logan’s heart ached. How could he feel so many things at once—Amy’s ab
sence, regrets about Gina, worry that Daniel had bonded with Gina, the intensity of his attraction to her?

He took off his Stetson and tossed it onto a side table. Then he lowered himself to the floor to enjoy playtime with his son.

Gina knew Daniel’s attention span and switched from one activity to the next before he got cranky. They were playing with blocks on top of a step stool when Hannah brought in a snack for Daniel, bites of banana on a dish. “Look what I have for you,” Hannah said, setting the dish on the wicker table.

Daniel didn’t seem interested. He was too busy watching Gina build a tower.

Logan was engaged in building a bridge, hoping his son would help him. His hip was lodged against Gina’s. Once in a while, their arms brushed. Leaning this close to her felt unsettling as well as exciting. Sitting like this, playing with Daniel, felt simply…nice.

Gina added a blue block to Logan’s all-orange structure. “You need some variety,” she teased.

He stared at her tower. “This from a woman whose building wobbles with every new floor.”

They both laughed.

Daniel, suddenly interested in the dish of fruit, crawled over to it on his knees. Unable to quite reach the top of the table, he pulled himself up to stand and snacked on a bite of banana.

“The blocks will stay together now,” Logan warned her. “They’ll have sticky fruit between them.”

“Oh, look.” Gina pointed to a prairie dog who had just run between the bushes near the side of the room.

“Daniel, look there,” Logan directed.

The little boy turned, saw the animal, planted his legs
wide apart and took three toddling steps away from the table toward it.

Logan’s gaze went to Gina’s, both of them realizing what had just happened.

Gina quickly held out her hands to Daniel.

“Come here, honey. Let’s go over to the window and see if we can find him.”

His toes pointed out, Daniel shakily walked the three steps it took to put his hand in Gina’s. When he did, she squeezed him tight. “Oh, you wonderful little boy! Do you know what you just did?”

Logan clapped, then hugged his son.

“You walked six whole steps, six whole steps. That was terrific! Can you do it again?”

Propping himself at the chair next to Gina, Daniel looked uncertain for a long while. Logan just waited with his hands held out. “Come on, buddy. I know you can do this. I’ll catch you. Come on.”

After a look at Gina, a glance at where the prairie dog had vanished, then a look at his father, Daniel grinned and took three lurching steps toward his dad, who caught him and swung him up, laughing, so grateful his son was walking.

“What’s all the commotion?” Hannah asked, coming in.

“Daniel
walked
. About nine whole steps.”

Hannah clapped and made a fuss for a while. Finally she said, “You know what? Those first steps deserve a scoop of ice cream. Want to come with me to get it?”

Apparently Daniel knew those words because he bobbed his head and held his arms out to Hannah. She scooped him up and said, “We won’t be long.”

When Hannah left, Logan grinned at Gina and pulled her into his arms for a hug. “Thank you.”

She leaned away from him. “I didn’t do much. I just encouraged his natural tendencies.”

Logan felt more elated than he had since Daniel had come home from the hospital, and
his
natural tendencies were telling him exactly what he wanted to do. He lowered his head to Gina’s and began what was supposed to be a quick, simple, thank-you kiss. But as his lips settled on hers and the warmth of their compression burst into heat, the kiss became more than a simple thank-you. He didn’t want to go too fast. He knew he couldn’t push too hard. Would she even react or respond?

That question was a moot point as her arms wrapped around his neck. When she pressed closer to him, she proved to him she definitely
wanted
to respond. He remembered what she’d said, and he wanted her to be
here
for him,
here
for them. He gave her time to think about what they were doing by nibbling at the corner of her mouth, tantalizingly licking her lower lip, pressing both of his lips to hers again. She laced her fingers in his hair and her fingertips started moving. He knew what that meant. She was becoming as excited as he was.

He knew that at any time he’d have to stop. He knew that at any time he might have to put the brakes on, forget about his need and acknowledge whatever she was feeling. Yet she didn’t seem to want to stop. She opened her mouth to him and he accepted the invitation. When his tongue slid over hers, he heard her moan. When hers dashed around his, he groaned. They were in sync as they’d always been, giving and taking, reacting and responding, participating in a dance that had so many places to go.

Yet, when he reluctantly broke away, her lips clung to his. She gazed at him with undisguised passion—and more than a hint of confusion. After she took a deep breath, she caressed his face. “Well…where do we go from here? What did that mean, Logan?”

His stomach sank as his elation met reality. Because despite the desire he could no longer deny, he didn’t have the faintest idea where they were headed.

G
ina held her breath, hoping for the answer she wanted. Had the kiss meant forgiveness? Or something more?

Logan frowned. “What did it mean? Don’t analyze everything to death, Gina. We were both happy about Daniel walking. It was an expression of gratitude. You helped him.”

She couldn’t let this go, not that easily. “So you would kiss anyone who helped him?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He was scowling and his stance was defensive.

“Then I don’t think my question was so out of line. Why does it bother you? Because you don’t want to think about what you’re feeling?”

“You might have had lots of counseling, but I don’t need it,” he snapped. “Don’t analyze me.”

She took a step back from him, her fears con
firmed.
That’s what happens when you share your worst experience with someone. They could use it against you.

Immediately he saw that he had hurt her and he reached out.

But she moved away. “Logan, I’m confused enough. I don’t want you holding me and patting my head, or holding me and denying you feel anything.”

“I’m not denying what I’m feeling. I’m attracted to you…and you’re attracted to me.”

“But does the attraction come from the past…or now? Is that confusing you as much as it’s confusing me?”

“That kiss didn’t seem confused, did it?” he asked in an I-don’t-want-to-admit-this voice.

“No, it didn’t. But it had little to do with Daniel walking.”

Now he closed the distance between them and looked down at her with tenderness and maybe more. “I had a really good day today. How about you?”

It had had highs and lows, but at the end of it, they
were
still connected. “Yes, it was a good day and I especially liked the ducklings.”

He chuckled. “I thought you might.” He took her hand, drew it to his mouth and softly kissed her knuckles. His lips were warm and firm and seductively erotic.

Tingles streaked down her spine and she wanted to be in his arms again, longed to kiss him again. But neither of them knew what would happen if they went further. Logan didn’t want to feel more. She was afraid she’d feel too much. They’d both be thinking about her last experience. How could they ever get over that hurdle?

They could if they loved each other.

Gina suddenly realized her love for Logan had never truly faded. When she’d left, she’d had to deny the depth of her pain. That pain had to be less important than what her parents wanted for her, what her sister needed and what she herself wanted to accomplish. It couldn’t compare to the pain Logan would have felt had he known his father could disinherit him.

Nevertheless, her love for him had always been there. What would have happened if she’d run back to him after the rape? Would he have supported her, stood up against his dad or backed away? It simply didn’t matter. But she knew now, she still loved him. She’d returned to Sagebrush to find out if she had to bury that love for good. What she was finding was that it was more alive than it had ever been.

He still held her hands as he said, “I want to issue a special invitation to you for the groundbreaking of the day-care center. Can you take an hour off on Monday when we dig the first shovelful? The ceremony is at four o’clock.”

“I’ll see if I can rearrange appointments and let you know.”

He gently tugged her toward him and placed a kiss on top of her head. They stood that way a few seconds and then she pulled away.

“I really did have a good day,” she assured him.

“Me, too. It was the first really good day in a long time. Thank you.”

He looked as if he wanted to kiss her again. “I’d better go.”

“You
could
spend the evening. We could play tennis and later watch a DVD with Daniel.”

“Enough is enough for today,” she said, not wanting
to go but deciding leaving was best for now. “I don’t want to spoil the day by expecting too much.”

He studied her face…brushed his thumb over her lips. “You’re right. We should take this slowly whether it’s friendship or attraction or whatever, not only for our sakes but for Daniel’s.”

His finger on her lips brought back the sensations from their kiss. Yet the mention of Daniel’s name brought all of her focus to his little boy. She already loved Daniel. But if she told Logan that, she’d be moving way too fast.

He dropped his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

He didn’t stop at the door but went outside with her. The evening air was cool and Logan kept his arm around her the whole way to her car.

At her door, he tipped her chin up and kissed her again. It was a light kiss and carried feeling as well as that indefinable taste that Logan wanted more. That taste wouldn’t go away until she saw him again. It wouldn’t go away until it became hotter, bolder—until it became desire they were both ready for.

White, puffy clouds skittered across the blue sky as Gina stood in the group of onlookers at Barnes Denim, ready for the first shovel of dirt to be cast. The workers had come outside for the ceremony. Logan stood in a place of honor at the open field. Beside him, a pretty blonde talked animatedly to him.

Gina had heard one of the women in the crowd say, “That’s Amy’s sister. She came from Amarillo.”

Logan settled a hand on the blonde’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze, then he faced the crowd. Gina stood
in the front row and he smiled at her. Then his focus shifted away.

He said to the group gathered, “As you know, I’m going to name our day-care center the Amy Barnes Day-Care Center in memory of my wife. I’d like her sister Maggie to say a few words.”

Amy’s sister stepped forward and smiled at everyone. “I just want to tell you how honored I am that Logan is doing this for Amy.”

As Maggie spoke, Gina watched Logan’s face. There was pain there, and an element of the grief he wouldn’t express. The lines across his forehead, the tight set of his jaw, the tension in his stance told Gina this was difficult for him. She wished she could be beside him, but that was impossible. Especially today.

The late afternoon sun was hot, and Gina could feel prickles of perspiration wending their way down her back. She thought about Daniel and how Logan would shape the memory of his mother for him. Did Maggie visit often? Was she involved in Daniel’s life?

After Maggie finished speaking, someone handed Logan a shovel and he dug a few heapfuls of ground from the earth. Then he thanked everyone for coming and guided Maggie toward Gina.

As they approached, Gina pasted on her I-can-handle-anything smile.

Logan introduced the two women and then said, “Gina helped Daniel learn to walk. She’s a developmental specialist. I’m also using her as a consultant on the day-care center.”

Daniel’s specialist. A consultant. Gina wondered what other words he could use to describe her.

“I spent the evening with Daniel last night,” Maggie
mentioned. “He’s growing so fast. I wish I could come to Sagebrush more, but my work is so…sporadic.”

“What do you do?” Gina asked.

“I write scripts for children’s videos and TV shows. I’m usually on deadline and work late most nights when I’m in the middle of a project.”

“That sounds like a great job, though,” Gina said, meaning it.

“Oh, it is. I just wish my schedule weren’t so crazy. It’s either feast or famine. I drove in yesterday morning. I have to leave tomorrow morning. It’s a short visit.”

“We’ll pack as much into it as we can,” Logan assured her.

Maggie nodded. “Tonight I want to collect those videos of Amy you were talking about. I’ll take them along and have everything digitized. It will be an important memento for Daniel when it’s finished.”

Gina could see this was going to be an evening for the two of them to remember Amy Barnes and everything she’d meant to both of them.

Logan said to Maggie, “Why don’t you go over to the building and get out of the sun. I’ll be there in a minute.”

After a wave and a goodbye to Gina, Maggie walked away. Logan turned to Gina. “Thank you for coming today.”

“I know this must be difficult for you.”

“It’s bittersweet. I’m glad you suggested naming the day-care center after my wife. It’s a solid reminder of what she meant to me and Daniel. Are you going to come in to the social? Punch and cookies for everyone.”

“No, I think I’ll go now. I brought enough work home to last me all night.”

“New clients?”

“Some. And financial projections for Baby Grows, too. I’m not keen on that, but it’s part of the job.”

Logan looked torn for a moment. “I’d ask you back to the house, but—”

“I understand, Logan. Really I do.” She wanted to give him a hug, but didn’t know if that would be appropriate here and now. Instead, she said, “Call me if you want to talk. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll see you at your place Friday at five for Daniel’s appointment.”

He studied her for a few moments and then nodded. “I’ll talk to you later.”

As Logan headed back to the factory and Gina went to find her car in the parking lot, she knew he wouldn’t be calling.

On Wednesday evening, Gina was still in her office at Baby Grows when her cell phone rang. She picked it up automatically, not even looking at the caller ID. “Yes,” she said absently, her mind on the file she was studying.

“Gina?”

Her attention snapped into focus. “Yes, Logan, it’s me. Sorry, I was in the middle of something.”

The silence between them vibrated with emotion and tension. She could still remember the pain on his face as Maggie had spoken of her sister.

He began, “I want to thank you again for coming to the groundbreaking.”

“I wasn’t so sure it was a good idea that I attended.”

There was a long pause before he asked, “Because the ceremony was about Amy?”

“Because you didn’t need your attention divided that day.”

“It wasn’t divided. Lots of people who were helping with the center were there. You were one of them.”

“One of the crowd.”

She could hear him swear under his breath. “That didn’t come out right, Gina. I have a habit of making a muddle of things with you.”

“You called to tell me that?” she teased kindly, wondering why he needed to talk to her. She’d be seeing him Friday night. Unless he was canceling.

“I thought we could do something different Friday night.”

“With Daniel? Do you want to bring him to Baby Grows?”

“No, I’d like to take him swimming. I thought maybe you’d have some exercises in your repertoire we could do in the pool. Then afterward, maybe you and I could just swim.”

Swimming with Logan. Sitting by the pool. Talking for hours. History repeating itself?

“I have to ask you something, Logan.”

“I’m not going to like this question very much, am I?”

“Probably not. Do you want a diversion so you can stop thinking about Amy?”

The complete silence told her exactly what he thought of her question. But then she heard him blow out a breath. Finally, he admitted, “Maggie stirred up all kinds of memories when she was here, especially when we went through the videos. But at the end of all that, by the time I said goodbye to her, I realized naming the day-care center in Amy’s honor was the end of something. She’s gone. She’s never coming back. The center will be the tangible proof of that. I need to see more for my future than what might have been. So, to
answer your question, I don’t want a diversion. I just want to go on and live my life.”

“That’s honest,” she assured him, thinking he was taking a big step in moving on.

“I’m glad you think so because I don’t know how to be anything else but honest with you.”

She hadn’t been completely honest with him—not where his father was concerned. What good would it do to reveal now what his father had threatened her with?

“So how about swimming?” he asked.

“Does Daniel like the water?”

“He’s not particularly fond of getting his face wet.”

“I know a few adults who have the same problem,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll bring a life vest along. I think I’d like to do a land routine with him first, then we’ll just do a few exercises in the water.”

“Sounds good. Do you think you might be in the mood for steaks on the grill? I can tell Hannah we’ll handle our own supper.”

“Steak sounds fine. Have you had much experience being a chef?”

“I’m better on the grill than I am in the kitchen. Remember my attempt to make beef stroganoff for you?”

“I remember that very well. You ended up with overdone beef tips, lumpy sauce, sticky noddles. But it tasted wonderful.”

“I thought you just said that to be kind.”

“No, it
did
taste good. It just wasn’t four-star-restaurant presentable.”

He chuckled. “I promise I’ll do a better job with the steaks tomorrow night.”

When Gina closed her phone a few minutes later, she
was smiling. Maybe she and Logan could become friends again…maybe so much more.

“I think we’ve tired him out.”

Logan lifted Daniel from the water and went up the steps to the deck around the pool. He unfastened the Velcro of Daniel’s life vest and Gina held a towel ready to wrap the toddler in. Daniel did love the water as long as it wasn’t splashing his face. At her encouragement, he’d kicked his legs and arms and had fun with her and his dad.

Now, as she held him and patted him with the fluffy towel, he wrapped his arms around her neck and snuggled his cheek against her shoulder. A lump crowded her throat and for a few moments she dreamt of being his mother.

Then reality struck. He
had
a mother, and Logan wasn’t going to forget her. And he shouldn’t. But denying the longings in her own heart was impossible. They weren’t going to go away.

As she sneaked a peek at Logan—he was toweling his hair—she knew she was falling deeper in love with him. She held Daniel a little tighter, rested her cheek against his wet hair, and wished for everything she’d wished for when she was eighteen…everything that hadn’t had to do with college and a career and her family.

Hannah opened the sliding screen of the sunroom, walked across the patio and opened the gate that led into the pool. She brought a tray of hors d’oeuvres with her and set it on the table where Gina’s and Logan’s bottles of water sat with Daniel’s sippy cup.