Someone's Baby Read online

  With a sigh she turned back to the box which also held a pair of faded jeans with a tear near the hem. The jeans were a surprisingly good fit except for the length. Cade had said Bonita was tall. He hadn't mentioned that she must have had a figure to die for.

  Near the bottom of the box was a pair of fancy boots, badly scuffed and scarred by a series of teeth marks. At a guess, a dog had enjoyed several hours of play with the dirty, white-fringed boots. They were good leather and only half a size larger than she normally wore.

  A picture fell out of one of the boots. Picking it up, Jayne found herself looking at a strikingly beautiful woman with a mass of thick dark hair and a figure to kill for. Bonita. Beside her stood a boy who was too old to be her son, though he looked so much like her it was amazing.

  Jayne sighed, understanding why Cade was only mildly attracted to her. Not that she wanted him to be attracted, despite the racy dream she'd had just before waking. At least her fantasy life was a lot more interesting since meeting Cade McGovern, but that was all it would ever be. Cade had made his lack of intentions completely clear where she was concerned. Jayne put the picture back in the box.

  Garments in hand, she put pillows on either side of the baby so Heather couldn't go anywhere, and headed for the bathroom. Cade would be annoyed, but Jayne was taking a shower.

  Washing her hair was tricky, and Cade's supplies didn't run to things like cream rinse or a hair dryer. Fortunately, he did have a comb. Feeling clean for the first time in days was worth everything.

  She was still working through the snarls in her hair one-handed when Cade called through the door.

  "Come in. Your timing is good. Would you cut the pant legs…?" One look at his face sent her stomach plunging. "What's wrong?"

  "Someone got to the SUV. They sliced all the tires including the spare."

  Suddenly, it was hard to breathe. "When?"

  "Good question."

  He took in her outfit with enigmatic eyes and she tried not to feel like a pretend cowgirl or the child he thought she was, playing dress up.

  "Are we trapped here now?"

  "No. We've got horses. Rio's saddling one now." He took the scissors from the sink, bent and cut away the excess fabric with quick sure movements. "Rio's going for Hap to bring the truck back." He set the scissors on the sink and pulled a gun from his pocket. "I already know you can handle a rifle. Can you handle a .38?"

  Her stomach gave a lurch. "Same principle," she managed to say calmly. "Point and fire."

  "That'll work. Here. Keep this on you."

  She took the heavy metal with an even heavier heart. "Is this necessary?"

  "We were patrolling outside off and on all night, yet someone came right up to the house while we were inside."

  "If the person wanted to hurt us why didn't he?"

  Cade rubbed his chin with the back of his hand, then pushed up the brim of his hat with the knuckle of his index finger.

  "He's toying with us. I can only think of a few reasons for someone to want to isolate us like this. None of them are good. Stay with Heather and away from windows. Zed and I are going to do a thorough search."

  "You don't think Zed…?"

  He shook his head but his shoulders slumped. Despite clean clothing and a freshly shaven jaw that made him look younger and sexier than ever, Cade looked so tired she longed to reach out and hug him.

  "I think it's my ex-brother-in-law. Luis idolized his older sister, and he blames me for her death."

  "I don't understand. You said she ran off with another man."

  "Luis doesn't know that. He thinks she left me because I didn't treat her well. He may be trying to punish me for her death. So far, the only problems have had nuisance value. But the way things are escalating, it's possible…"

  "What?"

  His gray eyes darkened to smoke beneath the brim of his hat.

  "Luis may think you're his sister's replacement. That may have pushed him over some edge. I don't know. I didn't think he was rabid, but I may have judged wrong. He could be more dangerous than I credited."

  "You said he was just a kid."

  "He'd be seventeen by now." Cade sighed and pulled his hat back down low over his eyes. "I don't want anyone getting seriously hurt."

  Cade had kept the truth from a young boy who idolized his sister. It's what she would have expected from a man like him.

  "I should have sold this place to Hap after my grandfather died, and headed up to Colorado like I'd planned," Cade said more to himself than to her.

  "You're just tired."

  Offering comfort, she laid a hand on his arm. It was a mistake. Touching him was a definite mistake.

  A curious tremor ran through her body and it wasn't from the weakness she'd felt earlier. This was more like anticipation. She'd always had boyfriends. But Cade was no boy. Kissing those hard firm lips would be very different from any of the people she had ever dated. She knew it with a certainty that went bone deep.

  Cade looked down at her hand on his bare arm. Dark-gray eyes stared into hers sending a new jolt of sensation deep in her belly.

  "I am tired," he said softly. "Too tired for games."

  Her heart beat much too fast. Her mouth went dry. She couldn't seem to tear her gaze from his.

  "I don't know what you mean."

  Rough hard hands snaked out to clasp either side of her head. His fingers threaded her damp hair and his mouth covered hers in a kiss of masculine possession that she felt in every pore of her body. The wildly exhilarating sensation transcended pain and drugs and fear, leaving room for nothing except the devastating possession of his lips on hers.

  Emotions rioted in her body. Coherent thought was impossible. Incredible longing swept her as he deepened the kiss to a level more intimate than any she had ever experienced. This wasn't the casual touch of tongues. This was a mating.

  His hand covered her breast, kneading gently. Living currents of excitement had her melting into that kiss, pressing against him, urging him on with small sounds she'd never known she was capable of. She didn't want him to ever stop.

  He drew back without warning. His rough hands had to steady her to keep her from collapsing.

  "Stay with Heather," he said gruffly. "I'll be back in a few minutes to change your bandage."

  Speechless, Jayne stumbled into the bedroom to collapse on the edge of the bed. It was just a kiss.

  Sure. And Texas was just a state.

  She could not—would not—fall in love with Cade McGovern. He'd shatter her heart as surely as his wife had shattered his.

  Yet she wanted Cade in a physical and emotional way that she had never wanted anyone else in her life. A sound that was part laugh, part sob broke past lips that still tingled from his kiss. She had to get out of here. Her father and brothers would be horrified. She was falling in love with a cowboy.

  She forced her mind away from the man and the kiss that had left her emotions in turmoil and tried to focus. Someone had slashed the SUV's tires. The incident may have nothing to do with her, but the baby ring was out there somewhere, just waiting for her to surface again. Her family might be worried sick by now. And a small part of her was terrified that the bullet had done some sort of permanent damage.

  But none of those reasons were as compelling as her main one. She needed to leave before Cade got so far under her skin it would take a surgical knife to remove him.

  "I need a sling or a backpack or something that will let me carry you and leave my hands free," she told the baby. Talking to the infant soothed her rattled mind. "Cade doesn't want me. He just…"

  Just what? Was looking for a diversion? Was overwhelmed by sudden passion seeing her in his wife's old clothing?

  She stared around the room until her gaze fell on the box and a large woven shawl with an ominous dark stain in one comer. She sniffed the material, but there was no scent to tell her what had caused the stain. Forcing her mind from Cade she experimented until she fashioned a sling of sorts, knotting it
together as tightly as she could.

  Sitting on the bed, she put the makeshift sling over her head and secured the baby inside. It took a bit of maneuvering, but finally Heather rested against Jayne's chest. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't comfortable, but if it was needed, it would do the trick, at least for a little while.

  Despite Cade's order, Jayne walked to the bedroom window and gazed outside. She could see the edge of the barn and the corral clearly from here. Rio was stuffing a couple of bottles of water into a pair of saddlebags. A large dappled horse shifted restlessly beside him waiting to be saddled.

  "Good idea. We'd better repack your diaper bag, Heather."

  Jayne was doing exactly that when a shadow fell on the back door. She spun around, sending knives of pain down her arm. Her good hand reached for the heavy weight of the gun in her pocket, but the door flew open before she could bring it out. Cade stepped inside, stopping when he saw her.

  Something hot and sensual came and went in his hard expression before he could hide his gaze by lowering his eyes beneath the brim of his hat.

  "What's this?" he asked, indicating the baby and the shawl and the diaper bag.

  "An experiment," she replied, pleased that her voice came out without any of the quivering that raged inside her. "I was getting things ready to go. Carrying her like this leaves my hands free. But this isn't particularly comfortable, so if you don't mind putting her back in her car seat for me…?"

  Cade lifted Heather from the makeshift sling. His hand brushed Jayne's breast. Their gazes locked for a heartbeat out of time.

  "I'm sorry."

  And Jayne didn't know if the words were for that accidental touch or what had happened between them earlier. Her nipples tingled right along with the rest of her.

  He strapped Heather into her car seat.

  "Did you find anything outside?"

  She couldn't believe her voice sounded so normal.

  "Nothing."

  "So now what?"

  "Now we change your bandage."

  Panic clawed at her stomach. "That isn't necessary."

  "You must have gotten it wet when you showered."

  "Not too badly. It'll dry."

  "You're skin is still warm, Jayne. I may need to lance the wound."

  "You'll have to show me a medical degree first."

  His lips curved gently. "Have a seat while I look at it."

  She would have to unbutton her blouse. He would have to touch her. Jayne took a long shuddering breath. She could handle this—because she had to. The bandages were wet and she couldn't change them herself.

  "You'll have to take the blouse off," he said, returning with a small blue bag and setting his hat on the table.

  Her saliva went into hiding. Did he have to look so incredibly sensual? Jayne shook her head.

  "Jayne—"

  "I'm not wearing a bra."

  The very air sizzled. His lips parted and his gray eyes turned a fascinating shade of silver. She battled the temptation to reach out and touch the strand of dark hair falling against his forehead. He lowered his gaze but not before she glimpsed the rapid beat of the pulse in his neck.

  "Unbutton it so I can pull the bandage off your shoulder," he said levelly.

  Her fingers fumbled with the buttons. Panic hovered at the edges of her mind, but it was a panic mixed with a thrill of excitement. Whether it was the clothing or her looks, Cade wanted her with the same intensity she wanted him.

  "You'll have to undo another button."

  For a second her heart paused, before racing wildly. Her gaze had found the zipper on his tight-fitting jeans and the very noticeable bulge they contained. Somehow, that reassured her. Her confidence returned. Her brothers had taught her the best defense was a strong offense.

  "Angling for a quick peek?"

  Red stained his neck. "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"

  "I didn't know I could."

  "Oh, yeah. You knew."

  She couldn't think of a response as he lowered the shirt off her shoulder. His touch was gentle, impersonal, as he peeled away the tape. But he was still aroused.

  "H-how's it look?"

  "Not too bad, considering."

  "Considering what? That I have a hole in my shoulder? That my arm's going to fall off? What?"

  She turned her head and decided he was right. A scab covered the area. The wound still looked nasty, but not as inflamed as it had yesterday. She'd have a scar, but that would have happened even if she'd had immediate access to a hospital and doctors.

  "You were lucky, you know," Cade said. "I'm pretty sure the bullet either missed the bone completely or just nicked it slightly. I don't think any real damage was done."

  "If I'd been lucky, the bullet would have missed my shoulder completely."

  His lips curved in a definite smile.

  "You should do that more often."

  Instantly, his smile faded and he busied himself with the first-aid supplies.

  "What was she like?" Jayne wished she could bite back the words the moment they were uttered.

  "Who?"

  There was nothing to do but finish the question. "Your wife."

  "What difference does—"

  "Did you love her?"

  Cade drew back with a scowl.

  "It's not idle curiosity, Cade. I admit there's some of that," she added honestly. "But if her brother is a threat I'd like to understand the situation."

  Cade began retaping the wound. "You're in more danger from your husband than you are from Luis."

  "That isn't an answer."

  "My private life isn't up for display."

  "So you did love her."

  "No." He glared at her. "I wanted her. Just like I want you. Right here. Right now."

  Jayne couldn't seem to breathe. Her entire body tingled with wild longing.

  "But I've learned a few things since then. Bonita had a hot body and a smile that could turn a man hard in an instant. All the men wanted her."

  Just like I want you. Right here. Right now.

  She was still reeling from the impact of those words and the desire they'd unleashed.

  "Bonita followed the circuit and the cowboys," Cade said evenly. "Zed introduced her to me one night. They'd come into the bar together, but she turned the full force of her attention on me. I gathered the two of them had had a fight. Zed up and left her there after a few minutes."

  "And you played the gentleman."

  His jaw set. ''Bonita wasn't looking for a gentleman. I gave her what she was looking for."

  His crude words were punishment, Jayne realized. He finished with her shoulder and turned away. She began buttoning her blouse.

  "Is that why you married her?"

  "You aren't going to let it drop, are you?"

  "I told you—"

  "Fine, you want the truth? We got drunk one night in Las Vegas. I'm not real clear on the details, but in the morning we woke up in a cheap motel with several thousand dollars in cash including two hundred dollars in quarters, a king-size hangover and a marriage neither of us wanted."

  His clipped words and pained expression made her sorry she'd asked.

  "We decided what the heck. Marriage didn't seem like such a bad idea. We got along okay and the sex was raw and hot. She looked great on my arm, and every guy on the circuit envied me."

  He closed the blue case and stood rubbing the back of his neck. "My grandfather died a few weeks later and I inherited all this." He waved his hand to encompass the ranch at large. "Bonita was appalled to discover I would leave the exciting life of the rodeo circuit and move to the middle of nowhere to take up ranching. That wasn't in her plans."

  "I'm sorry, Cade."

  He didn't seem to hear or see her. He was lost in his bitter past.

  "It had always been my plan. Hap offered to buy the Circle M from me when my grandfather died, but owning my own spread was my dream. It turned into a nightmare. Bonita was so unhappy that I turned the running of the spread ov
er to Hap after a few months and agreed to return to the circuit. Only that wasn't enough for her, either. I could see it wasn't going to work for the long haul. We wanted different lives. I took a bad spill one day and went looking for my wife. She was turning her considerable charm on Zed in our hotel room."

  The keen edge of his pain reached her. Cade may not have loved her, but Bonita's betrayal, and especially the betrayal of a man he considered his friend, had cut his pride to the bone. As if reading her thoughts, he lifted his head and stared into her eyes.

  "We came home that night. Three months later Bonita disappeared with a hired hand. By then I was glad. The only thing I felt when I heard she was dead was guilt—because I was relieved to have the whole thing over with."

  "I don't blame you."

  "Her brother does. I met him when I went to claim the body. I didn't even know she had a brother. Says a lot about my marriage, doesn't it?"

  "It says a lot about Bonita."

  "Yeah. Well, Bonita had called Luis right before she left and told him I was abusive and cruel. He wanted to take out his grief and anger on me. I could have told him different, but what was the point?"

  Her heart broke for the pain behind his words.

  "I'm sorry."

  "Yeah? So am I, but life happens."

  The room filled with silence. Finally she inhaled. She needed to speak the troubling thought that had formed.

  "You said Bonita dated Zed first? What if he blames you for her death, too?"

  Cade's body turned to stone. For a moment he didn't say anything.

  "I thought you believed a man was innocent until proven guilty."

  "I also believe in getting at the truth. Zed's here— on your ranch. He was at the line shack—with a horse. The phone lines may have been cut while he was sleeping in the bunkhouse. And he patrolled the yard last night when the tires could have been cut."

  "His antibiotics may have saved your life," Cade pointed out.

  "I appreciate that, but he has no beef with me. He knows I'm not Bonita's replacement. You said yourself the things that have been happening were more of a nuisance than a real threat."

  "There isn't any way Zed could have gotten to the SUV Rio was driving."

  "Are you sure?"

  He stood there in silence. Finally, he let out a deep breath. "The sooner we get you off this ranch the better," he said finally. "Tell me why your husband shot you in the back."