Page 19 of The Rancher's Secret Son

“Fortunately, people who’ve been happy working with me tell their friends, so my network builds. I love my work and in spite of a 24/7 business, I get a lot of hours with Cody.”

“That’s good,” Nick said.

When the limo stopped, Claire looked down at her sleeping son. “It’s past his bedtime and he has been so excited all day. Give me a minute to wake him and he’ll walk in.”

“No. He’s a featherweight. I’ll carry him.” Nick picked him up easily, and in his sleep Cody wrapped his arm around Nick’s neck.

Nick paused to make arrangements with the driver to come back Saturday night in time to take them to dinner. Then he entered the front door Claire held open and carried Cody up to his room and placed him on the bed.

Claire stepped forward to get him ready for bed. “Want some help?” he asked her.

She shook her head. “No, but thanks. I’ll just get his shoes and socks off and leave him alone. I’m sure he’s worn out.”

Nick stepped away, strolling around Cody’s room, looking at shelves of family pictures of the boy with his great-grandparents, with his grandmother and with Claire. Through one doorway Nick could see an attached bathroom, but he went through the other door into an adjoining playroom filled with toys, bookshelves and a large fish tank that seemed to take center stage. Cody had a large rocking horse, plastic superheroes on the shelves and a life-size mural of Winnie-the-Pooh characters on one wall.

A door was open to an adjoining bedroom and he realized it was Claire’s suite. She had a four-poster bed with a canopy, and as his gaze ran over the bed and mound of pillows, he could picture her sprawled there. He remembered how she had looked in bed, recalling her black hair spread over the pillow beside him. His insides tightened as the memories ignited desire.

Nick turned to look at her as she leaned over Cody and his gaze ran down her backside, the straight skirt of her dress fitting her hips snugly and the long legs that peeked from under her dress as she leaned over. He could feel his body heat up as he looked at her. She could still cause a reaction in him on a physical level, something no other women he had dated had done since his loss of Karen. And he’d bet Claire still had a physical response to him, too.

Logically, he could enumerate each and every reason to avoid her, but nothing could stop his body from responding to her, from desiring her. She was a sexy, beautiful woman who took his breath away. He turned abruptly, knowing he had to get her out of his thoughts. That wouldn’t happen as long as he stood there staring at her long legs and remembering how they felt wrapped around his waist as they made love.

When he looked back, she had stepped away from Cody’s bed. His gaze shifted to Cody, who was sleeping soundly, his dark hair falling over his forehead. Nick wanted his son in his life. He would try to cooperate with Claire, but he had to be part of Cody’s life. He’d loved Cody from the first moment he saw him this afternoon.

Claire stepped toward him. “Let’s go downstairs,” she said softly.

When they walked into the hall, she touched his sleeve lightly to get his attention. “You can have the suite across the hall from us for the weekend,” she said, stopping to switch on the lights in the room she pointed out. He poked his head in and saw a large living area done in deep blues with hardwood floors and area rugs.

“There’s an adjoining bath and bedroom, giving you your own suite,” she explained. “Down the hall are two more bedroom suites and I have an office on this floor, too.”

“Claire, this is a splendid house. Very luxurious, but comfortable and practical at the same time.”

“I know a lot of builders, so I tried to get the best.”

He smiled and ran his finger along her smooth cheek. “Good businesswoman.”

“I try to be.”

For whatever reason, seeing her there, backlit by the lamp in the suite, in her element in her own home that she’d built with her successful career, he was more drawn to her than ever. More than anything he wanted to lean down and kiss her. He stepped closer, unable to resist her allure, but before he could make his move, Claire stepped back. She was keeping a wall between them. She was polite, friendly, cooperative in a lot of ways about Cody, but Nick felt that, beneath the surface, she wished he would pack and go back to Dallas and get out of her life.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s go downstairs. I have a monitor for Cody so I can hear if he wakes. I have an alarm that lets me know if he gets out of his bed and walks around his room. I also can see him on my iPad, so I know when he’s sleeping peacefully.”

“You’ve covered all your bases to keep him safe, I see.” He followed her down the hall.

“You were very good with Cody,” she said as they reached the ground floor.

“He’s an easy, wonderful kid. I’m in awe, Claire. He’s perfect. I know I’ve got a prejudiced view, but I can’t think of one thing about him that isn’t really great.”

She laughed. “You sound just like a new dad. But you’re right—he’s easy, likeable and a smart little boy. And he’s glad to have his dad in his life,” she said. “You had the perfect gifts and the limo was the crowning touch.”

“Mike suggested the limo.”

“Mike sounds like a good dad. Would you like a drink?”

“It’s time to break out the champagne so we can celebrate.” His fingers closed on her arm to stop her and she turned to look up at him. His heart beat faster as he looked down at her. “I want you to celebrate, Claire. I don’t want this to be an unhappy or difficult event to bring me into Cody’s life. I know it means you have to share him, but I’ll try every way I can to make that a plus for you and for Cody.” Her brown eyes were wide and dark and mysterious. He couldn’t read them. Nor could he keep from letting his gaze drift to her mouth that was enticing, bow-shaped with full lips that were so soft, yet fiery. He felt caught in her gaze and she must have felt the same because her eyes widened slightly and then her gaze lowered to his mouth and his heart pounded.

They were only a foot apart and it would be easy to close that gap and give into the temptation that clawed at him. So easy to touch his lips to hers and taste the sweetness that was Claire. If only...

No, he couldn’t. He had to fight the temptation. It was for his own good. Reluctantly he stepped away. “Where’s the champagne?” he asked, his voice far deeper and hoarse.

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