Page 13 of The Rancher's Secret Son

She left the room and he continued sending himself each picture of Cody. In a short time Claire appeared with her carry-on, a briefcase and her purse. She had changed and wore the tailored navy skirt and the matching silk blouse she had worn to the closing. Once again he thought how good-looking she was, even more than she had been years ago, and he thought of his earlier kiss, which had rocked him and stirred desire.

“You look nice. You also travel lightly.”

“It was just an overnight.”

“The limo is downstairs if you’re ready,” he said, handing her iPad back, which she slipped into her purse.

“Yes. I’m checked out and ready to go,” she said. Nick shouldered her carry-on and picked up her briefcase while she slid her purse strap over her shoulder. They were ready to leave her hotel room, and for one brief moment, he wished he could pull her into his arms and kiss her again. Controlling the urge, he held the door for her, catching a whiff of her perfume as she walked out. It was the same scent she’d worn years ago, and as he inhaled it he was transported back in time.

He remembered his third flight to Houston to see her for the weekend. She had moved back home to help with her family, and her grandmother had ushered him inside. As he’d walked in, Claire came down the stairs. She had taken his breath away that night in a bright-red crepe dress that ended above her knees. Her thick hair swung loosely across her shoulders as she descended the steps and he could only stare, not hearing what her grandmother said.

Nick was so caught up in the memory that he didn’t realize they had reached the airport until the limo slowed near the plane.

At the waiting private jet, the limo driver put her carry-on and briefcase on board the plane. Claire stood with a light wind whipping her skirt around her legs as she turned to Nick, who had just introduced her to the pilot and a flight attendant. As the two men walked toward the plane and left her with Nick, she turned to him. “I’ll see you Friday night in Houston about half-past six.”

Nick nodded. “I can’t wait. Claire, I know that any anger and hard feelings will pass. I’m thrilled beyond anything I can possibly say to you.”

“I’m glad, Nick. I think you’ll love Cody the moment you meet him.”

They gazed into each other’s eyes and he was suddenly swamped with gratitude that she had given him a son. On impulse, he stepped closer to wrap his arms around her and kiss her.

He caught her by surprise, but then she slipped her arms around him and returned his kiss, a kiss that made him remember old times with her, that made him want to be with her longer and take the kiss deeper. His reaction was even stronger than it had been to their earlier kiss. Because of Claire, his life was suddenly filled with uncertainties and one of the biggest ones was how he was going to deal with her. For just a moment, he forgot the past, the present, the problems they’d have in the future. He wanted her.

Hot with desire, he tightened his arm around her slender waist as he parted her lips and his tongue mated with hers. Running his hand down her back and over her bottom, he wanted nothing more than to peel away the barriers of clothing between them. His heart pounded in his chest, so hard he thought it would burst. He trailed kisses to her throat as she leaned back to give him access to the slender column of her neck.

From somewhere deep in his mind came the warning to stop. If he didn’t, he knew he’d take her right there on the tarmac.

Reluctantly he released her. He didn’t want to fall in love again because he would be hurt all over again. Perhaps a deeper hurt this time. The problems between them now were bigger than ever. Not only was she still tethered to Houston and her family, they had a bigger issue to deal with. Their son. Nick told himself he couldn’t get entangled again. As much as she tempted him, he had to resist kissing her when they were together. She was a huge threat to his happiness and his future in too many ways.

On a cerebral level he knew that. All too well. But on a physical level...how was he going to cope with this intense attraction he had to her?

Four

While her heart pounded, Claire looked into his blue eyes that had darkened with passion. She felt it in his hard body pressed close to hers, in his tongue that tangled with hers, in the arms that held her tight. And she responded in kind. Desire surged through her and stirred old memories she didn’t want coming alive. Memories of making love to Nick long into the night, of waking in his arms the next day, only to repeat their heart-pounding performance. She tried to shut her mind to those remembrances, to his kisses, so that she could cool down and get her thoughts back where they needed to be. Back to thinking about the coming weekend.

It was going to be one of the most important weekends of her life. And certainly her son’s life.

When she stepped back and under the lights on the tarmac, she could see his face clearly. On the ride over she’d given it some thought and now she wanted to tell him her plan. “Nick,” she started, “you’re welcome to stay with us. I’ve got plenty of room in the house. I think it’d be best for Cody to get to know you with us around.”

“Thanks,” Nick said. “That sounds ideal, Claire. I’ll take you up on that offer because staying there would let him get more accustomed to me in surroundings that are familiar to him.”

“Actually, Nick, if all goes well, you might as well stay Saturday night, also. We can see how it goes on Friday. If I don’t think you should stay, I’ll tell you.”

He smiled. “Fair enough. You know your son.”

“Our son,” she corrected, but she couldn’t smile. She was hurt and she was frightened because Nick had had a bigger reaction than she had anticipated.

Glancing at the plane, she looked up at Nick. “I better board. They seem to be waiting.”

“They are,” he said, giving her a heavy-lidded look that stirred desire again. She stepped back, knowing she needed to avoid another kiss that would make her want things she couldn’t have. Nick’s kisses could always melt her. She had to keep a barrier around her heart because he was a heartbreaker.

“I’ll see you Friday night. C’mon. I’ll walk with you.” He took her arm and they walked to the foot of the steps to the plane.

“See you, Nick,” she said as she boarded. Taking a seat by a window she looked out at him and watched him as the plane taxied away. He stood there, the wind blowing locks of his dark brown hair. Hair so like Cody’s. Maybe it was seeing that resemblance, maybe it was everything she’d been through this night. But the reality hit her hard, knocking her back into her seat. Cody really had a dad—a dad who wanted to know him.

What kind of dad would he be? What kind of rapport would he have with Cody? Questions bombarded her, not only about his relationship with Cody but with her. What would their future hold? Was he going to push for marriage, a paper marriage to satisfy the public so he could win his political race and become a United States Senator?

His political ambitions were daunting. Nick wanted to run for President of the United States. His dad had pushed for it and laid the groundwork years earlier. Nick and his father, the judge, embodied power, clout, wealth and success, and had built a network of cronies of the same type. Nick had stayed with the prestigious DC law firm just long enough to make lasting ties with some powerful people and then he had returned to his roots in Texas to build a strong support base.

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