Page 47 of The Rancher's Secret Son

Cody stayed downstairs, playing in the family room while her grandmother was nearby. Claire was running a few minutes late, and when she heard the door chimes, she knew Cody and Grandma would both enjoy talking to Nick.

When Claire was finally ready, she assessed her image in the mirror. She smoothed her navy long-sleeved dress with a straight skirt and fingered the diamond pendant and charm bracelet. Then she picked up her small black purse and went downstairs, hoping against hope that she had her emotions under control.

* * *

Nick heard Claire seconds before she walked into the room. He stood immediately while his heart thudded. She looked stunning. He felt hot, dazzled and had to make an effort to avoid staring at her. He longed to cross the room to take her into his arms.

She smiled, her full, red lips curving and tugging on his senses. He wanted to be alone with her, back in his suite where nothing could disturb them.

“Have a seat, Nick. I’m sure Grandma and Cody are enjoying talking to you.”

“Nick said he got a present for me, but the last time he was here, I was gone, so he brought it tonight,” Verna said, holding out a box. Claire crossed the room to look at a beautiful gold locket on a thin golden chain with her grandmother’s initials carved into the face of the locket. She opened it and inside the locket were two pictures, one of Claire and Cody and another of Cody.

“Nick, that’s lovely,” Claire said, smiling at him and then looking at her grandmother. “I know you’ll love it. Turn around and I’ll put it on you,” she said.

Her grandmother shifted in her chair and Claire fastened the locket around her neck. Verna turned back around and looked down at it. “That’s beautiful, Nick. I’ll treasure it. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I got a present, too,” Cody said, holding out a book.

Claire took it in her hands. “Great, Cody. Another new book, and I’ll bet you and Grandma can read it at bedtime,” she said, smiling at Nick.

Cody looked at his grandmother who nodded. “Of course, we will,” she said.

They spent the next thirty minutes talking until Claire stood. “I’m guessing Nick has some dinner reservations somewhere.”

Nick came to his feet and picked up Cody. “Be a good kid tonight and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Cody hugged him and kissed Nick’s cheek. “Thank you for the book.”

“You’re very welcome. We’ll read it in the morning.” Nick hugged him and kissed his cheek. He carried him to the door to hug him one more time before setting him down.

Nick escorted Claire to the passenger side of his car, then got in and drove out of her neighborhood.

“You look gorgeous. I didn’t tell you back there, but that’s what I was thinking,” he said, keeping his attention on the road, but remembering clearly the impact she’d had when she stepped into the doorway. She had always dazzled him, from the first moment at the cocktail party where he met her, but she seemed to have more of an effect on him now that she was several years older.

“Thank you,” she said. “You look very handsome yourself. I suspect you’ll win most of the female votes the next time you run.”

He smiled. “I hope my looks aren’t the basis of votes,” he said.

Nick drove to a tall hotel with sparkling Christmas lights strung over the wide entrance. He stopped in the drive to let the engine idle while he turned to her. “This is my hotel. How about dinner in my room where we can be free to talk about possibilities and what we can do to share Cody? I don’t want to be in a restaurant. This could get emotional, Claire.”

She had to agree, but reluctance filled her because her life was going to change again.

Eleven

Claire’s heart beat faster as she nodded. “As long as it’s just dinner and conversation, Nick. Nothing else. I can’t keep...” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words making love, not when they conjured hot images of a naked Nick. “I just want to hear your suggestions, see what we can work out for Cody and then go home.”

“I’ve ordered dinner from a restaurant and they should have it in about half an hour. I got lobster for you, steak for me—how’s that?”

“Excellent choices,” she said, wondering if tonight would be another heartbreak. She was going to have to share Cody with Nick and she dreaded what he might propose.

Driving to the door, Nick gave the valet his keys and took Claire’s arm to enter the hotel and take an elevator to his suite on the top floor. “I got you a little Christmas present,” he said, unlocking the door. Barely aware of her elegant surroundings as Nick took her coat and slipped his off, she saw a small rosemary plant decorated as a Christmas tree in the center of a glass table by the sofa. One present was tucked into the branches, a small box wrapped in shiny red paper and tied with silver ribbon.

“The Christmas tree is mine, not the hotel’s. The present is for you, but before you open it, let’s talk,” he said while she looked into his thickly lashed blue eyes, which could make her heartbeat quicken with just a glance. Her gaze drifted to his mouth and she drew a deep breath. Could she get through this evening without succumbing to his kisses? Or without getting emotional and crying?

He cleared his throat before he began, and for a moment she thought he looked nervous. “First, I’ve had time to think about us. The week with you and Cody at the ranch was special.” He stepped closer to place his hands on her waist. She could have sworn he was trembling. Then he said the words she thought she’d never hear him speak again. The words she dreaded now.

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