Sara Orwig – The Rancher's Secret Son (страница 1)
The moment his mouth touched hers, Claire felt the sparks she always had.
Nick’s arm tightened around her waist and his mouth pressed more firmly, opening hers as he really kissed her, a deep, sexy kiss that stopped her worrying and shut off memories of their past and the big problem she faced.
With her heart pounding, she clung to Nick and kissed him in return, knowing it was folly, but unable to stop. She was swept back in time, into memories of Nick’s steamy, passionate kisses that had stolen her heart so quickly—something she couldn’t let happen again.
When they moved apart, he was breathing as hard as she. His kiss had shaken her, igniting desire that burned through worry, but as she faced him again, his blue eyes filled with curiosity. Nick was an intelligent man and he had already picked up on something.
How would she tell him about his son?
* * *
The Rancher’s Secret Son is part of the Lone Star Legends series by
The Rancher’s Secret Son
Sara Orwig
SARA ORWIG lives in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere, from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.
With many thanks to Stacy Boyd, who made this book possible.
Also thank you to Maureen Walters, and with love to my family.
Contents
Nick Milan looked at the small white business card attached to the contract on his desk, and a shock ran through him. Just like last night, when he’d first seen it, he was shaken clear to his core.
“Claire Prentiss.”
Just saying the name brought a shadowy image to his mind. An image of a willowy, black-haired, brown-eyed beauty writhing in his arms. The mental picture tortured him, and he pushed the card to the back of his desk. It was almost time to meet his client for what should have been a routine real estate closing. With Claire as the broker, however, it would be far from routine.
The depth of his reaction to the prospect of seeing her again shocked him. It had been four years since he’d held her, four years since he’d been in love with her. Four years since she had rejected his marriage proposal and they’d gone their separate ways. For a long time after the bitter fight that had led to their breakup he’d been hurt and angry with Claire. But that was over. So, why was he still affected by the mere sight of her name?
Claire Prentiss was part of his past now, he tried telling himself. Out of his life for years. She was probably married with kids, helping her grandfather run his real estate agency and still using her maiden name because of business.
Judging by the way his hand shook as he turned his wrist to check his watch, he needed more convincing.
Nick picked up the contract and placed it in his briefcase, snapping it shut the way he wished he could shut out the painful memories of Claire. He had to now. He had work to do.
As he drove to his appointment, he forced himself to focus on the closing, which he wished now he had never agreed to do. But it was for a friend. Paul Smith had called late yesterday afternoon, suddenly deciding he needed his attorney present. Nick had agreed, not knowing Claire would be involved. Why would he? She was a Houston broker. What was she doing closing a deal in Dallas? His friend had sent the contract to Nick’s office immediately after the call, but Nick had been too busy to read it until evening which is why he’d taken it home with him. If it hadn’t been close to midnight and way too late for his friend to get another attorney, he would have backed out there and then.
He’d spent a sleepless night dreading this meeting and being tormented by memories that would best be forgotten.
In minutes he parked the car and stepped out into a chilly, brisk December wind that whipped through the tall buildings in downtown Dallas. Entering the lobby of one of the office towers, he met up with Paul and shook hands, swallowing the words he longed to say:
As they entered through the double glass doors, Bruce Jernigan, the agent who represented the buyer, came forward to meet them.
“If you gentlemen will come this way, we’ll get started. As you know, the seller was hospitalized and could not appear, so she has legal representation in her real estate broker.” He led them down a long corridor to the conference room, where he opened a door onto a room with dark wood paneling.
Nick’s gaze went to Claire instantly. Standing beside the table, she gripped it as her eyes widened and all color left her face. He realized she hadn’t known he would attend the meeting until this moment. While he wasn’t as shocked as Claire appeared to be, his insides clutched. He felt as if the breath had been punched from his lungs. As he approached and extended his hand, he couldn’t drag his eyes from her. At twenty-four she had been beautiful. Now she was breathtaking.
Regaining her poise, she pulled down the jacket of her tailored navy business suit, then shook his hand. “So, we meet again.” Her voice hid the tremble he felt in her fingers before she pulled away. “It’s nice to see you again, Nick. Mr. Jernigan had just started to tell me that the buyer was bringing an attorney. I had no idea it would be you.”
The moment their hands touched, he’d felt an electric current, another reaction that surprised him. Since losing Karen and their unborn baby two years ago, he had been numb around women, his heart shut away, even his physical urges flatlined. Until now. Seeing Claire elicited emotional and physical responses that shook him. He wanted neither of those reactions.
As he moved to a chair beside his client, his gaze roamed over Claire. Tall, with dark brown eyes and raven locks that fell to her shoulders, Claire looked more sophisticated than when he had known her years ago. He didn’t have to look at the label to know she wore a designer suit. When her jacket swung open as she sat, her waist looked as tiny as he remembered.
“Let’s get down to business.” Mr. Jernigan’s voice cut into his thoughts.
For the next half hour it was an effort to concentrate on business and not study Claire or let his thoughts drift to the past. He was grateful for a short break while they waited for copies to be made of various documents. He stepped out of the room to check with his office and take calls, then returned, walking to the table where Claire again stood.
When she reached for a glass, he picked up the water pitcher. She glanced up at him and he felt another electrifying tingle as her gaze met his. Smiling at her, he steadied her hand and poured her water, aware of his fingers over her warm, slender hand.
“Thank you,” she said.
“So, you’re still working at your grandfather’s agency,” Nick said, recalling how dedicated she had been to her family and assuming she still was. “Is he as active?”
She shook her head. “No, Grandpa’s had a heart attack and another little stroke. He had been grooming me to take over the agency for a long time, and I did so a couple of years ago.”
“It was a good thing you’re loyal and stuck with your family. How’s the business going?”
“Fine,” she said, smiling slightly. “I’m happy that the business has grown and we have a lot of good listings. I suppose your parents, especially your dad, are pleased with your legal and political career.”
“Yes, they are. Especially my dad. So you know I’m in the Texas legislature?”
“Yes. You do make the papers now and then,” she said, her cheeks getting slightly more rosy. Was she embarrassed for him to discover she had kept up with his career? He was pleased she had, even though he had always tried to push thoughts of her aside and to avoid knowing much about her.
“You look great,” he said, smiling at her, and she smiled in return, a cool smile, yet it sent another wave of longing crashing over him.
“Thank you. I’m sure you enjoy being a Texas State Representative. I know the Texas legislature isn’t in session until January, so do you live here in Dallas when you’re not in Austin?”
“Yes.” He glanced over her head to see everyone returning to the table and he knew soon they would be through and she would be gone.
He didn’t know what prompted the feeling, but he didn’t want to part. As he glanced back at her, her thickly lashed eyes were gazing at him, making his pulse quicken. Impulsively, he said, “Come to dinner with me tonight and we can catch up.”