Strictly Professional (14 page)

She laid her head back on his chest. “Do you want to tell me about her?”

A soft chuckle rumbled under her cheek. “Curious?”

“You know all about my sordid past with Tony.” Her shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I really don’t know much about you and I figured after what we just shared, I should know a little more than that you have a brother and two sisters and your parents own a place in Montana.”

After several minutes he started to talk while he trailed his hand down her arm. “I met Rachel during my residency in New York. She was used to the finer things in life. Her family owns a condo on Central Park.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Anyway, we dated for about a year and when I was offered the position here in Tennessee, she refused to move with me. She didn’t want any part of ‘hick country’ as she put it. She hated when I rode rodeo on the weekends. I moved here. She stayed in New York.”

She frowned.
I’d almost forgotten how much of a cowboy he is.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”

“Over a year.”

“You’ve been in Tennessee for quite a while, then”

“Yep.”

“How often do you ride rodeo?”

“Every chance I get. I love to ride. Someday I want a place of my own to raise horses and cattle—a big place.”

Her hand stopped the slow caress of his chest.

The last thing I want is a cowboy. Or do I?

She pushed herself up and swung her legs over the side of the bed before she grabbed her bathrobe lying over the chair.

“Savannah?”

She stood and cinched the belt tight. “I’m going to make some coffee.” Without a glance behind her, she headed for the kitchen. Methodically, she poured grounds into the basket on the coffee maker and put water in the carafe.

He slid his hands onto her shoulders and she fought the shiver that ran through her body with his touch. “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Forcing her to turn toward him, he put his finger under her chin and brought her face up so she’d have to look him in the eye.

At least he put his pants back on.

“Baby, come on. I can tell something’s bugging you.”

“I hardly know you and I just let you fuck me.”

“And? It’s not like I picked you up in a bar, Savannah.”

At least I wouldn’t feel like I’m half in love with you already if you had.

She snorted and said, “Might as well have.”

He dropped his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. “What’s gotten into you?”

Pulling her pride around her like a shield to guard her heart, she said, “Well maybe this morning will get me what I want since you didn’t want to buy into the whole baby-making thing.”

“Excuse me? You didn’t just say that.”

Tears burned the back of her eyelids, but she refused to cry. “Since we didn’t use any protection and I’m not on birth control,” she shrugged, “maybe it’ll happen without any planning on either of our parts. My parents will get their grandchild and I’ll at least know the father of my baby.”

He dropped his head back on his shoulders before leveling a molten stare on her and she had to fight the trepidation his look sent clear to her toes. His lips slashed into a firm line across his mouth and he planted his hands on his hip. “I guess you really are a bitch. Heaven help a child born between us because let me assure you of one thing. You’d have one hell of a fight on your hands for any child born with my genes.”

She gasped when his words rushed over her, but he’d already spun around and headed for the bedroom. A moment later, he came out fully dressed.

“I guess I’ll see you around.” His eyes narrowed. “Do let me know if you are pregnant and don’t try to keep it a secret, Savannah. Believe me, I’ll find out one way or another.”

With his parting words, he slammed out of her apartment. She sank onto the couch, curled into a ball, and cried.

* * * *

Brandon swung his leg over the saddle and settled himself comfortably. He loved the rodeo and his favorite event happened to be steer-wrestling. It helped that he did well whenever he competed. He ran his hand over the neck of the gelding under him to calm the restless animal.

“It’s okay, boy. We’ll be up shortly.”

The horse nickered and shifted.

“Do I need to get you back to your friend’s, big boy?”

“Hey, Brandon.”

He squinted against the glare of the sun before he recognized one of the guys he normally competed against. “Hey, Jack. How have you been? I haven’t seen you around much.”

“Broke my leg several weeks ago. Just got the cast off last Wednesday.”

“You ridin' today?”

“Nah. Just came to watch.” The other man’s gaze scanned the crowd. “Looks like a good crowd this weekend.”

“Yeah.” Brandon let his stare wander over the throng of people for a moment before it returned to Jack. “How’s your wife?”

“Oh, she’s good. Stayed home this weekend with the baby getting close and all.”

“When’s she due?”

“Next week.”

“Good she stayed home then. I really don’t feel like delivering a baby out here.”

Jack laughed. “At least we know we have a doctor in the house.”

Brandon smiled for a second, but when thoughts of Savannah possibly being pregnant drifted across his mind, his mouth turned down into a frown.

“Hey? You okay?”

His focus returned to his friend. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

“Next up, Brandon Cooper. Our very own hometown doctor come to try his luck steer-wrestling today. Let’s give it up, folks.”

The crowd cheered.

“I wish they wouldn’t say that.”

Jack laughed and Brandon kicked his horse to move into position behind the barrier. He backed him up and held his breath for a moment while he watched the steer in the roping shoot shift and paw at the dirt. His eyes narrowed and he nodded slightly to tell them to release the animal.

A second later, the steer shot out like a bullet with Brandon hot on his heels. The hazer kept the animal moving in the right direction and when Brandon got close enough, he leaned off his horse and grabbed the animal by the horns. He planted his booted heels in the dirt, making dust fly in every direction before he flipped the steer on its side. The buzzer sounded and Brandon let the animal go.

“Three point six seconds. Outstanding time. Let’s give the cowboy a hand, folks.”

Brandon picked up the hat he’d lost on the run, smacked it against his jeans to beat some of the dust off, and headed for the fence. He climbed over and landed on his feet with a thud.

“Hey, Brandon.”

He shielded his eyes and caught the sight of a shapely pair of legs encased in a tight set of jeans. His gaze traveled past a petite waist to large breasts almost spilling out of a pink blouse to red lips and then green eyes. “Hi. Do I know you?”

Her perfectly-arched eyebrow shot up and she cocked her head to the side. “No, but I’d like to get to know you.”

He smiled. “Well, now. That could be arranged. What’s your name, honey?”

“Melissa.”

“Mmm...Melissa, huh?”

“Yep.”

“How old are you, Melissa?”

“Old enough to buy beer.”

He let his gaze wander from her big hair, over her plump lips before it settled on her breasts, and then returned to her face.

“With fake ID, maybe.”

Her lips pursed and she frowned. “Got a problem with younger women?”

“Not usually, unless they turn out to be jail bait and you, honey, are jail bait.”

Her shoulders squared and she grumbled under her breath before she spun on her booted heels and disappeared into the crowd. Brandon shook his head and walked over to retrieve his horse from the handlers.

A tall, dark-haired woman standing near the fence caught his attention. Long legs peeks out beneath a jean skirt, slightly curling hair that hung down her back, and a trim waist.
Savannah?
His eyes narrowed and he willed the woman to turn around.

As if she sensed his gaze on her back, she turned and he sighed in disappointment. He shook his head and headed back to his truck.

* * * *

Savannah’s eyes widened when the words sank in. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m perfectly serious. It’s not like you don’t know how these things happen, Savannah. You are a physician, after all.”

“Well yes, but...”

“By my best guess, I’d say you are about eight weeks.”

This can’t be happening.
She closed her eyes and sighed.
God! I wasn’t serious when I said something about getting pregnant to Brandon!
She bit her lip.

“Are you okay?”

“No,” Savannah whispered.

A hand came down on her shoulder and she fought the tears brimming on her lashes.

“I take it this wasn’t planned?”

A dry chuckle left her lips. “Planned by whom? If you mean me—no. My parents? Yes.” She fought a hysterical laughter bubbling in her throat. “God! This is just perfect!”
I’m pregnant by a man who hates me.

“I’ll leave you now to get dressed. When you’re ready, meet me at the desk and I’ll give you your prescriptions and set up another appointment for a month from now.”

“Thanks, Mandy.”

“You’re welcome.” The physician patted her hand a moment. “It’ll be okay.” She wrapped her arms around Savannah and hugged her. “You’re going to have a baby and I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful mother.”

The door shut softly behind the other woman and tears rolled down Savannah’s cheeks. The last eight weeks since she’d slept with Brandon had been hell. They'd avoided each other like the plague at work, only talking when absolutely necessary. Every once in a while, she could feel his heated gaze on her flesh, but when she’d take the chance and look in his direction, he’d quickly look away.

One afternoon he’d come into the supply room where she was searching for a laceration kit to sew up a patient.

His voice sent shivers down her arms when he said, “Doctor Gibson.” A smirk rested on his lips as his gaze traveled down her body slowly then back to her face.

“Doctor Cooper.” She grabbed the package near her and moved to leave, but he stood in between her and the door. “Excuse me.”

He cocked an eyebrow before he stepped aside and let her pass. The scent of his cologne and the musk of Brandon sent her heart to her toes.

Now, she sat on the exam table and relived how he’d made her body sing for his when they’d made love. She couldn’t fault him. She was the one who had instigated the encounter, inviting him into the shower with her. Her nipples puckered when she remembered his mouth on them and how he had sucked her clit into his mouth—shit!