36 Hours Serial

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Nine Months Part 2

Paige Summers’s life hasn’t been the same since she started her new job—and accidentally had sex with her boss during the night of the storm! She's always wanted a baby, and J. L. Montgomery might be the perfect husband and father—if he loves her.

Jared is used to getting what he wants, so he can’t understand Paige’s reluctance to marry him. Is she just a gold digger hoping to make him want her more by playing it cool? Or the most independent—and sexy—woman he’s ever met?

What will it take for Jared to see Paige as more than an acquisition, and for Paige to get her elevator cowboy back?

The story concludes in Nine Months Part 3.

Dear Reader,

In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

Welcome to Mills & Boon exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

Join Mills & Boon E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

Happy reading!

About the Author

Movies fascinated Beverly Barton from an early age, and by the time she was seven she was rewriting the movies she saw to give them all happy endings. After her marriage and the births of her children, Beverly continued to be a voracious reader and a devoted moviegoer, but she put her writing aspirations on hold. Now, after writing over seventy books, receiving numerous awards and becoming a New York Times bestselling author, Beverly's career has become her dream come true.

Nine Months Part 2
Beverly Barton

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Contents

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Who knew that one brief encounter could leave such a lasting impression? Being stuck in an elevator with a gorgeous cowboy could do that to a woman. With the storm raging outside, and not knowing if this would be their last night on earth, it was no wonder they got hot and heavy. So what are the odds that he’d turn out to be her boss? Awkward! Even worse than facing him in the office each day, knowing that he’s seen her naked, is the fact that Paige soon discovers that she’s having his baby. Paige Summers would marry Jared in a heartbeat—if only he loved her. Too bad that Jared Montgomery doesn’t believe in love.

Chapter Four

Paige Summers couldn’t wait to get to her parents’ home on Juniper Lane, a neat two-story frame they’d bought shortly after her father’s retirement. She’d show her mother the sonogram pictures before dinner, and then afterward, they’d watch the video. Accepting the fact that his unmarried daughter was pregnant was difficult for her father, but he loved her and she knew she could count on his support during the months and years ahead. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to bring herself to tell him that she’d gotten pregnant by a stranger the night of the horrible June rainstorm when she’d been trapped in the Wellman Building elevator. Walt Summers was far too old-fashioned. If he had any idea about the identity of the man who had fathered Paige’s child, he’d go after the guy with a shotgun.

Paige giggled when she pictured her father holding a shotgun on L. J. Montgomery and demanding the man marry his daughter. But the image of her walking down the aisle with Jared quickly wiped the smile off her face. Nothing short of a wedding would satisfy her father or Jared.

If circumstances were different, if Paige thought there was a chance Jared might learn to love her and accept her for the woman she was, she’d willingly marry her baby’s father. If they loved each other, they could find a way to overcome their many differences. But any man who could map out his personal life the way he planned his business ventures wasn’t capable of real love. If Jared loved her, he wouldn’t be so concerned about her being such an unsuitable mate.

And even if she loved Jared—and that was a big if—her romantic heart would wither and die without having her love returned in full measure. Her soul needed a soul mate. Although she couldn’t deny that she was physically attracted to Jared, that she found him downright irresistible, she wasn’t sure whether what she felt for him was just infatuation or real love.

Perhaps she had been trying to convince herself that she’d fallen in love with Jared at first sight because loving him would justify her pregnancy. After all, what woman would want to admit that she’d done something so monumentally foolish for any other reason than love?

Maybe she had fallen for the cowboy stranger she’d made love with in the elevator, but L. J. Montgomery was a different man. He was her boss! How could she possibly love someone so domineering and arrogant?

She turned her white Chevy Malibu into her parents’ drive, directly behind her brother Austen’s mud-splattered Chevy pickup. The front porch light shone brightly, casting a creamy glow over the wide front yard filled with neatly trimmed shrubs and barren flower beds. Paige dropped her keys into her shoulder bag, double-checked the zippered side pouch to make sure the sonogram pictures and video were still there and got out of the car.

The moment she opened the door, the cool October wind chilled her to the bone. Adjusting her shoulder bag, Paige buttoned her wool jacket before she hurried up the drive and onto the porch.

Apparently her mother had been watching for her. Dora Summers flung open the front door, reached out and pulled Paige inside, then closed the door quietly.

“Mama—”

“Shh!” Dora put a finger to her lips, then yanked Paige into a corner of the foyer. “He’s here!”

“Who’s here?” Paige asked.

“Him.”

“Mama, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Who’s here?”

“Your fiancé, of course.”

“My what?”

“L. J. Montgomery,” Dora replied, her brown eyes huge as saucers. “Your daddy was fit to be tied when he told us that he was your baby’s father—”

“He did what?”

“But it’s all right now. The minute he showed us the diamond ring he’s going to give you and told your daddy that he wanted to ask his permission before y’all made it official, Walt’s attitude changed completely. Land sakes, they’re in the den now with Austen, the three of them talking about football and skiing and the army. You know, all that man stuff.”

Paige had noticed over the years that whenever her mother got excited, her Mississippi accent became more pronounced. And Dora was quite excited now. Happily excited. But why shouldn’t she be? Why shouldn’t her entire family be delighted? After all, they’d been told that their unmarried, pregnant daughter was engaged to one of the wealthiest men in the Southwest.

She should have known that Jared wouldn’t abide by their agreement and let her handle their situation. He was too accustomed to being in charge, to issuing orders and having them instantly obeyed. He planned and arranged every element of his life to his liking. He didn’t leave any room for other people’s feelings, other people’s hopes and dreams.

He had screwed up his precisely made plans for the future, but he was adapting quickly, altering his plans to include a wife and child, neither of whom he loved or wanted. He was so determined to have his own way that he didn’t care what she wanted. And he was in the den with her father and brother right now, cleaning up the mess he’d created four months ago.

Paige hung her bag on the pine coat tree, then removed her jacket and hung it over her purse. “He’s not going to get away with this,” she murmured.

“What did you say?” her mother asked.

“Nothing, Mama. Just muttering to myself.” Paige wrapped her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “How long has Jared been here?”

“About an hour, dear. A taxi brought him. And Mr. Montgomery…I mean Jared…he told us to call him Jared. Well, anyway, he brought flowers and wine and told us who he was and that you had invited him to join us for dinner.” Dora slipped her arm around Paige’s waist. “Why on earth didn’t you tell us about Jared, that the two of you were planning to get married?”

“Because I haven’t agreed to marry him.”

“Why on earth not?”

“Because he doesn’t love me, Mama. He just wants to marry me because of the baby.”

“Well, in my day, that was a darn good reason.”

Paige had never heard her sweet, gentle mother say a curse word, no matter how angry or upset she became. Dora Elkins Summers was a sparkling ember from the dying fire of Southern gentility.

“Mama, please. I’m going to need you to be on my side.” Paige grasped her mother’s hands. “I know Daddy will want me to marry Jared, no matter what. But I can’t.”

“Don’t you love him, Paige?”

She looked into her mother’s dear, worried face and accepted defeat. Temporary defeat. After this little family dinner party ended, she was going to get Mr. Wonderful Future Son-in-law alone and give him a piece of her mind. When she got through with him, he would be sorry he’d ever tried to get the best of her.

“Jared Montgomery wouldn’t be an easy man to love. You can’t imagine how infuriating he can be. Half the time he acts like an infuriating jerk.”

“Oh, sweetie, he’s a man. Most of them are like that. Being infuriating is a male trait.” Clasping Paige’s hand, Dora tugged gently, urging her daughter to follow her. “Let’s go on in. We all heard your car drive up, but I told them I needed a few minutes alone with you for mother-daughter time.”

“Thanks, Mama.” Paige plastered a phony smile on her face, tilted her chin high, squeezed her mother’s hand, and together they paraded into the den.

“There you are, sweetheart.” Walt Summers held his arms open.

Paige caught a glimpse of Jared standing near the rock fireplace beside Austen, but she didn’t glance his way. Instead she rushed into her father’s arms.

“We’ve been getting to know your Jared.” Walt gave Paige a bear hug, then released her.

“So Mama told me,” she said.

Paige’s heart sank when she saw her father’s broad smile. Dammit! He liked Jared. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Jared wasn’t supposed to be here.

Without any warning, Jared slid his arm around Paige’s waist and drew her to his side. He nuzzled her ear. She shivered. “Honey, I hope you aren’t upset with me for showing your folks your engagement ring and springing our good news on them before you got home.”

Smiling politely, her jaws aching from the effort, she patted Jared’s cheek, barely refraining herself from slapping him. “Why, no, darling, how could I ever be upset with you when your every thought is of what’s best for me.”

“I knew you’d understand why I decided that I should be the one to introduce myself and assure your parents that I’m going to take very good care of their little girl.”

“Isn’t this just too wonderful for words?” Dora wiped the tears from her eyes with the edge of her gingham apron. “And to think how worried we’ve all been.”

“Now, now, all’s well that ends well.” Walt cleared his throat. “Mama, why don’t you and Austen and I go on out in the kitchen and leave these two lovebirds alone? I’m sure Paige is dying to get a look at that ring.”

“No!” Paige cried out. “Don’t go.” When everyone stared at her, their eyes questioning her plea, she took a deep breath. “I mean, why don’t we go ahead and have dinner. Jared and I plan to go back to my apartment later and discuss our future.”

Short, stocky, seventeen-year-old Austen slapped Jared on the back. “Hey, man, if she had any idea of the size of that rock, she’d want it on her finger right this minute. Why don’t you show it to her?”

“Good idea.” Jared pulled a velvet box out of his coat pocket, flipped open the lid and held it up in front of Paige. “The moment I saw it, I knew it was meant for my future wife.”

Paige gasped. Oh, my God! He had to be kidding? The emerald-cut diamond sparkled like a star. A large star. Maybe this ring was meant for his future wife, but not for her. He hadn’t been thinking of her when he’d chosen the diamond; he’d been thinking of what was suitable for L. J. Montgomery’s fiancée.

“She’s speechless,” Austen said. “See, what’d I tell you? Hey, sis, I bet you never thought you’d ever be wearing a perfect six-carat diamond, did you?”

Paige swallowed. “No. Not ever.” If Jared’s intention had been to dazzle her, he had succeeded. Indeed, he seemed to have dazzled her whole family. But if his intention had been to please her, he had failed miserably.

While she stared at the diamond, totally mesmerized, Jared removed it from its velvet bed. “Let’s make it official, honey.” He lifted her hand, slipped the ring on the third finger of her left hand and brought her hand to his lips.

Paige tugged on her hand, trying to remove it from his grasp. He tightened his hold, then kissed the knuckle on her ring finger. She bit down on her bottom lip, whether in an effort not to cry or not to spit in his eye, she wasn’t sure.

“Let’s open that bottle of wine Jared brought and make a toast to the happy couple,” Walt said.

* * *

Three-and-a-half hours later, Paige unlocked her apartment, opened the door and flipped on the light switch. She wasn’t sure how she had managed to spend the entire evening at her parents’ home and endure the drive back into town alone with Jared, without strangling the man. She had counted to ten a least a dozen times.

God, he was such a manipulator. She could hear him now.

“Austen, whenever you or Bryant want to take a few friends to Aspen, you’re welcome to use my condo.”

“Wow, man, thanks!” Austen had been duly impressed.

“And, Walt, I’d really appreciate your including me in your plans the next time you and your boys go hunting,” Jared had said.

After dinner he’d raved to her mother. “Mrs. Summers, that was the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. And the peach cobbler was delicious.”

The minute they’d gotten into her car, she’d warned him not to say one word to her. “I can’t drive and chew your ass out at the same time.”

“Tsk-tsk, honey,” he’d said. “Your mother wouldn’t approve of your being mean to me, would she?”

Paige had given him an evil glare. He’d grinned, but he had shut up and remained silent all the way into Grand Springs.

Jared walked into Paige’s apartment behind her, closed the door and casually crossed his arms over his chest. “I like your family,” he said. “They’re good people.”

“Yes, you’re right, they are good people. And I don’t appreciate the way you manipulated them tonight.”

“And just exactly how did I manipulate them?”

“You know damn well how.” Paige laid her shoulder bag on the coffee table. “You invited yourself to dinner when you knew I didn’t want you there. You told my parents that you’re the father of my child and that we’re going to get married.”

“I am the father of your child. And sooner or later, you are going to marry me.”

Crinkling her face into a disgusted frown, Paige threw up her hands and screeched. “I am not going to marry you. I thought I made that perfectly clear this morning. And I thought you agreed.” Paige removed her jacket and flung it on a nearby chair.

“What you made perfectly clear this morning was that I had to take some drastic measures to persuade you that marrying me is the best thing for you and our child.”

“It isn’t going to work, you know.” She kicked off her heels and slumped down onto the sofa. “Just because you charmed my family and put this—” she held up her right hand “—expensive ring on my finger, does not mean you’ve won.” She jerked off the ring and held it out to him. “Here, take this thing to the jeweler’s and get your money back. A ring like this isn’t my style, anyway.”

Glancing down at the ring lying in her palm, Jared shrugged. “Well, that ring—” he nodded to the perfect six-carat diamond “—is my style, and it’s exactly what my fiancée would wear. So, you’re going to keep it. Besides, if you don’t keep the ring, you’re going to find it difficult to explain to your parents why you gave it back to me. After all, I’m their grandchild’s father, and I’m more than willing to make an honest woman of you.”

“I understand now why you’re so successful.” Paige glared at him. He grinned. Damn the man! Damn him for making her stomach do evil flip-flops every time he smiled at her. “You’re manipulative and underhanded and conniving and deceitful and ruthless.” She laid the ring on a brass coaster on the end table.

Uncrossing his arms, Jared strolled across the room toward the sofa. “You forgot to mention ‘determined.’ I never give up until I get what I want.” He sat down beside her, trapping her between him and the sofa arm.

She tried to get up; he held her down. “You can’t force me to marry you,” she said.

He pulled her into his arms. “No, but I think I can persuade you.” When he tried to kiss her, she thrashed around, twisting her head from side to side.

Laughing, Jared released her and leaned his head back against the sofa. “You don’t want to disappoint your parents, Paige. They’re the kind of people who expect their daughter to be married when she has a child.”

“I know what my parents expect,” she said. “But they wouldn’t think I was going to marry you if you hadn’t lied to them.”

“Look, I like your parents. I wouldn’t intentionally hurt them. They’re warm, loving people and I envy you the life you must have had growing up in such a caring, supportive environment.”

“I’m very lucky.”

“Yes, you are. My parents were always too busy for me when I was a kid. My father didn’t have time for anything except working and chasing women. And my mother didn’t have time for anything except her social obligations.”

“I’m sorry, Jared, you must have been a lonely little boy. Were you an only child?”

“Yep, I was the only heir to the throne. But don’t feel sorry for me. I had everything money could buy.”

Paige glanced over at her purse lying on the coffee table and thought about the sonogram pictures and video. Her family had been so excited about her “engagement,” she’d never had a chance to bring out the sonogram results. How would he feel if she told him about his child? If she did, maybe he wouldn’t be so eager to marry her. “You want a son, don’t you? An heir for all your millions.”

“Of course that’s what I want. It’s what every man wants.”

“You won’t get what you want if you marry me. I’m totally unsuitable to be L. J. Montgomery’s wife. You said so yourself. You need to follow through with your five-year plan and find another woman to give you a son. You see—” she looked him straight in the eye “—the baby I’m carrying is a girl.”

“A girl?” he asked. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I had the sonogram today. Remember? I’m going to have a daughter, not a son.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

Jared had never for one minute considered the possibility that he might have fathered a girl. Hell, he’d never even thought about having a daughter. He had planned for a son. He had also planned to wait another five years to marry and produce an heir. But Paige Summers had changed his plan. He was going to marry now, instead of in five years. He was going to have to mold Paige into the kind of wife he wanted and needed, instead of choosing someone already suitable. And he was going to have a daughter and not a son.

“Well, I suppose things have a way of working out, don’t they? You want a son,” Paige said. “I’m having a daughter. So, I’ll have my little girl and one day you’ll marry someone else and she’ll give you a boy.

“I’ll explain to my parents that we reconsidered marrying just for the sake of the baby and decided not to trap ourselves in a loveless marriage. I know my father will be disappointed, but in time, he’ll understand. And my mother will—”

Jared grabbed her shoulders and kissed her soundly. She was too startled at first to resist, and by the time she realized what he was doing, he ended the kiss and stared at her, a self-satisfied smile on his face.

“Little girls adore their fathers, don’t they,” Jared said, a dreamy look in his eyes. “You adore yours. I could tell tonight that you’ve got him wrapped around your little finger.”

“Yes, I adore my father,” she agreed. “But what does that fact have to do with anything?”

“I was just wondering if my little girl will adore me.” He had sworn that no woman would wrap him around her little finger, not ever again. But a man’s daughter—his own child—was something entirely different. He sort of liked the idea of doting on his child.

“You don’t want a little girl. Remember? You want a son. Someone to fill your shoes when you’re gone.” Paige didn’t like the way Jared was smiling, all goofy and soft and silly, as if he’d been hit in the head.

“The more I think about having a daughter, the better I like the idea.” Yes, sir, he couldn’t think of anything nicer than having a little redheaded toddler in a frilly dress put her arms around his neck and call him Daddy. There wasn’t anything in this whole wide world he wouldn’t do for his little angel. He’d give her the world. Hell, he’d buy her the moon and the stars!

“But—but you said you wanted a son, that you’d planned for a son!” Dammit, she was not going to let him do an about-face on this issue. How could a man, who had his whole life mapped out in detail, adapt to so many changes so quickly?

“Maybe we’ll have a boy next time.” Jared ran his hand down her arm, over her waist and across her stomach. He caressed the tiny bulge. “Let’s name her Angel.”

“What?” Paige grabbed his hand and tried to lift it off her stomach.

Clasping her hand, he draped her arm around his neck. “Well, if you don’t like Angel, I suppose we could name her Angelica or Angela or—”

“What do mean we’ll have a boy next time?”

“You don’t want our Angel to be an only child, do you?” Jared lifted Paige’s other arm and draped it over his shoulder so that her hands overlapped across his neck. “If this marriage thing between us works out, I’m sure we’ll both want more children.”

If this marriage thing works out! “There isn’t going to be any marriage thing between us. We aren’t in love. No love. No marriage. We can’t give a child the kind of family life I had because we don’t love each other the way my parents do. And that’s what I want. I’m not going to settle for anything less!”

“Why are you being so stubborn, honey?” Jared drew her into his arms. “You’re just making things more difficult for yourself. I’m not going to give up. And in the end, I’ll get what I want.”

He was too close, far too close for comfort. Her heartbeat roared in her ears. Her stomach churned. Her nipples tightened. “I’m not what you want. Remember your five-year plan? I’m the woman who messed up everything for you. You want a suitable wife and a son, not me and my baby girl.”

He nuzzled her neck. Paige moaned. He ran the back of his thumb across her lower lip. She sighed.

“But I do want you and our little girl. We can have a son later. And as far as your not being suitable, we can work on that. You’re young and bright and lovely. With the proper tutor, you can learn how to be the perfect wife for me.”

Before she could utter a word of protest, Jared covered her lips with his. Her mind warned her to fight, but her body melted against his and she returned his kiss with equal fervor. Every time he touched her, she fell to pieces. It just wasn’t fair that she had no control over her response to him. This wild, crazy passion between them was what had gotten her into trouble in the first place.

Breaking away, she shoved against his chest. “No! I can’t do this. I can’t let you seduce me into agreeing to marry you.”

Paige jumped up off the sofa. “Go home, Jared. Please. Go home and leave me alone. I can’t think straight when you’re around. Every time you get near me I either get so angry I want to strangle you or I get so…so—”

“Aroused?” he offered her a suitable word.

“Yes, all right, damn you. I get so aroused that I’m tempted to…to do what we did in the elevator.”

“Make love?”

“Have sex.”

Jared stood, picked up the diamond from the end table and reached out for Paige’s hand. She tried to avoid his touch, but he grabbed her hand, slid the ring on quickly and folded her fingers over into a loose fist.

“Marriages have succeeded on a lot less than fantastic sex. Just think about what it could be like for us, honey. Sleeping in the same bed every night. Setting the sheets on fire every time we make love.”

Paige stood in the middle of her living room and watched Jared open the door and walk out. He didn’t look back or even say goodbye. When he disappeared from sight, she rushed over and slammed the door closed, then locked it.

She shook from head to toe. Why did she let him get to her that way? Because you’re probably in love with him and you don’t want to be.

Paige held out her hand. Jared’s big diamond twinkled brightly, as if it were winking at her. She dragged the ring to the tip of her finger, then stopped and slid it back into place. She’d wear it, just for tonight. It was beautiful. And it fit her finger perfectly. If only it were a symbol of Jared’s love, instead of an emblem of his victory. If only he had chosen it specifically for her and not for the future Mrs. L. J. Montgomery.

Tomorrow, she promised herself, she’d give the ring back to him.

Chapter Five

Paige arrived at work early, put on a fresh pot of coffee in the employees’ lounge and began her daily routine. She had gone over what she wanted to say to Jared at least a dozen times, determined to get through to him this time and make him understand her point of view. But the very thought of another confrontation with him twisted her stomach into knots. To be totally honest, the very thought of being alone with him in his office unnerved her. Every time they were alone, sparks flew. The same highly charged, sexual sparks that had ignited a forest fire between them four months ago in the elevator threatened to set them afire again.

Paige had to admit that she was tempted to accept Jared’s proposal. Marrying him definitely would solve all her immediate problems. And he’d been right about the fantastic sex. Every time he touched her, it took all her willpower not to crawl all over him. And he certainly never tried to hide the fact that he wanted her. He’d even said that just hearing her voice over the phone aroused him. But Paige knew herself too well. Great sex might be enough to hold their marriage together for a while, but sooner or later, she’d want more. If Jared couldn’t give her the love and unconditional acceptance she needed, she could never be happy with him. And when Jared realized that he couldn’t transform her into the perfect wife, he’d know what a mistake their marriage had been.

No, she couldn’t marry him. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them and certainly not to their little girl. Angel, he’d called her. Or Angelica or Angela. Damn him for acting as if he were enchanted with the thought of having a daughter. Little girls adore their fathers, don’t they?

Paige shook her head, trying to dislodge the image of a little redheaded girl sitting in Jared’s lap, looking up at him with green eyes identical to his and saying, “Daddy, please. I really, really want a puppy.”

“Good morning. You’re here bright and early.” Kay Thompson stood in the open doorway of Paige’s office.

Glancing up from her desk, Paige smiled at her friend. “You’re here early yourself. It’s barely eight-thirty.”

“I called your apartment and got your answering machine, so I assumed I’d find you here.” Kay walked in and sat down in a leather chair across from Paige’s desk. “Let’s see it.”

“See what?”

“The diamond L.J. gave you last night.”

“How did you know? Who told you?”

“The boss man himself called me last night, after he left your apartment,” Kay said.

“He called you? Why? What did he say?”

“He said that since you and I were friends, he needed my help in persuading you to marry him.”

“I cannot believe he tried to enlist your help.” But she could believe it. She could believe he was capable of doing just about anything in order to get his own way. Jared was arrogant, self-centered and demanding. But he also had an old-fashioned sense of honor that dictated his actions.

“Show me the ring,” Kay said, repeating her request. “You are wearing it, aren’t you?”

Paige laid her left hand on the desk. “I’m giving it back to him as soon as he comes in this morning. I tried to give it back to him last night, but he wouldn’t take it. He’s very forceful and very persuasive.”

“So I’ve heard. Greg has told me that L.J. never loses. He’s so single-minded and determined that he won’t give up when he wants something.” Rising out of the chair, Kay leaned over and looked at Paige’s engagement ring. She let out a long, low whistle. “That’s the reason he was able to start his own business, straight out of college, and in fifteen years’ time become a multimillionaire in his own right.”

“I’m not going to marry him.” Closing her fingers over her palm, Paige swept her hand off the desk and onto her lap.

“Why ever not? He’s gorgeous, rich, charming and obviously wild about you.” Kay glanced meaningfully at Paige’s tummy. “And you are pregnant with his child.”

“He doesn’t love me.” Paige lifted a pencil off a stack of file folders and repeatedly tapped the edge of her desk.

“What makes you think he doesn’t love you?”

“He told me he didn’t.” Gripping the pencil in her hand, Paige rubbed her thumb up and down the smooth wood surface. “L. J. Montgomery doesn’t believe in love. He never planned to marry for love. Besides, if he loved me, he wouldn’t want to change me into his idea of a perfect wife. He’d accept me for exactly who I am. I tried to change myself for Keith and he dumped me for someone else. Someone more suitable. Believe me, I learned my lesson. I’ll never try to be someone I’m not.”

“Oh, Paige. You poor little romantic fool.” Kay sighed dramatically. “Millions of people marry for love, and what does it get them? Half those love matches end in divorce, like mine did. L.J. is offering you something better than love. He’s offering you a lifetime of security. For you and your baby.”

“It’s not enough. Call me a romantic fool if you want to. Maybe I am. But I grew up with two parents who, after nearly thirty years of marriage, are still deeply in love. That kind of relationship is what I’ve wanted all my life. Jared sees me and this baby—” Paige circled her palm over her tummy “—as a mistake he has to correct. He wants to marry me for the baby’s sake and then make me over to suit his idea of a perfect wife.”

“So, you’ve made up your mind not to marry him?”

“I have. Now all I have to do is convince Jared that I mean what I say.” Paige snapped the pencil in two, then threw the halves into the wastebasket.

“You may be fighting a losing battle.” Kay gazed sympathetically at Paige. “After all, let’s face it—what woman could resist L. J. Montgomery indefinitely? Especially a woman who’s already halfway in love with him. And you are, aren’t you?”

Before Paige could reply, someone knocked loudly on the door. Paige jumped. Gasping, Kay jerked around in her chair.

“‘Morning, ladies.” A clean-cut young man stood in the doorway holding a vase filled with a large number of red roses. “I’m looking for a Paige Summers. These are for her.”

“Bring them in here, sonny,” Kay said. “This—” she pointed at Paige “—is Ms. Summers.”

“Where do you want them, ma’am?” he asked.

“Just put them here on my desk,” Paige said.

The minute the deliveryman left, Kay snatched up the attached card, opened it and handed it to Paige. “So, what does it say?”

Paige read aloud. “Marry me.”

Fingering the petals on the long-stemmed beauties as she silently counted them, Kay sighed. “You’ve got to give Jared credit. The man knows all the tricks. What woman doesn’t love red roses. And two dozen!”

“This is a perfect example of how little Jared knows me,” Paige said. “He chose red roses for his ideal fiancée, but I prefer white roses. If he cared about me, truly cared, he’d bother to find out who I am and what I like.”

Greg Addison marched into Paige’s office, followed by a young woman wearing brown slacks and matching shirt, the emblem of a local delivery service stitched on her shirt pocket. She carried two boxes wrapped in pink paper and tied with white ribbon.

“So the campaign begins.” Greg eyed the roses, then pointed to Paige. “There she is. The beautiful redhead behind the desk is Ms. Summers.”

The deliverywoman asked Paige to sign for the two items, then as soon as that requirement was out of the way, she handed the gifts to Paige and left.

Paige stared at the boxes, knowing that Jared had sent them. Flowers. Gifts. What next? she wondered.

“Go ahead and open them,” Greg said. “I’m eager to see what the father-to-be has sent the mother-to-be.”

Paige glared at Greg. “How did you know? No, no, don’t tell me. Jared shared the news about our blessed event with you, too, didn’t he.”

“Yep. He came by my apartment last night and confessed all.” Shaking his head, Greg clicked his tongue. “My, my, Ms. Summers, you amaze me. You, a lowly working girl, have accomplished what every wealthy debutante and society maid in two dozen states have failed to accomplish. You’ve brought the great man to his knees.”

“Quit being such a jerk,” Kay said. “She didn’t get pregnant by herself, you know.”

Paige gasped, amazed that Kay would speak to her boss in such a way.

“The woman knows I won’t fire her,” Greg said. “I can’t get along without her. She knows more about Montgomery Real Estate and Land Development than I do. And I’m sorry, Paige, if what I said offended you. I didn’t mean it that way. You’ll have to pardon me if I find this whole situation rather amusing and if I milk it for all it’s worth.”

“I’m afraid I fail to find the humor in all this, Mr. Addison,” Paige said.

“Greg has a rather warped sense of humor.” Kay stood, slipped her arm through Greg’s and nodded toward the open door. “Why don’t we leave Paige alone and let her open her gifts?”

“Is it true that you turned down his marriage proposal?” Greg asked.

“Yes.” Paige wondered who else Jared had shared their little secret with. Had he taken out an ad in the paper?

“Then be prepared,” Greg told her. “He’s mounting a full-fledged attack. L.J. is a man with a mission, and you, little lady, have no idea what you’re in for. I’ve seen him in action before. He always gets what he wants, and he wants you.”

“Come on, doomsayer. Paige needs time to open her gifts and collect her thoughts before the man in question arrives.” Kay led Greg toward the door. “She’s giving him his ring back as soon as he comes in.”

“I’d give a month’s salary to see that,” Greg said.

Kay closed the door on her way out, leaving Paige alone, staring at the two pink boxes. Go ahead and get it over with, she told herself. They’re gifts, not bombs. Maybe she shouldn’t open them. Maybe she should just return them to him still prettily wrapped when she gave him back his ring.

Reaching out hesitantly, she ran her finger over the satin ribbon on the larger box. What sort of presents had Jared sent? Paige untied the ribbon, ripped off the paper and removed the lid. Beneath the pink tissue paper lay a white leather photo album. A handwritten note had been placed on top.

With trembling fingers, Paige picked up the note. For all the pictures we’re going to take of our little girl. Tears welled up in her eyes. She already had the first pictures of their baby—the sonogram pictures—and she hadn’t shared them with Jared.

Wiping her tears, Paige opened the second gift. Inside, a tiny silver spoon nestled against another note. After picking up the spoon, she saw the letter A engraved on the handle. She lifted the note. I’ve decided I like the name Angela. Do you?

What was she going to do with Jared Montgomery? How was she going to fight a man so determined to marry her, especially when she would not only be fighting Jared, but her own desires, too?

* * *

Smiling and self-confident, Jared breezed into Paige’s office at ten o’clock. “Good morning, honey.” He glanced at the roses on her desk. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? Bright sunshine, crisp autumn air, red roses for my favorite redhead and—”

“Jared, may I see you in your office right now?” Paige scooted back her chair, stood and walked around her desk.

“Did you get the gifts?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you. They’re both very nice. You must have gone to a lot of trouble to buy the roses and the gifts and have them delivered before business hours.” She nodded toward his closed office door.

“Money has its privileges.” Jared opened the door, stood back and waited for her to enter first. The minute she was inside his office, he closed and locked the door. “I assume you want our conversation to be private.”

“Yes. Although I don’t know why. We don’t seem to have any secrets from Kay and Greg. For all I know everyone else at Montgomery’s knows that I’m pregnant with your child.”

“I didn’t tell anyone else. Did you?” Slipping his arm around her waist, he drew her close, lowered his head and covered her mouth with his.

She wanted to lose herself in the kiss, wanted to forget the reason she’d asked for this private audience with Jared. For one brief instant, she allowed herself to enjoy the kiss. She even responded. But as quickly as she’d succumbed to the temptation, she fought it, pulling back and shoving forcefully against his chest.

“We cannot solve all our problems this way,” she said breathlessly. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work. I will not allow you to cloud my mind with passion.”

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