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“Mostly, although I spent some time in New York City. That’s one of the reasons I needed to see you right away. Something has developed in my career.”
“Something good?”
“Absolutely. I think I mentioned a possible cosmetics contract last month when we were…well, in Monte Carlo. As soon as I returned, I found out that they want me to become their new image. I signed the contract two weeks ago to become ‘the girl next door,’ as they call it.” Jodie looked away and laughed mirthlessly, a sad sound against the soft crackle of the fire. “Some girl next door. Unless, of course, your neighbor is pregnant and unwed.”
“If you’ve already signed the contract, surely they’ll work with you on the ad campaign. Maybe change the timing or just show you from the chest up.”
Jodie shook her head. “It’s not that simple. The contract has a morality clause. I can’t do or say anything that will negatively impact myself or the company while I’m representing them. Keep in mind that I’m supposed to be the girl next door, not the jet-setting California tramp.”
Ouch. Becoming an unwed mother would probably violate the contract, even with the relaxed morality of big cities as opposed to small towns. “I see your problem.”
“It’s rather obvious, isn’t it? Without your cooperation, I can have my baby or I can have my career.” She leaned forward, holding the mug like a talisman. “Well, I want both.”
Travis took a deep breath. “I’ve tried being married, Jodie. I didn’t like it.”
“Tough. Look, I’m not asking you for eternal love and commitment. I’m asking for your name for our baby, your cooperation in a marriage. A temporary marriage. Perhaps make some appearances with me. Act happy over the baby, that sort of thing. I promise I won’t bother you all that much. After all, I’ll be pretty busy with my endorsements, assignments and other activities.”
“Not to mention the baby.”
“Of course. I meant, before the baby is actually born. My agent is quietly working on a deal with a maternity clothing line.”
“Sounds like you have it all planned out. Hell, this could be a great break for you.” He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice, but knew he failed. So what? Although life had handed her a basket of lemons, it sounded to him as if Jodie was making lemonade with great gusto. Or maybe she’d been “expecting” these lemons all along. Was he just another part of her plan?
“Everything seems to be coming together for you nicely. All you need is a husband, now that you have the new contract and a baby on the way.”
“I didn’t plan to get pregnant! I knew nothing about this ‘girl next door’ campaign the company has planned.”
His suspicions must have shown on his face. Travis shrugged. “Still, you got pregnant, and now you’re here, demanding my cooperation because of all your contracts and endorsements.”
“Hoping for your cooperation,” she interrupted, “so I can save my career and support this baby.”
“Whatever. All I know is that you claim to be having my baby, but I haven’t had any say in your plans.”
“This baby is affecting my career, not yours.”
“Don’t be so sure about that.”
“What do you mean?”
He leaned forward, facing her over the edge of the ottoman. “I mean that I live in a small community with traditional values. I don’t want my friends and neighbors thinking I’m an irresponsible man or a dead-beat dad. I don’t want them assuming I have indiscriminate affairs.”
“Oh, so now I’m to blame. I’m indiscriminate?” Her voice rose with the color on her cheeks.
“It takes two to tango, Jodie, and I remember both of us being involved. Look, I’m not saying you planned to get pregnant by me, but since you did, you’ve gone ahead and made a lot of assumptions. A lot of plans. In all fairness, I should be a part of your decisions.”
“I’m not asking for much, Travis. I need your cooperation in going through the ceremony, making a few appearances, that sort of thing.”
“And I need to be involved. You’ve had several weeks to think this through. The least you can do is give me several days.”
“I’m running out of time!”
“And I’m not running to the altar again until I’m sure about who I’m marrying and why!”
JODIE FELL BACK AGAINST the bed and threw her arm over her eyes, certain she wouldn’t be able to sleep even though Travis had suggested she “rest up” before dinner. Just as he’d strongly suggested she would stay with him rather than find a hotel somewhere.
She wished she could make the past five weeks go away as easily as she could shut her eyes and block out the gray Texas day. Or change just that one moment when she’d decided to step into the shower with Travis. She hadn’t given a thought to protection and apparently neither had he. And now they were both paying the price.
No, she shouldn’t think that. The baby was completely innocent. And Jodie realized she was already starting to have feelings for the tiny life, even though it was bad timing for a pregnancy.
In all honesty, she didn’t wish she’d never met Travis. Or fallen into his bed so easily. Or anything about that weekend—but she did wish they had been more careful. A baby hadn’t been part of her plans for the near future, despite the fact that she was getting to the age where she had to start seriously considering having children…or not. No, this wasn’t great timing, but then, Travis certainly had good genes to give to a child. He was tall, fit, muscular and intelligent, never mind gorgeous, and had a terrific personality. Otherwise she wouldn’t have fallen for him so quickly and completely.
He’d been a great guy, a fantastic lover. She’d seriously regretting leaving him on Monday to return home. He’d seemed equally sad that they’d had to part so soon.
But did he call? She shook her head. Not once. Of course, she hadn’t called him, either, despite the fact he’d left her with a card. Just in case, he’d said. They’d both agreed they weren’t looking for a relationship, just a brief fling. They’d known their lives weren’t compatible. He was Texas; she was California. He was laid-back in his established profession; she was hard-charging about her rising career.
Apparently her egg and his sperm hadn’t realized how incompatible they were outside the bedroom. The little critters had teamed up at the first chance to make a baby.
Jodie let her hand drift to her stomach. Somewhere inside a tiny life nestled, completely unconcerned about the problems of the two irresponsible adults. She couldn’t let her baby down. She’d make a darn good single mother. Of course, she’d allow Travis to have visitation if he wanted to be part of the child’s life. She wasn’t unreasonable. On the other hand, she wouldn’t push for money or anything else.
Her mother had provided a good home for her. Jodie planned to do the same for her baby. Her father hadn’t wanted to be part of their family and they hadn’t needed him—financially, emotionally or in any other way. Jodie had always believed that independence was the key to happiness.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. It took a moment for her to remember where she was—Travis’s guest bedroom. Because, as he’d explained, Ranger Springs had only a two-room bed-and-breakfast, which was probably full for the weekend. She’d never been in a town without several hotels and motels—and had certainly never thought about staying in one for a couple of days while Travis digested the fact that he was going to be a father.
“Jodie?”
She swung her legs off the bed, feeling a little light-headed when she stood. She steadied herself with a hand on the nightstand just as the door swung open.
“What’s wrong?” Travis’s voice showed his genuine concern and, for a moment, she wanted to once again have him hold her. She heard him stride quickly across the room, but didn’t risk looking up. She didn’t want to make herself any more dizzy than she already felt.
“I got up too quickly. Nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure? Have you been to the doctor yet?”
“Yes and yes. I’m sure I just need to eat a bite.” She probably had been overdoing it a bit, flying from coast to coast, then stopping in Texas. Not to mention the stress of facing Travis and breaking the news so abruptly.
“Good, because I came to tell you that dinner’s ready. It’s not fancy, but maybe that’s best on your first day here. You can get some more rest after we eat.”
“I’m not that fragile, Travis,” she claimed, rising to her full five-foot-eleven height. Even then, she wasn’t eye level with him. She liked a big, tall man. She didn’t like to think she was superficial, but she didn’t date shorter, slightly built men because they made her look huge in comparison. With her height and generally “sturdy” and athletic build, she preferred a man she could look up to.
“Yes, but you are pregnant. And based on what you told me last month, I’m sure your schedule has been a little hectic lately. A few days in the Texas Hill Country is just what you need to relax.”
What she needed was a husband, but she didn’t say that out loud. She was certain Travis would come to the same conclusion…hopefully very soon.
“I am hungry, and I’m glad we’re not going out. I’ve eaten every meal in a restaurant with my agent, publicist or executives for potential endorsement deals for the past five days, and I could really use a night off.”
“Good. Well, I’ll leave you to freshen up. Come down to the kitchen whenever you’re ready.”
Jodie nodded, then added, “Thanks for understanding about my schedule, Travis, but just so you’re clear, I don’t have days to lie around the Hill Country. I have decisions to make.”
“You’ve already decided to have this baby, right?”
“Yes. That isn’t up for discussion.”
“Good, because I don’t want to argue about that.”
She nodded again. At least Travis wasn’t the type to suggest she make this “little problem” go away.
Within a few minutes she’d splashed water on her face, brushed her hair and dabbed on a little lip gloss. There was no reason to appear glamorous when she didn’t need to pose for the cameras. Besides, Travis had seen her many times over their one weekend together without makeup. Or without clothes, for that matter.
He’d just never seen her pregnant and desperate enough to ask a man she’d known for only three days to marry her.
What if he didn’t say yes?
Chapter Two
“So I hear you have a very attractive lady visitor,” Hank McCauley taunted on the phone line.
Travis ground his teeth and silently wished his friend a slow and painful injury.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” he replied, glancing toward the second-floor hallway that wrapped around the great room like a balcony. He hoped Jodie didn’t walk in on him having this conversation. “She’s my guest, so butt out.”
“Hey, I heard she came into the Four Square Café looking for directions to your ranch. It’s not my fault most of your friends and neighbors were there to gawk.”
“I’ll bet you were gawking most of all.”
“I don’t gawk at other women much since Lady Wendy and I tied the knot.”
“Too bad she didn’t put a zipper on your mouth.”
Hank chuckled. “She likes my mouth way too much to mess with any modifications.”
Travis rolled his eyes. Hank could be completely outrageous. They’d known each other since their freshman year at the University of Texas. Hank had later dropped out to pursue his rodeo career, but Travis had gone on to get his master’s degree in architectural design. They’d lost touch for a few years while Hank was on the circuit. Now they were neighbors and best friends again.
Although, Travis reminded himself, with friends like that, he didn’t need any enemies. The gossip mill at the café would be going full steam for several days.
For at least as long as Jodie stayed in town. Alone with him at his ranch.
“So who else were you jawin’ with downtown?” He glanced at the clock over the wet bar. “It’s too late for lunch.”
“There was another meeting of the Fourth of July committee, which lasted longer than usual. They’re getting an early start this year, planning a big parade and celebration. So yeah, basically everyone was down here and talking about you and Jodie Marsh.”
“I suppose they all know by now who she is.”
“Yep. Very intriguing. Of course, I had to tell them I played a role in getting you two fixed up over in Europe.”
“Prince Alexi did most of the ‘fixing up,’ if I remember correctly.” Travis, Hank and his wife, Lady Gwendolyn, and Carole and Greg Rafferty had visited Prince Alexi and Princess Kerry—a former Ranger Springs native and Carole’s sister—along with the new little prince Alexander, in Belegovia in January. The country was building a new cultural center and wanted Travis to design the facility. That’s where he’d been when the lot of them had arranged a blind date in Monte Carlo with Jodie, whom Alexi knew through their charitable activities.
A date that had quickly turned into a passionate weekend.
“Heck, Travis, you’re the best entertainment we’ve got since most of us are married now. We’re depending on you for a little controversy.”
“Well, just leave it alone, okay? When I’m ready to tell you snoops anything, I’ll give you a call.”
“Tell us anything? Like what? Don’t tell me the blind date got really serious. Not with Travis the Confirmed Bachelor Whitaker!”
“I’m not telling you anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a meal to prepare for a lady.”
“Cooking for her, too. That does sound serious.”
Travis started to hang up the phone, but Hank shouted, “Wait! Wendy wants you and Jodie to come for dinner Wednesday night. Seven o’clock, okay?”
Travis sighed. He supposed the social engagement was necessary, even if he wasn’t ready to share Jodie with his friends and neighbors. “All right. See you tomorrow.”
“Anyone I know?” Jodie’s sexy, husky voice tore his thoughts away from his friends and neighbors and back to the woman who had just complicated his life. Not that she’d done it all alone. No, he’d participated very actively.
“Just Hank McCauley. He’s as nosy as coon dog on the first day of hunting season.”
“I thought he was nice.”
“You just don’t know him well.”
“He’s a good friend of yours, isn’t he?”
“The jury’s still out on that one,” Travis replied with a shake of his head.
Jodie chuckled. “You really are a private person, aren’t you?”
“I try to be. That’s why I bought this ranch. I wanted to get away from the congestion and hectic pace of a big city, plus I wanted to get a few horses and run a few head of cattle. I like living in a small community, but my neighbors can be bigger gossips than the tabloids.”
“Oh, I’ll bet they’re considerably nicer.”
“That’s true.” Travis looked over Jodie’s fresh face, glossy lips and lush figure. No one would suspect she was an internationally known model. Or that she was pregnant. She truly did appear to be “the girl next door.”
“The cosmetics company made a good choice when they decided you would be their new representative.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You look so young and fresh. So ordinary, but in an extraordinary way, if that makes any sense.”
“Thanks…I think.”
“My thoughts were extremely complimentary even if my words didn’t convey my feelings.”
She turned away, looking a bit embarrassed. “In that case, thanks again.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Famished. How may I help?”
