The Baby Race

Author:Elysa Hendricks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horses, midwest, small town, babies, contemporary romance, horse rescue, marriage of convenience, small town romance, midwest fiction
Publisher: Elysa Hendricks

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CHAPTER TEN

Race blinked against the morning sun streaming across the bed. A breeze lifted the curtains and stroked over him. Tangled around his hips the sheets clung to his damp skin. Despite the early hour, already late August heat crept into the room. Soon the air would be thick and hot. A warm weight pressed against his side.

"Good morning."

The sound of Claire's voice made him blink. The previous night's events washed over him. Satisfaction warred with guilt. He couldn't regret making love with her, but he knew he shouldn't have. He'd taken something from her when he had nothing to offer in return. Reluctantly he turned to face her.

Warm brown eyes smiled at him. Flushed with sleep, she glowed with an inner radiance that intensified his guilt at the same time it filled him with satisfaction. The urge to pull her into his arms and repeat his mistake nearly overwhelmed him.

Her smile faded as she worried her lower lip with her teeth. "I found the adoption papers when I hung up your jacket. I was so worried Banner was going to contest the adoption; afraid the court would grant him custody. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Bobbie Sue. She's my whole family. Thank you. How did you get him to agree?"

Disappointment, followed by anger, slammed into him. She'd made love with him out of gratitude. "No need to thank me. Banner and I just had a nice discussion." To deflect her curiosity he rubbed his knuckles suggestively.

She shifted and the sheet slid off her shoulder, outlining the thrust of her full breasts. A wisp of brown hair clung to the corner of lips slightly bruised from his kisses. He gritted his teeth, but despite his anger he couldn't stop his response to the sight. She reached out to touch his arm.

He sidled away, knowing if she touched him now he'd be unable to resist her.

She didn't seem to notice his reticence as she tugged the sheet around her and lay back down. "Life is just perfect. Banner is out of our lives. And you have Grandmere's marriage bonus money for the ranch."

He sat tense on the edge of the bed. He should tell her about the money, how he'd paid off Banner with it, how now the ranch was lost. But he couldn't. He couldn't burden her with the knowledge that he'd bought Bobbie Sue's future at the cost of his dream.

She yawned and stretched like a contented cat. Her body arched gracefully off the bed. Then she rolled onto one elbow and smiled at him. "Last night was wonderful. Thank you."

Keeping his back to her, he slid off the bed and tugged on his jeans. As right as it had felt, he'd made an error last night. One he couldn't afford to repeat. "I don't want or need your charity."

"What are you talking about? Race? What's wrong? Where are you going?"

Afraid she'd read the truth in his eyes, he didn't turn around. "Last night we slipped and complicated an already difficult situation.

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