Emilie Rose - The Jarrods - Inheritance

“Come in,” she called out, half-surprised he’d knocked, considering he’d appeared to have taken charge of her welfare.

He pushed open the door then stood there, inspecting her from the face up. “You look much better.”

“I feel better. Thanks.”

Then his gaze traveled downward and a curious look passed over his face. “I don’t remember seeing you in jeans before.”

One glance from him and she could feel how much the jeans hugged her figure. Her stomach fluttered. “I usually only wear them at home.” If they were staying at a hotel, Pine Lodge included, she wore stylish clothes even when going casual. She considered dressing right a part of her job.

“You should wear them more often,” he said, his eyes blank but his voice tight again. He stepped back. “Come on. There’s a couch waiting for you downstairs.”

She avoided his gaze as she walked forward, then went past him in the doorway, but she could feel his presence like a soft touch.

Thankfully soon she was lying on the couch with cushions behind her back and a throw over her body. Did she want a book to read, he asked. A movie on the DVD player? A magazine?

“Perhaps some magazines,” she said, though she didn’t actually feel like doing anything but lying there and being with Blake. “You don’t have to do this,” she said as he went to get them from the rack.

He came back with a selection, his mouth set. “I told you. It’s my fault you were injured in the first place. I shouldn’t have taken you with me.”

“But you were only wanting to show me the bungalow location before I left Aspen,” she said in a flood of words, then saw his mouth tighten further. She understood. She didn’t want to be reminded that she was leaving soon either. “Anyway, what’s done is done. I don’t blame you but if you want to make it up to me, then I’d love a hot drink. A hot chocolate would be nice. With marshmallows.”

“No.”

She blinked. “Why not?”

“Because you shouldn’t be drinking or eating for a few hours. It could make things worse.”

She realized he was right, but, “I’m really thirsty, Blake, and I’m feeling fine now. How about some peppermint tea? That shouldn’t hurt.” She watched him consider that.

He nodded grudgingly. “Only a very weak one, then.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

He set off for the kitchen and she could hear him moving about in there. Her family used to cosset her like this at times, and she had to admit she liked being taken care of by Blake.

He soon returned with her hot drink, then he moved to the table in the corner where they’d set up the office. For a time it remained quiet as she flipped through the magazines and sipped at her tea. Then she began feeling sleepy. Eventually she finished her drink and made herself more comfortable, being careful with her sore head as she curled up on the couch. Her eyes closed and she found herself thinking about her and Blake back on the mountain. She could still remember the feel of his lips against …

The phone woke her with a start and she heard Blake swearing as he snatched it from the handset. She sat up and tidied herself, listening to his conversation, knowing someone in his family was inquiring about her. He soon ended the call.

“Sorry about that,” he told her. “It was Guy checking to see how you were. He’d heard about the accident from Avery.”

“Oh, that’s nice of him.”

The phone rang again and Blake reached for it. “Yes, she’s fine, Gavin, but I’ll be keeping an eye on her anyway.” She saw Blake listen, then dart a look at her, before turning away. “You’re a funny guy, Gav.” Then he hung up.

Curious, she asked, “What did he say?”

“Nothing much.”

Had Gavin made a brotherly comment about keeping an eye on her? Not that she minded. It might work in her favor. “That’s good of your family to be checking on me.”

“You’re supposed to be resting. I don’t want them interrupting that.”

His comment warmed her as she glanced at the wall clock, surprised to see the time. “I must have been asleep a while.”

“An hour.”

So he’d been keeping an eye on her. “That long? I didn’t realize.”

“I did.”

The phone rang again and he muttered something low. This time it was Trevor. No sooner had he hung up than they heard car doors slam shut and Blake strode over to look out the window.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Melissa and Shane.”

She watched him start toward the front door and quickly called his name. He stopped to look at her. “You will let them in, won’t you?”

His mouth tightened. “For a short while.”

“Be nice,” she chided gently, and he shot her a look saying that was a given. “You know what I mean, Blake. I think it’s wonderful of your family to be concerned for me.”

His mouth softened a little. “Yeah, they’re pretty good when they want to be.”

Soon Blake’s sister Melissa and her new fiancé, Shane McDermott, came into the lodge, bringing a breath of crisp, fresh air.

Melissa’s long, wavy, blond hair flew behind her as she made a beeline for the couch. “Samantha! We heard you’d had an accident. Are you okay?”

Samantha was touched that they’d thought to drop by. “I’m fine, Melissa. Thank you for thinking of me.”

“She’s fine for the moment,” Blake said, standing closest to the door, as if ready to open it in a moment’s notice. “But she needs to rest as much as possible.”

Shane stood beside him but he at least smiled at her, unlike Blake. “Good to see you, Samantha,” he said, inclining his head in the cowboy way.

Samantha smiled back at the handsome man. Shane was the architect who’d designed the resort’s riding stables. He might look urban and sophisticated, but he’d been raised on a nearby ranch and his cowboy status couldn’t be disputed. “You, too, Shane.”

Melissa sank down on one of the lounge chairs and frowned at Samantha. “You do look pale. So tell me. What happened?” Without giving her time to reply, she glanced at the men. “Blake, I’d love a hot chocolate so be a dear and make me one, won’t you?” She darted a look at Samantha. “What about you, honey?”

Samantha wrinkled her nose. “Blake won’t let me.”

Melissa seemed to consider that, then darted a look at her brother before nodding at Samantha. “Yes, that’s probably best.” She looked at her fiancé. “Shane, darling, would you mind helping Blake in the kitchen? I’m not sure he knows his way around it,” she teased.

Blake eased into his first smile since they’d arrived. “You’d be surprised, Melissa.”

Melissa patted the small hump of her stomach on her slightly curvy figure. “You’d better hurry. This baby is getting hungry.” She winked at Samantha.

Samantha smiled but as the men left them alone and she looked at Blake’s sister, she felt a tug deep inside her chest. Melissa had a radiant glow about her. She’d only recently announced her pregnancy to Shane and they were soon to be married. They’d had a few ups and downs but now all was well.

Samantha was very happy for Melissa, and yet she felt sad for herself, with this inexplicable ache in the region of her heart. One day she wanted a baby and a family of her own, but she couldn’t imagine any man she wanted to father them—except for maybe Blake. That would mean he would have to marry her, but he didn’t believe in happily-ever-after, and she wasn’t ready for that either.

Still, she couldn’t shake off the thought of cuddling Blake’s baby in her arms. It was natural for a woman to think about having children with the man she was attracted to, right? Strangely, she didn’t ever remember thinking about having Carl’s children. Her notion of being married to him had merely been about them traveling the world together. It hadn’t progressed further than that. Thank the Lord!