Stella Bagwell - The Baby Truth

She didn’t resist. Instead, her body settled against his as though it had found a perfect niche. Encouraged by her reaction, he said, “I’d like to change that for you, Sassy.”

Her head tilted backward, allowing her gaze to connect with his. “How? You can’t change the course of my life.”

“You might be surprised about that.”

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “Jett, I think—”

Her words suddenly halted as his thumb and forefinger wrapped around her chin. “You probably won’t understand this, Sassy, but I’m very glad that you’re here.”

“How can you be?” she asked, her voice little more than a breathy whisper. “You didn’t ask for all this trouble.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re just the kind of trouble I need.”

* * *

Men of the West:

Men of the West: Whether ranchers or lawmen, these heartbreakers can ride, shoot—and drive a woman crazy …

www.millsandboon.co.uk

STELLA BAGWELLhas written more than seventy novels for Mills & Boon. She credits her loyal readers and hopes her stories have brightened their lives in some small way. A cowgirl through and through, she loves to watch old Westerns, and has recently learned how to rope a steer. Her days begin and end helping her husband care for a beloved herd of horses on their little ranch located on the south Texas coast. When she’s not ropin’ and ridin’, you’ll find her at her desk, creating her next tale of love. The couple has a son, who is a high school math teacher and athletic coach. Stella loves to hear from readers and invites them to contact her at stellabagwell@gmail.com.

To Jason and Karen,

with lots of love.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Extract

Chapter One

“Pregnant! But that can’t be!”

Sassy Matthews stared in disbelief at the doctor standing at the side of the examination table. If the roof over her head had suddenly crashed in, she couldn’t have been more shocked.

The doctor gave her a kindly smile. “Why not? You’re a young, healthy woman.”

Sassy’s mouth flopped open. “But that happened more than two months ago! And we used protection.”

“I’d say two months or a little more is just about right. And no method is foolproof. You did say you’re not using oral birth control?”

Birth control! Sassy had never needed it. Then she’d gotten to know Barry and spent one impulsive night with him. Now a baby was coming. It was too much to comprehend.

“No. I’m not. I didn’t. But, doctor, I’ve not missed my period. How—”

“Occasionally that happens in the early months. If you continue to experience them, let your obstetrician know. In the meantime, I want you to take these vitamins until you get back home to New Mexico and see your regular physician.” He handed her a small square of paper. “You can purchase them at a nearby pharmacy. I’ll send a nurse in to help you dress and she’ll give you some information regarding diet and nutrition. Think you can stand now without fainting again?”

With a dazed nod, she said, “Yes. Thank you, doctor. I’ll be fine.”

As the physician left the curtained cubicle, it took all the strength she could summon to keep from dropping her face in her hands and sobbing. Thank God he’d not asked about the baby’s father. Telling him about Barry’s death would have broken what little composure she was clinging to.

A few minutes later, her purse stuffed with prenatal care pamphlets, she walked into a large waiting area filled with people, most of whom were sitting on stuffed couches and armchairs. As her gaze swept over the scene, she caught sight of the man who’d been waiting for her.

He was standing near the double-door entrance, his shoulder resting against a wooden pillar. A gray cowboy hat dangled from one hand while a cell phone was jammed to his ear. No doubt explaining to someone that he was delayed at the hospital because of a dizzy redhead.

Oh, my, what must he be thinking? Sassy forced herself to move in his direction. He was the Calhoun family lawyer, and he’d met her nearly two hours ago when the small plane the Cantrells had chartered for her landed at the Carson City, Nevada, airport—and after five minutes of conversation she’d fallen into his arms in a dead faint. He’d rushed her to the nearest hospital and had been waiting for her ever since.

Spotting her approach, Jett Sundell immediately pushed himself away from the pillar. As he strode toward her, Sassy’s heart suddenly kicked into a seriously high gear. His tall, lean frame was covered with worn blue jeans and a short denim jacket. A brown-and-white patterned kerchief was tied around his neck, and the square toes of his cowboy boots were scuffed and worn to a buttery brown. She guessed his age to be somewhere in his early thirties; his complexion was a leathery tan while his thick hair appeared to be a shade shy of black. He looked nothing like a lawyer and everything like a cowboy who made his living in the saddle.

At the moment, a smile was tugging at the corners of his chiseled lips, and in spite of the news the doctor had just given her, she found herself smiling back at him.

“I see you’ve recovered,” he said in the same low, graveled tone of voice she remembered from their short conversation at the airport. “I hope the fainting spell was nothing serious.”

She was going to have a baby and the father would never be around to be a part of the child’s life. That was serious. And, unfortunately, a fact that couldn’t be changed.

Trying to keep a positive smile on her face, she shook her head. “Nothing life threatening. I’m fine.”

“Good. Then let’s get out of this place. I’m not exactly fond of hospital emergency rooms.” Taking her by the elbow, he urged her toward the exit doors, and as they moved forward she was acutely aware of the strength of his hand, the nearness of his big frame. At least she’d had the good sense to faint in front of a man with enough muscle to save her from a nasty fall, she thought.

“I parked the truck not far from the entrance,” he informed her. “But if you’re still feeling shaky, I’ll pick you up beneath the portico.”

She hadn’t asked Jett Sundell to meet her at the airport. But when she’d informed him that she’d be arriving today, he’d insisted on meeting her plane and driving her to the hotel. He’d offered because he represented the Calhoun family, the people she’d come to Nevada to meet. She’d never intended to cause him so much inconvenience.

“No need for that. I can make the walk,” she told him. “And I apologize, Mr. Sundell, for putting you through all this.”

“Call me Jett. And as for the fainting—forget it. I always wondered what it was like for Roy Rogers or Gene Autry when the damsel in distress fainted in their arms,” he said with a grin. “Now I know.”

For the past three months her life had been a whirl of grief, shock and confusion. By mere chance, she’d learned she was adopted. Then the man she was beginning to truly care for had been tragically killed. The combined trauma had left her in such a fog she’d not noticed anything going on around her. But now Jett Sundell’s presence was penetrating that daze, making it very hard for Sassy to ignore him.