Christy Lockhart - Let's Have A Baby!

Something was happening to her, something she didn’t like, something she couldn’t stop.

She had never misbehaved in her life. Now, in seconds, Kurt had pushed past all her inhibitions, uncovering parts of her personality that she hadn’t suspected existed. It scared her.

“If you can convince me, in say, five days, that this is a smart thing, that collecting the donation of some man you don’t know, a man who could be a rapist or murderer—”

“More likely a med school student—”

“If you can convince me this is a good idea, I’ll drive you to Denver myself.” His voice dropped to a cajoling tenor. “What do you say? Deal?”

“It’s not your deal to make.”

“Maybe not,” he agreed. “But I’ve got your clothes and your keys.”

Her fingernails carved half-moons into her palms. “You’re holding me prisoner.”

“Offering you a chance to think this through.”

“I’ll call the sheriff.”

“Go ahead. Doesn’t matter to me if this is splashed all over the Courier.”

He was bluffing. He had to be. “It won’t be.”

“Miss Starr doesn’t have contacts?”

Jessie’s stomach tightened and frustration clawed at her.

“Five days, Jessie. I’ll convince you to do this the right way.”

“Your way,” she bit out, hardly able to keep her thoughts straight. He’d backed her into a corner, a place she swore she’d never allow herself to be in again.

She’d fought long and hard, surviving the years of being alone and unwanted, helpless to make her own decisions. And she’d nearly thrown away her independence on Sam. Instead she’d learned the lesson, in her heart as well as her mind. Reinforced by pain, it wasn’t one she’d soon forget.

“well?”

“Never,” she said.

“That’s your final answer?”

“Yes.” She’d won. She’d stood up for what she believed, had refused to cower, had proven she was in control of her own life.

“Play it your way.”

She exhaled. Now that she’d won, she could afford to be gracious. She knew he cared about her as a friend. Sometimes friends did extreme things. As long as he stayed out of her business from now on, she’d forgive him this once.

Somehow, though, his capitulation seemed easy. Too easy, maybe. “I appreciate your concern. Really I do.” In a way, she did.

Since she had no relatives, Mary had become Jessie’s confidant. Mary had expressed her reservations about Jessie’s decision to become pregnant, but since the first time they’d spoken of it, Mary had resolutely kept her opinions to herself.

Brother and sister had nothing in common, apparently. “Now if you’ll give me the keys, please.”

‘I’d rather we hadn’t had to do it this way.”

Before she had time to blink, he’d swung her from the floor.

Her breath whooshed out when her stomach connected with his shoulder. She hung upside down, grabbing for his well-worn leather belt, staring at the contours of his buttocks and powerful thighs.

She struggled, wiggling around, but didn’t dare move too much for fear of dislodging herself and toppling to the floor. “Kurt!”

“Worked my way through college calf roping,” he said, a palm pressed against her spine. “Keep still before I practice those ties on you.”

“You can’t do this. You said...”

“I said I’d stop you.”

He pivoted, and she fought a wave of dizziness. The room spun beneath her.

“Put me down!”

He ignored her.

“You were going to give me five days!”

“I will.”

When he opened the front door, winter’s last lash stole what little remained of her breath.

“Morning, Mrs. Johnson!” Kurt called out.

Jessie kicked, futilely trying to connect with bone and muscle.

“Morning, Kurt. Jessie.”

Jessie groaned, fully convinced she was going to die of mortification now that the neighbors had witnessed this horrible event. She wouldn’t die, though, she vowed, until after she killed Kurt.

“Are you two going somewhere?”

“Taking Jessie away for a few days.”

“Have a nice time. I’ll keep an eye on the house.”

He opened the door to his pickup truck and dumped Jessie unceremoniously on the seat. Then he leaned toward her. “Unless you want the neighbors to really enjoy the show, stay right where you are.”

She battled the temptation to run, but he was taller, faster and didn’t mind making a scene. Jessie didn’t want this to be splashed all over the Courier, but she doubted he’d mind at all.

“Understand?”

She slumped in her seat, and he slammed the door.

Within seconds, he sat beside her on the unyielding, cold leather. When he looked at her, his eyes were every bit as cold and unyielding.

“You’re kidnapping me.” Shock dulled her words.

“Yep.”

He had her; they both knew it.

A chill chased through her. Question was, what did he intend to do next?

Three

What had she gotten herself into?

Anger and frustration were two sides of the only coin she possessed. No matter which way that coin landed, she didn’t have a chance.

Kurt moved around the kitchen, ignoring the impatient tapping of her fingers on the table.

She could call for Columbine Crossing’s one taxi, but Kurt would stand in the way of her leaving. If she called Mary, Mary would probably throw her alliance with her brother...after all, Mary hadn’t liked Jessie’s motherhood idea much better than Kurt did. Even if Jessie called someone from the children’s center, Kurt was too well-known and—damn it—respected for anyone to take her seriously.

She fumed. If she didn’t get out of here in under an hour, she wouldn’t make it to Denver in time.

Irritation gnawed at her. He had no right, was out of his mind. She’d told him that half a dozen times in the truck. He’d turned up the radio. Garth Brooks singing about a long-neck bottle of beer only drowned out her complaints.

The fact she knew Kurt would never do anything to harm her, that he believed he had her best interests at heart, did nothing to improve her mood. If anything, it made it worse.

Sunshine, Kurt’s very pregnant golden retriever, waddled across to Jessie, the dog’s toenails clicking on the scarred vinyl flooring. Sunshine placed her head in Jessie’s lap. At least it was nice to have one ally.

“Breakfast?”

“Breakfast?” she repeated incredulously.

“Thought you might be hungry.”

He was acting so cool and calm, as if something like this happened every day. Maybe to him it did. It didn’t to her. “Being held prisoner killed my appetite.”

“Fine.”

Agitated, she stood. Sunshine gave a soft whine of protest, but then curled up beneath the table, a paw across her nose, ignoring the humans.

Jessie strode to the sink, her footsteps sounding out her hostility. He didn’t react; he just hummed the same Garth Brooks tune that he’d cranked up in the truck.

What was it about men that made them think themselves omniscient?

Sam had been the same way, always knowing what was best for her, even convincing her that making love before marriage was a good idea. After all, he’d said, he wanted to make sure they were compatible before they actually tied the knot.

She pressed her hands to her face.

Agreeing with Sam’s suggestion wrapped her dreams in the reality of an unhappily ever after.

When she found a way out of Kurt’s reach—and she would, in under an hour—she vowed she would never see him again, He could find someone else to do his bookkeeping, find some other woman’s life to interfere in. Those thoughts provided the only solace she’d had since he’d pounded on her door last night.

“I’m making eggs.”