The Texan's Contract Marriage

Seven

The trip to Dallas seemed short, and she felt a rush of joy as Noah held out his arms and kicked his legs at the sight of her. She scooped him up to hug him, looking over his head at Ashley, who smiled happily.

Marek stood beside her and she handed Noah to him. “Thank you, Ashley.”

“Ma-ma,” Noah said. Startled, Camille looked at him and then at Ashley, who laughed and shrugged.

“He’s beginning to talk. He has a two-word vocabulary—ma-ma and bah for bottle.”

“I missed his first word,” Camille said, shaking her head.

“I did videotape it for you. I wanted to surprise you when you returned and heard him. Also, I’m going shortly if that’s all right with you,” Ashley replied. “I’ll stay with my friend Patty Collins tonight and be back early because I’m going to Saint Louis tomorrow.”

“Of course, run along. We’re fine, and we’ll see you in the morning.”

“Great to have you back,” she said. “I’ll see you later, Camille. Bye, Marek.”

“Goodbye, Ashley,” he replied, making noises at Noah that made the baby laugh.

Sitting on the floor, Marek played with Noah while Camille left to unpack. Later, she showered and changed to blue shorts and a T-shirt. She returned to find Marek holding Noah in a rocking chair and reading a story to him.

“He doesn’t know a word you’re saying,” she said, laughing.

“Look at him. He likes this. He’s happy and listening.”

“He must be on the verge of falling asleep.”

“You just can’t admit that he’s precocious and likes being read to.”

“No, I can’t,” she said. “And neither can you. Try that in the morning when he gets up.”

Noah wiggled and hit the book with his hand. “See,” Marek said, glancing at her. “He wants me to read.”

“You just go ahead and read. When you’re ready, I’ll put him in bed.”

Marek read softly to Noah without bothering to answer her. She stared at them, amazed Noah would sit still as if he were hanging on each word.

Marek turned a page. “I just have the magic touch.”

She laughed and shook her head. “What you have is an exhausted baby. I’ll bet he’s asleep in ten minutes.”

“Bet a few kisses and I’ll take you up on it.”

“I’ll win. What do I get if I win?” she asked, placing her hand on her hip to wait.

“What do you want?” he asked.

She tilted her head. “Live dangerously—be surprised. I’ll tell you when I win.”

“Deal,” he replied, his gaze raking over her before he returned to reading. Glancing at her watch to make note of the time, she left to write thank-you notes for wedding gifts. It astounded her how fast Marek had rooms remodeled and changes made. She had come by often to look at the progress or answer questions, but they had the house ready and the move was made three days before the wedding. Now she just had to become accustomed to a new home and the most luxurious house she had ever lived in. In ten minutes she returned and Marek looked up. “I win,” he said.

To her surprise, Noah still sat quietly in Marek’s arms. “You do have a magic touch. Although his eyelids are getting droopy.”

“Doesn’t matter. I win.”

“Then you’ll just have to come collect your prize later when he’s tucked in bed.”

“You can count on it,” Marek replied and returned to reading in a softer voice. Noah blinked and closed his eyes.

“That hardly counts because you just barely won,” she said. “He’s fallen asleep.”

“There’s no such thing as barely winning. A win is a win whether barely or by a mile. I definitely won and soon I expect to claim my prize.”

“I still don’t know how you held his attention for that long,” she said, looking at her sleeping child.

“You come sit on my lap and I’ll get your attention for just as long. I can do things that will make you sleep like a baby. Later.”

She smiled. “Although that’s a tempting offer, for now, I’ll pass.”

“You’re missing out on a great deal of—” he paused a moment “—of something you won’t forget and you’ll enjoy immensely. I promise.”

She fanned herself with her hand. “I do believe I’ve married a very sexy man,” she said in a sultry voice. “Your self-assurance is about to overwhelm me,” she added in a normal tone. “I’ll take Noah to bed.”

“It’s just like you said you wanted.” Marek stood easily. “I’ll take him. You can come with us.”

The sleeping baby snuggled against Marek’s shoulder as he carried him to the nursery, which was near the master bedroom suite and adjoined the bedroom suite where Camille stayed. Marek glanced at her. “See, we can be a family for him. This is good, Camille. This is very good for him.”

“I know it is, and that’s why I agreed,” she answered solemnly.

“Don’t sound so unhappy about it.”

“I’ve had him all to myself. There are moments this whole change seems overwhelming. The fear passes swiftly, and then I feel better about what we’re doing.”

“I’m glad. Also, guess what—he can say da-da.”

She stopped to stare at Noah. “No kidding. You’ve taught him to say da-da,” she said, laughing softly.

“Might have.”

Marek put Noah into his crib gently, turning to place his arm around Camille as she stood close beside him. They both looked at the sleeping baby. “I suppose every mother thinks her baby is the most beautiful baby in the whole world. I love him with all my heart,” she said.

“That’s the thing about love—there’s always room for more. I already love him, but he constantly reminds me of Kern and I know that’s part of the reason. A delightful part,” Marek added.

“I’m glad.” She smoothed wispy hair on Noah’s head, then turned and left the room. Her pulse was more erratic as they returned to the family area.

Marek faced her, encircling her waist with his arm. “I collect my winnings. I’ve been waiting and looking forward to claiming my prize.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she gazed up at him. His attention was on her mouth, and he leaned closer. She inhaled, her heart pounding, and then his mouth covered hers, opened hers, and she lost awareness of everything else.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she returned his kiss. As his kiss became more passionate, his arms tightened around her.

In a light, sizzling caress, his hand roamed over her bottom and along her leg, sliding beneath her shorts to caress her bare thigh. In seconds his hand slipped beneath her T-shirt, warm on her skin, his callused palm slightly rough as he unfastened the front snap of her bra and then cupped her breast.

Wanting to touch him, she moaned softly in pleasure. She was overwhelmed by caresses, hot kisses, touches, his fingers delving, intimacy enveloping them. Whether he realized it or not, each contact brought them closer. Loving caused sensations to bombard her, and she wanted to stir the same responses in him. Sliding her hands beneath his shirt, she felt the slight mat of chest hair that tickled her palm. Trailing both hands lightly over him, she tugged his shirt. He paused to raise his head and yank it off.

Watching her intently with desire blazing in the depths of his eyes, he pulled away her T-shirt and tossed it aside. He cupped her breasts, circling each lightly as she gasped and closed her eyes.

The slightest touch heightened desire, but the closeness, opening herself to him, carried with it a bonding that she couldn’t continue to fight. Love had blossomed, and every physical stroke increased desire but also locked her heart more securely in his possession. There was no turning back from this now. They were legally wed, husband and wife. His closeness with Noah tonight had captured her heart more than ever before.

She moaned softly, partly in pleasure, partly in frustration for a love that was totally one-sided.

As he unfastened her shorts she closed her fingers around his wrists and made an effort to stop kissing him. “Marek, wait a minute.”

He watched her through hooded eyes and slowly raised his head, breathing deeply as if he had run a marathon.

“I know we’re married and we can go to bed as husband and wife, but that’s meaningless in matters of the heart. I have to go slowly into this or I’ll hurt badly.”

“Whenever you say no, I’ll honor it, Camille. I promised I never wanted to hurt you. I mean that, and I intend to hold to it as much as humanly possible.”

She closed her eyes, rocking on her heels, thinking his words just made her fall a bit more in love with him while nothing she did could even cause a tiny crack in the wall of ice that enveloped his heart.

He held her lightly and showered her with feathery kisses. “Don’t worry. We’re doing better together than I had expected. Our marriage is working far more than I dreamed possible. You’re becoming a friend, helping me with the rough moments.”

“Thank you and I’m glad,” she said, thinking his statements heightened how much she liked him. “I know you’ve had some really bad moments because none of this, this bargain marriage, the relationship—you never expected or dreamed you would have anything like this in your life.”

“Damn straight, there,” he said, letting out a long breath. She was pulling herself together, and she stepped out of his arms to grab up her bra and T-shirt, pulling them on swiftly with her back turned to him.

Turning around she found him watching her intently. He had made no effort to pull on his T-shirt, and she couldn’t keep from surveying his chest, which made her breath catch and started her pulse pounding again. When she glanced up, his gaze had narrowed slightly.

“Knowing you and having this paper marriage has been good and that’s partly because of you. Noah is the other factor in making this workable. He’s an adorable baby.”

“I have to agree with that. He likes you.”

“He should. I love him already,” Marek said softly.

“Don’t make me fall in love with you,” she whispered, knowing it was far too late for that request.

He stepped close again to slip his arms lightly around her waist. “I don’t think you will. You’re vulnerable and so am I, because neither of us have had a physical relationship in a long time. When you get back to being onstage, you’ll forget me a good part of the time. I don’t think there’s any danger of either one of us falling in love. That will never be part of the equation, and we both can be open about it, which is also refreshing.”

His words stung, and she hoped he never realized her growing feelings because he obviously did not return such emotions and didn’t think he ever would. Unfortunately, her heart responded whether there was reciprocation or not.

Trying to lighten the situation, she smiled. “I think we were headed somewhere when we started this.”

“We’ll sit and talk if you want.” He draped his arm casually across her shoulders and walked to the sofa to sit close, turning to face her. “I want all of you to live on the ranch when your schedule allows it. You might as well get accustomed to the ranch. I love it. I’m a rancher, a cowboy. Living that far from town will be different for you.”

“It’ll be a monumental difference since we’ve always lived in a city,” Camille replied. “It’s going to be a huge change for my sister.”

“She’ll be paid well,” he remarked drily. “Sometimes that helps ease the change. Does Ashley want to go back for this fall semester?”

“Because of all the changes in our lives, she’s agreed to wait until the January semester starts. Remember, tomorrow one of your jets is flying her home to Saint Louis for the rest of this week.”

His gaze traveled over her features slowly. She reacted to the sensual study that held almost as much impact as physical contact. She forgot their conversation and was lost in his dark eyes.

He leaned closer and she could no more resist than if she had been hypnotized as she bent toward him. When his lips brushed hers, she closed her eyes, circling his neck with her arm. She paused only briefly. “We weren’t going to do this.”

“We haven’t for a while,” he whispered back.

He lifted her to his lap to embrace her. His arousal was hard against her hip, a throbbing reminder of his heated desire.

“Marek,” she whispered, and his mouth on hers stopped her from talking. After a few minutes she pushed against him and gazed at him.

He pulled his head back slightly to look into her eyes. “You’ll be mine soon, Camille,” he whispered, and her heart thudded.

“Be careful, Marek. I’m going to melt that ice that encompasses your heart. You possess my heart, but you’re making yours vulnerable to the fires we generate,” she warned. “I want you to want me with all your being,” she whispered, barely aware of what she said, uncertain that he even heard her, much less gave any thought to what she was telling him.

He kissed her hard, his tongue playing over hers and going deep, possessively, as he pulled her tightly against him.

Winding her fingers in his hair, she kissed him in return. Finally, she slipped off his lap and walked away. “I should call it a night.”

“Not at all. Sit and talk. It’s early. We don’t have a full day tomorrow. I’ll send Ashley in the limo to the plane. Ginny and the girls will come to get Noah. We’ll do what we want.”

“You’re right,” she said, sitting slightly farther from him on the sofa.

“How did you decide on the name Noah?” he asked, his dark eyes holding passion.

“That was my grandfather’s name. He’s named for my grandfather and for his own father,” Camille answered while trying to calm and wishing her voice wasn’t as breathless.

“Does your dad mind being skipped over?”

“No, one of the granddaughters is named for him. Chelsea Taylor Avanole.”

“Nice name. I’m glad you gave Noah Kern’s name. I remember your text from Kern. The name made Kern happy. When he’s old enough, I’ll get a small, gentle horse for Noah. Long before that he can ride with me.”

“I can’t imagine my baby on a horse,” she said. “You and I know little about each other’s worlds.”

“That makes life interesting,” Marek said, smiling at her and moving closer. “And you’re too far away,” he said, slipping his hand lightly on her nape. “I’ll take you to a rodeo and we’ll also go dancing sometime and you can learn the two-step if you don’t already know it. When you see the ranch house, just remember that we can remodel and redecorate any way you want. This is my house that I had built, and it’s not old and filled with sentimental memories.”

She listened and watched him while he talked, only half hearing what he told her, remembering their kisses and fighting the urge to reach out and touch him. If she did, she would be in his arms again.

In her wildest imaginings, she had never expected to have a marriage of convenience, a honeymoon without making love, a husband who didn’t love her. Yet they were getting to know each other and there was a physical attraction that neither one of them could resist.

It was two o’clock when she stood. “Now I do have to go to bed. I’m sleepy,” she said, picking up an empty glass to take to the kitchen.

He went with her, and as they walked to her new bedroom that adjoined his with closed double doors between them, he draped his arm across her shoulders to draw her against him.

“You’re not staying in here tonight,” she whispered.

“I know I’m not,” he replied. He gazed down at her. “Guard your heart well, Camille. Mine is frozen, and, make no mistake, it won’t thaw.”

“I’ve got your warning,” she whispered. “I’ll take care of myself.”

He kissed her lightly and left.

*

Marek walked to his room, his thoughts on Camille. He would never fall in love and already she had a starry-eyed look and was telling him this would mean more to her with each kiss. He should leave her alone, but that was impossible. She was a desirable, beautiful woman, now his wife, as legally binding as any marriage.

Startled, he realized he was coming back to life fully. It still surprised him how much and how fast she had brought him out of his grief. How huge the transformation since the day Camille had walked into his office! The diminishing of his heartache had been subtle, gradual, but he was less steeped in heartbreak, each week more lusty. Camille was filled with life, her passion for living spilling over onto all around her, including him. He rubbed the back of his neck and wondered where they would be in this relationship a year from now.

Images and memories of Camille returned full force: of Camille in his arms, of kissing her, of her soft lips, of her body, dancing the samba with her and her seductive moves. The memories set his pulse racing and sent his temperature soaring. Maybe someday he would fall in love with her—something that seemed impossible now, but she had brought about changes he would have thought impossible three months ago.

It shocked him how much he wanted her. A month ago, he was completely oblivious to women. But from the moment Camille had slipped into his life, hot, passionate, she had stirred responses from him he hadn’t known he could possibly give again. On their honeymoon he’d wanted her. If she had cooperated they would have consummated their marriage. Even now, he was certain it was only a matter of time before he seduced her. She was a passionate, hot-blooded woman and they were just getting to know each other. He thought her reluctance would melt away because she was responsive to his slightest touch, flirting with him, physically aware of him.

Noah had contributed, too, in bringing him back into the world fully. The baby was adorable, and Marek would do anything to get a laugh out of his tiny nephew, soon-to-be-adopted son. Already he loved the baby as much as if he were his own. If only Kern could have known Noah—how much Kern would have loved the little fellow.

Marek prayed Camille accepted all of their arrangements and let him have a lot of time with Noah. “Kern, you have a fine son,” he said to no one. “I’ll do my best for him.”

Marek showered, climbed into bed and lay in the dark still thinking about the monumental changes in his life, thinking about holding Camille and making love to her.

He slept only a few hours and rose to dress, pulling on fresh jeans and a navy knit shirt. When he entered the kitchen he gave a swift appraisal of Camille in jeans and a red T-shirt. Her hair was caught behind her head in a red ribbon. She smiled and returned to feeding Noah and talking to Ashley, who was already back from visiting her friend. Her bags for her trip to Saint Louis were packed, ready by the door.

Half an hour after Ashley left for the airport, Ginny and her girls arrived to pick up Noah. She got instructions from Camille while Marek loaded the car with Noah’s things. The girls hovered over Noah, who seemed happy with their attention.

As they drove away, Marek stood on the porch with his arm around Camille’s shoulders. As Ginny and the girls waved, Marek and Camille waved in return.

“Thanks for letting them take him.” Marek looked down at her. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll have everyone’s undivided attention, and Ginny is an experienced mom. The girls have found a real live doll to play with. The whole family will hover over him like he’s suddenly been crowned king of the world. They’re only a thirty-minute drive away here in Dallas if you just can’t stand being parted from him.”

Camille smiled nervously as they walked back into the house together. “I won’t worry. I felt ridiculous giving your sister instructions. She’s had two girls and knows more about parenting than I do.”

“You’re used to Noah. All little kids are different.”

“Says the man who told me he knew nothing about babies.”

“You remember that? That was the first week we met.”

“I remember everything about you.”

“Do you really?” Marek turned her to face him. “Have you noticed?”

“Noticed what?” she asked, wondering what she had missed. “You have a new haircut?”

“No. We’re home alone. A moment I’ve been looking forward to for some time. Guess why?” His heartbeat raced in anticipation that had built all morning. He looked into her compelling blue eyes.

“I believe the look in your eyes gives away your answer, but I’ll ask. Why?”

“So I can do this,” he said, drawing her into his embrace.

She tilted her head to give him access to her mouth. He leaned closer, brushing her lips with his, a teasing stroke that caused her lips to part.

“I want you, Camille,” he whispered before his mouth came down on hers.