“Yeah. One,” Justin drawled, thinking the answer should be obvious to Adam, of all people.
“Who?” Adam snapped impatiently.
“Yours truly, brother mine,” Justin said, grinning when he heard Adam sigh.
“I’ll call a meeting,” Adam said. “Of course, Beth will send her proxy, as usual.”
Justin was now chuckling. “To me, as usual.”
“Goodbye, Justin.” Adam hung up.
Justin laughed out loud, inwardly praying for success in the East Coast endeavor. Not with the farm-Justin felt confident he could succeed with that. Hell, without conceit he knew he was nearly a damn genius when it came to horses. No, the challenge was convincing Hannah that he was the man for her. His plan had to work; he’d make it work…somehow.
It was the middle of March. The days were growing milder. Instead of taking the bus as she usually did, Hannah had begun walking the two-plus miles back and forth from her apartment to her office. The exercise and fresh air were good for her.
Without conscious thought, Hannah’s hand slid down in a protective gesture over the small rounded mound of her growing belly. Her pregnancy had been confirmed by her doctor. Her due date was in mid-October; another season, another life.
A thrill shot through Hannah at the thought of the tiny person awakening inside her body. She hadn’t felt any movement from her baby yet, but she knew it would not be long before she did.
Hannah had told Jocelyn the day after she had seen the doctor. Over a month ago.
“Does the father know?” her assistant asked, her expression a mixture of stunned delight.
“No,” Hannah admitted, shaking her head. “I don’t think he’d want to know.”
“Not want to know?” Jocelyn said indignantly. “What kind of a user is the son-”
“Jocelyn,” Hannah interrupted her, unwilling to hear her curse Justin. “I knew what I was getting into. What Justin and I had was just a fling.” She managed a wry smile. “One might say a close encounter of the sexual kind. He never asked for anything more and I expect nothing from him. This is my baby. I’ll take care of it.”
“And I’ll be right beside you,” Jocelyn said staunchly, giving Hannah a reassuring hug.
Although Hannah had taken full responsibility for her pregnancy, she still had nagging doubts about not telling Justin. Not to seek financial support for his child-she didn’t need his money. She just felt that he had every right to know he was to become a father.
Justin loved children. He would make a good father…if he cared to do so. That was the dilemma Hannah was feeling.
Arriving home refreshed from the brisk walk, Hannah kicked off her shoes and went straight to the phone. She had to tell him, she’d never be able to live with herself if she didn’t.
After getting his ranch’s number from information, she punched it in and forced herself to breathe normally. It was difficult, especially with the phone continuing to ring. Finally, when she was about ready to hang up, an unfamiliar voice answered.
“Yes, is Justin there, please?” she asked, wondering why Karla hadn’t answered.
“No, he isn’t,” came the brisk reply. “Would you like to leave a message?”
Declining the offer, Hannah pressed the disconnect button, then stood staring at the instrument in her hand, unsure what to do next. Blinking against a sting of tears, she hung up the phone just as the doorbell rang.
Doorbell? Her doorbell never rang without her being notified by the security guard in the lobby.
Hannah hesitated, puzzled by the oddness of the situation. The bell rang again.
Hannah went into the living room and looked through the peephole. She went absolutely still.
Justin.
The bell rang once more, quick, sharp, as if punched by an impatient or angry person.
Drawing a deep, steadying breath, Hannah disengaged the lock and pulled the door open. She backed up as he aggressively stepped forward.
“Justin…” She had to swallow to moisten her bone-dry throat. “What are you doing here?”
Dropping the same bag he had carried before, he walked right up to her and caught her face in his hands, holding her still.
“Dammit, woman,” Justin said, his voice rough. “I love you, that’s what I’m doing here. I didn’t want to love you. I didn’t want to love any woman, ever again. But I do love you.” His voice softened to a gentle purr. “Oh, sweet Hannah, I love you. I want to marry you.” His stormy gray eyes grew bright with that heart-melting devil light. “And if you don’t say you love me, too, want to marry me, live with me and have my babies, I’m going to curl into a ball of misery on the floor and cry for a week.”
“Only a measly week?” Hannah was already crying, and laughing.
“Well, maybe two,” he conceded, lowering his head to hers. “But I’d rather not. Hannah, sweetheart, say it. Say you love me before I go completely crazy.”
“I love you. I love you. I love you.” Tears poured down her face. “Oh, Justin, I love you so much I could die from it.”
“Don’t you dare. We’ve got a lot of living and loving before us. And there’s no better time than now to get started.”
Holding her tightly to him-as if he’d never let her go-he kissed her, deeply, lovingly, reverently.
Pure joy bursting inside her, Hannah flung her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the love and longing she had tried so hard to reject. She moaned in soft protest when Justin lifted his mouth from hers.
“We’ll get back to that in a minute,” he murmured, gliding his tongue over her lower lip in silent promise. “But I have to ask you something.”
Hannah reluctantly opened her eyes. “What?”
“Will…you…marry…me?” Justin asked.
“Oh.” Hannah felt a tingle do a tango down her spine. “Well, yes, of course. Was there any doubt?”
“Oh, boy,” he groaned, in feigned dismay. “I have a feeling I’m in for trouble with you.”
“Yes, you are,” Hannah replied happily. “And I with you, but…won’t it be fun?” She pulled slightly away before saying, “I said I’d marry you, Justin, and I will. But there is one possible problem.”
He arched a brow. “Like…what?”
“Like…you run a ranch in Montana,” she said. “And I run a business in Philadelphia.”
He shook his head. “No problem.”
“But…” she began in protest, afraid he’d ask her to give up the business she had worked so hard to get up and running, and even more afraid she’d agree to do so.
“Honey, let me explain,” he interjected. “When I was here a few weeks ago, I didn’t just stop in to visit you for a quick bout of sex at the end of my business trip.”
“You didn’t? Tell me more. Spill your guts, Grainger.”
He laughed. “You’re something else, sweetheart, you know that?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Hannah flicked a hand at him. “Get on with the explanation.”
“The idea of our company buying a horse farm in the East wasn’t Adam’s, it was mine.”
“Really?” She frowned. “Is that important?”
“I think so.” Justin smiled, pulling her over to the sofa where they both sat. “At my suggestion, the company bought the farm in the Oley Valley. We made settlement yesterday.” He paused.
“Go on.” Having an inkling of what was coming, she held her breath.
“I’m going to manage it.”
“Oh…oh,” she cried, almost afraid to believe it. “You’re relocating?”
“Yes.”
“I can keep my business? Commute?”
“Yes, sweet Hannah.” His smile grew a bit shaky. “You can keep me, too, if you want.”
“If? If?” Hannah exclaimed, moving into his waiting arms. “Try to get out of being kept.”
Holding her tight, as if afraid to set her free, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Oh, sweet Hannah, I love you so much, so very much.”