Chapter Three

Damian followed the ambulance transporting Kerry with an exhausted mother and new son to the hospital. Still unsettled by feelings for this woman he barely knew, he smiled in admiration for how Kerry conducted the delivery of a baby in probably the worst circumstances she’d ever had to deal with.

She’d been focused, professional, and compassionate. Observing how she handled herself turned him on as much as the dance they’d shared. If he accomplished nothing else tonight, figuring out a way to keep Ms. Mackenzie from rushing right off to Albuquerque would make for a successful evening.

He swung the truck into the hospital parking lot as the paramedics unloaded Bev and the baby. Kerry hopped out of the back of the ambulance and hurried into the hospital behind the gurney. Damian parked the truck, then followed them into the emergency entrance.

The room held the usual late night sufferers. Small children cried in their parents’ laps. Two men glared at each other, one holding a wad of blood-soaked paper towels to his forehead, the other with an ice pack on his eye. A teenager, who obviously had too much to drink, lay snoring next to three friends who played cards. Late night misery in Amarillo.

Damian headed to the vending machine area, plunked in coins for a cup of coffee and a package of peanut butter and cheese crackers. He then slumped into a vinyl covered chair that had seen better days and finished off the snack.

After two hours of rifling through old magazines and watching a stream of the walking wounded enter the doors of the emergency room, he was relieved to see Kerry stride up to him, a huge smile on her face.

“Both mother and son are settled in and doing fine.” She collapsed alongside him, and rotated her neck. “It was really nice of you to stay, but you didn’t have to do that. I could’ve caught a taxi to a motel.” She yawned. “What time is it?”

“Close to two-fifteen. And it was no problem to wait. I’m glad everything went well with the delivery.”

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Hmm. I could fall asleep right here.”

Damian stood and drew her up. “Come on. I know a motel not too far from here. I brought your things with me. They’re in my truck.”

Kerry groaned, and followed him out the door. “Why are you doing all this?”

Maybe because I’ve been hit with something I can’t explain? “I told you. My mama raised me to be a gentleman.”

She glanced at him sideways and smirked.

Once settled into the truck, Damian pulled onto the highway and flipped on a radio station. A mellow number filled the air. Kerry settled herself against the door and closed her eyes. A few miles down the road, he entered the parking lot of The Primrose Motel—with a bright red “No Vacancies” sign flashing in the dark night. He glanced at his passenger...who was fast asleep.

Damian returned to the highway and hit two more motels before he headed north toward his home. The clock on the dashboard read five after three when he entered the long driveway leading to his large ranch house. The rambling structure sat in shadows, outlined by the dim glow of the partial moon.

“Kerry?” He shook her shoulder gently.

“Um.”

“Darlin’, you have to wake up.”

“So tired.”

“I know. Come on. I’ll get you inside, and you can go back to sleep.”

Kerry sat up, and blinked a few times. She looked around and wiped her mouth. “Was I drooling?”

He chuckled. “No. Snoring a bit, though.”

She groaned. “Where are we? This isn’t a motel.”

“I know.” He held up his hands, palms facing her. “Now, before you get all riled up, I tried three motels, but they were all full. I forgot there’s some type of bikers’ event this week. I brought you to my house, but I have every intention of settling you in the guest bedroom.” He jumped from the truck and retrieved her overnight bag, purse, and laptop.

She narrowed her eyes as he opened the door. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I mean, I don’t even know you.” She crossed her arms. “I’ll sleep here in the truck. It’s comfortable.”

Damian rested his hands on his hips. “All right. I’ll give you that. You don’t know me, and if you were my sister, I’d be stomping mad that you’d do something so reckless. But, there isn’t much choice, and you have been with people all night who know me.” He studied her for a minute. “Would it help if I told you my guest bedroom has a lock on the door?”

She hesitated for a moment, and then slid from the seat. “Okay. A lock on the door is good.”

He grinned to himself at the puzzle that was Kerry Mackenzie. The midwife side was strong, confident and assured. The woman was wary and suspicious. The more she revealed about herself, the more he wanted to peel away her layers of protection.

He flashed what he hoped was a trusting smile and led her up the stairs to the porch.

Even though it was the middle of the night with everything shrouded in darkness, Kerry was still impressed with Damian’s house. The ceramic tiled entrance hall opened into a living room that revealed a cozy ambiance once he switched on a few lights.

Dark leather furniture surrounded a Native American patterned area rug. A huge stone fireplace took up almost one whole wall, with floor to ceiling windows on either side. The neatness of the room surprised her the most, being a bachelor home.

Damian headed to the stairs, still carrying her belongings. “Come on upstairs, and get some sleep. I’ll give you the grand tour tomorrow.”

A large bed sat smack in the center of the room they soon entered, which was all her tired body could see. He dropped her things on the floor, and took off his hat. “Well, I’ll let you get some rest.” He pointed to a door in the corner. “There’s a bathroom in there. And, as I mentioned, a lock on the door.”

She smiled at his discomfort. “Thank you. I really do appreciate all you’ve done for me tonight.”

“Not a problem.” He fumbled with the brim of his hat. “Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Oh wait.” Kerry stopped him before she closed the door. “What about my car?”

Damian snapped his fingers. “I’ll call Boz first thing and run the keys over there.” He paused. “Unless you want to wait until you wake up, so you can deliver them yourself.”

She grimaced. “Now you’re making me feel like a suspicious old lady.” She reached into her purse and handed the key ring over. “If you get up first, I would appreciate you dropping them off for me.”

“Sure thing. Well, good night again.”

“‘Night.” Kerry closed the door softly and turned the lock.

She leaned against the door and gazed around the room. Here she was in a strange city, in a strange bedroom, in the home of a strange man. Well, she wanted to move on with her life, and assert some independence. But being attracted to that handsome cowboy on the other side of the door did not fit in with her plan.

Her stiff fingers unbuttoned her blouse, leaving it to settle where it dropped, then slid her shorts down her legs. Leather sandals joined the rest of her clothes, right before she climbed into bed in her bra and panties. She really should get up and take a shower, or at least brush her teeth, but before the thought took root in her mind, she was sound asleep.

Damian leaned against the doorjamb and listened to the sound of Kerry sinking into the mattress. Moisture beaded his forehead as he imagined climbing in alongside her, running his hands over her smooth, silky skin. Kissing her forehead, now salty from sweat, nuzzling her neck, cupping her breasts, tugging on her nipples.

With a groan, he pushed himself away from the door and walked down the hall to his own bedroom. He headed directly to the shower, turning the knob to as cold as he could stand it.

Not that it helped.

Once settled in bed, he lay on his back and tucked his hands behind his head.

The woman his heart suspected could be the one he wanted for now and always would disappear from his life and head to Albuquerque sometime tomorrow unless he could find a way to change her mind. He needed time to work it out. See if this connection between them was real.

He flipped onto his stomach and punched the pillow. Things at the ranch were running smoothly, and he hadn’t had more than a day or two off in years. Maybe he could leave for Albuquerque tomorrow and hook up with Kerry while she’s there. Spend a couple of days with her before meeting with his supplier.

His father and brother could manage without him. Now that they’d worked out their differences, he’d been able to convince the old man to try the new methods Damian had learned in college, and the profits on the ranch had soared. They’d hired several new employees to manage the extra stock, and were on their way to being one of the biggest family-held ranches in Texas. No small feat.

He grinned. Yes, a few days with Kerry. See if this attraction was real, and more importantly, if Kerry felt it, too. It sure seemed so earlier tonight when their eyes met over the miracle birth.

Damian reached for the cell phone by his bed and left a quick message for his dad.

Yes, tomorrow, he’d begin his campaign to convince Kerry to allow him to tag along.