Chapter Six
She wanted to believe him. She really did.
With a sigh, she said, “I know you think you won’t leave, Spence, but. . .but just because we had good sex once isn’t enough reason to believe things will work out. Lots of people have good sex and still get divorced.”
“We won’t. The baby is as much my responsibility as it is yours. Why shouldn’t I want to be there as much as you?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s the way nature made it. We’re the mothers.”
“I’m not buying that. Tell me why you think I’ll leave. Cactus is my home.”
“Maybe you’ll send me away. I like it here in Cactus. If I take care of my baby, I can stay here. If I ask you to take care of me and my baby, you can decide—”
“But I won’t.”
With a sigh, she realized she was going to have to trot out her family history so he’d understand. “Spence, I’ve been through this before.”
“You’ve been pregnant before?”
“No! Of course not. But my mother got pregnant when she wasn’t married. My father married her but. . .but he was unhappy. Then he left. My mother told me, from the time I was old enough to understand, that it was my fault my daddy didn’t stay. My fault she had to work so hard to support us. My fault she was unhappy.”
“But that’s not—”
“I know. But I’ve seen it with other men. I’ve had friends who were abandoned. It just doesn’t seem smart to base a marriage on a baby.”
“You think it’s better for a kid to not have a daddy? For him to wonder all his life why his daddy’s not there?” He paused, then asked, “Did you ever hear from your daddy?”
She shook her head, trying to look as if it didn’t matter. “No, my mother heard he’d died in a car wreck when I was eight.” With a wry smile, she added, “She blamed me for that, too.”
“Your mother—”
“Wasn’t much of a mother. I know. And I promise you I won’t do that to our child. I already love her.”
“Her?”
“I think of the baby as a girl.”
“So you don’t know yet that it’s a girl?”
“No.”
“Then I’m thinking it’s a boy. Hauks have boys.”
She smiled. He sounded as if he thought he could change the sex of the baby with positive thinking. “Girl or boy, I promise I’ll take good care of the baby. And you can visit whenever you wish.”
“And you think I’m the kind of guy who would settle for being a weekend dad?”
Truth to tell, nothing he’d ever done had made her think that. Spence wasn’t like most men, she knew. But she didn’t believe a marriage for the sake of a child had a chance of making it. Spence didn’t love her. At least he hadn’t said he did—not when they’d made love at the church, or since. He’d tried to contact her, true, but that was because he was responsible.
And he’d said he liked the sex. Big surprise. He was a man, after all.
“No, of course not. I’m trying to tell you that you don’t have to marry me because I’m pregnant. I’ll even let you help pay Doc’s bill, if you want.” A sop to his sense of responsibility might help.
It didn’t work.
“That’s not enough. I want to live with my child, to be there for him. . .for his mother. We’ll—”
“I’m really tired,” she said, interrupting him. “Maybe we could discuss this another time.” If she listened to him much longer, she might forget reality. She stood up, hoping he’d leave her in peace.
He stood with her. “I know you need to rest. But we haven’t finished discussing this, Melanie. I won’t take no for an answer.”
She smiled and said nothing. He couldn’t argue with a smile.
He walked to the door and she followed. Opening it, he turned around.
She held her breath, afraid he was going to continue the argument. He didn’t. Instead, he pulled her against him and lowered his lips to hers. The magic of his kiss held true, and she almost forgot she wasn’t going to give in to him.
He released her lips and bowed his forehead to hers. “This is getting to be a habit.”
“One that we shouldn’t indulge in,” she said softly, but she didn’t move away. His warmth felt too good against hers.
“You keep saying no, but your body is saying something else.” His lips descended on hers again, and her arms slid around his neck. This kiss reminded her of their lovemaking, taking her to those magical depths where nothing mattered but the man holding her.
“Think about it, honey,” he whispered as he released his hold on her. Then he turned and closed the door behind him.
She leaned against it and sighed. She’d think about it, all right.
She’d think about the lesson she’d learned that evening in the church. That Spence Hauk’s touch was different from any other man’s.
She’d thought she was in love with Cal, but Spence had erased Cal from her mind.
She’d been aware of Spence last fall. He’d been fun, relaxed, handsome.
But she’d already fixed on Cal . . . because he was safe. He wouldn’t leave like her father. She felt sure of that. After all, he was a lawman.
Once Spence had made love to her, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, longing for his touch. She called herself a weak woman, thinking she loved one man and wanted another. But the next time she’d seen Cal, she hadn’t felt any interest in him. Which was a relief since he was Jessica’s husband.
That’s when she realized she had a crush on Cal. Not because she was attracted to him, but because she thought he was safe.
Spence was safe, too. He wouldn’t leave. But he could break her heart. And that was exactly what made him dangerous.
 
SPENCE WENT BACK to Lobo’s. After all, it’d be at least an hour before the guys went to the restaurant for dinner. Where Melanie would already be at work.
His friends greeted him, and his father offered to let him take his place in the pool game. “No, thanks, Dad. I think I’ll watch. I’ve got some things on my mind.”
“Did you see that pretty little lady home?”
“Yeah.”
When he didn’t add anything else, the game went on. He watched Cal make a shot. He was a good friend. It wasn’t his fault the woman Spence loved was in love with him. He had Jessica.
But Spence had his pride. He wasn’t going to tell Melanie he loved her. He didn’t want to hear her rejection. He figured he’d marry her and gradually let her know he cared about her. The baby was enough reason for them to get started.
Only Melanie didn’t think the same way. Crazy woman.
She intended to pay her own way, to take care of the baby by herself. She didn’t want any help from him. He could visit if he wanted.
Damn it! That wasn’t right.
“You okay?” Cal asked, standing beside him.
“Huh? Yeah, sure. Just thinking.”
Cal moved back to the table to play, and Spence tried to concentrate on the game. But all he could see was Melanie sitting across from him in her little kitchen.
When the game finally ended, everyone walked over to the restaurant. Melanie greeted all of them with a smile. Spence thought her smile for Cal was warmer than the one she gave him. In fact, the smile he—the father of her baby—got wasn’t much of a smile at all.
“Did you get any rest?”
“Yes, thank you, Spence. This way, please,” she said brightly to all of them, as if they didn’t know which table they’d be using.
After they all sat, Melanie passed around the menus. When she handed Spence his, he wrapped his hand over hers. She jerked her hand back and hurried away from the table, her cheeks red.
“Pretty lady,” Joe said, watching his son.
“Yeah.”
 
JOE HAUK WAS PLEASED. He’d been under strict instructions from his wife to pressure Spence about marrying. Now it looked as if he wouldn’t have to interfere in his son’s life, and that pleased him. If he was any judge of character, Spence was already in love. The boy couldn’t keep his eyes off Melanie Rule.
Edith would be pleased.
And it wasn’t just that damn bet. Edith really did want Spence’s happiness. Joe believed that or he wouldn’t be helping his wife out.
He and Edith had had thirty-six years together, and he hoped they had another thirty-six. They’d had hard times, of course, but everyone did. Edith had been his lover, his friend, his companion.
If Spence could find the same kind of life with Melanie, Joe would be satisfied.
“She seems the marrying kind,” he said, an innocent look on his face.
“You’d think so,” Spence returned.
“Problems in paradise?” Cal asked.
Joe watched his son struggle to come up with an answer.
Finally, Spence said, “Isn’t there always a problem when a woman’s involved?”
“I think that’s a fair statement,” Mac agreed.
“But you’re a cynic,” Cal pointed out.
“True.” Mac did not argue.
“Well, I’m not,” Spence said, sitting up straight, as if preparing for battle. “I’m going to marry and enjoy life, just like Cal.”
“Whoa! I didn’t say married life was easy.” But Cal was grinning.
“But it’s well worth it,” Ed, his father, added.
“Yep,” Joe agreed.
“Yeah,” Spence said fervently.
Joe knew Edith was going to be thrilled.
 
THE FOUR WOMEN had carefully avoided the subject of their bet all evening. Finally, Ruth brought it up.
“Anyone have anything good to report?”
“About what?” Mabel asked, rearranging her cards.
“About the bet, of course. Tuck is out of town.”
“Where?” Florence asked.
“Don’t know. He said he’d be back Sunday or Monday.”
Edith kept staring at her cards.
“What about you, Edith?” Ruth asked. “Is Spence showing any signs of—”
“No.”
“I thought he liked that cute brunette working at Jess’s restaurant,” Mabel said, frowning at her friend.
“He said she’s in love with someone else. I don’t want him to get married and be unhappy.”
“No, that would be horrible,” Florence agreed. “That’s what happened to Mac.”
“Does anyone know of any nice young ladies to introduce to him?” Edith asked hopefully.
They all solemnly shook their heads.
“Well,” Edith said, “I’ve asked his father to talk to him. Maybe that will help.”
“Those father-to-son talks never work,” Mabel said. “Ed always beats around the bush so much that Cal can’t figure out what he means.”
“Do you remember when the boys asked Joe about sex after seeing the bull service a cow?” Ruth asked, a smile on her face. “They were only about four. It was before Mac came,” she added for Florence’s benefit.
They all laughed at that memory, but Edith’s spirits weren’t raised. She was worried about her son’s future. Maybe Joe would have better luck.
 
JOE WAS WAITING for Edith when she got home that night. He couldn’t wait to tell her her troubles were over.
“Guess what?”
“What, dear?” Edith asked as she removed her earrings.
“You don’t have to worry about Spence anymore.”
“I don’t?” she asked in surprise, turning around to face him.
“Nope. That boy is as determined to marry as you are for him to do so.”
“He is? You talked to him?”
“Didn’t have to. He was with this pretty brunette. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. And at dinner, he told us he’s going to get married. Her name’s Melanie.” He smiled triumphantly at his wife, sure he was about to receive a big hug.
“Oh, no!” Edith responded instead, suddenly sitting on the bed.
“Honey, what’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”
“I asked him about her the other day. But he said there was no chance because she was in love with someone else.”
“Maybe she changed her mind.”
“I don’t think so. I could tell Spence was interested in her. I’m afraid she’s taking him as second choice. Oh, Joe, I don’t want that kind of marriage for Spence.”
“Well, now, Edie, you don’t know that.”
“Oh, yes, I do. I can feel it here.” She put her hand over her heart.
Feeling guilty, as if he’d caused this disaster, Joe tried to apologize.
“Oh, it’s not your fault, dear.” She got up and began pacing the floor. “I have to do something. Only I don’t know what.”
Joe sighed. It was going to be a long night.
 
SPENCE WAITED for Melanie to get off work again.
“Spence, what are you doing?” she asked as she came from the back of the restaurant.
“I want to be sure you get home safely.”
“It’s just across the square, not a mile through the jungle,” she said, smiling.
Ah, he loved her smile. “Indulge me, honey. I promise I won’t ask to come in. But I want to be sure you’re safe.”
She didn’t say anything else, which he took for acceptance and fell into step with her. After they came down the front steps, he took her hand in his.
“Done any more thinking about our earlier conversation?”
“No, I was too busy.”
“So your answer is still no?”
“My answer to what?”
“To my marriage proposal.”
“I don’t remember a proposal. I remember you saying we’d be married, but no proposal.”
“Is that why you said no?”
She smiled at him and he dropped her hand and put his arm around her shoulders.
“No. That would be a silly reason to turn you down.”
“Another silly reason would be because you’re pregnant.”
She tried to pull away from his hold, but he didn’t let her. “I’ve already told you, Spence. That’s not a good reason to marry.”
“I think the baby would think it’s a good reason. If you’d had a choice, wouldn’t you have wanted a daddy?”
She took in a deep breath, but she didn’t answer him. “We’re here. Thanks for walking me home.”
“I’m seeing you upstairs.”
Not arguing, she hurried up the stairs, as if anxious to get rid of him. And she probably was, because she didn’t want to answer his question.
When she reached her door, she tried to dismiss him again. “Good night. Thank you—”
He wasn’t interested in words anymore. He wanted to touch her, to feel her against him, to find the magic.
He slanted his mouth across hers and kissed her deeply, his hands stroking her, urging her ever closer, even though every inch of her was imprinted on his body now.
When his fingers slid beneath her sweater, coming in contact with soft, warm skin, he wanted to strip her naked there in the hall.
“Spence—” she began as his lips left hers to trace her jaw, but his mouth returned to hers. He didn’t want to talk. She didn’t fight him. In fact, her eagemess inspired him to greater heights. She opened up to him as she’d done at the wedding.
Suddenly she pushed against him. He relaxed his hold, not willing to force her. “Honey, let’s go inside.”
“No! You . . . you said you wouldn’t ask to come in. We’ve made this mistake once, Spence. We can’t do it again.”
A mistake. She called their glorious lovemaking a mistake. “Why? We can’t get you pregnant again.”
She gave a brief chuckle, leaning her forehead against his shoulder. “No, we can’t do that again. But we’re not going to marry, we’re not going to . . . to have sex again. You need to get on with your life. And the baby and I will be fine.”
“Nope. You need to marry me, and the three of us will be fine.”
“I can’t do that, Spence.”
“Why not?”
“Because a marriage without love won’t work.”
She was telling him again she loved Cal. Didn’t she realize he’d never marry her? He and Jess were made for each other.
“Please, I need to go to bed. I’m exhausted.”
He knew she was tired. He’d been raised to be a gentleman, so all he could do was leave. But he wasn’t giving up.
“Okay, I’ll leave. If you give me one more kiss.”
She swallowed, looking a little panicked. “You promise?”
“I promise.” His heart sang when her arms slid up his chest, her hands linking behind his neck, and she leaned into him. He took his kiss, one that would keep him up a long time that night, but it would be worth the lack of sleep.
 
AS THEY CAME OUT of church the next morning, Edith turned to her husband. “I forgot to put something in the oven for dinner. Would you take me to The Last Roundup?”
“Now, Edie, I don’t think—”
She glared at him. “As much as I’ve cooked for you all these years, I can’t believe you’re refusing to take me out to eat.”
“Edie, you know that’s not true. I’m worried about what you’re going to do.”
She stared at him, daring him to refuse her again—which, of course, he didn’t.
When they reached the restaurant, Melanie Rule was working as hostess, as Edith had expected. Such a lovely girl. It was too bad.
“Melanie, hello,” she said, smiling.
“Hello, Mrs. Hauk, Mr. Hauk. I should have a table for you in just a minute.”
Melanie hoped she had a table for the Hauks. She certainly didn’t want any more conversation with them. She checked with the waitresses and found a table available.
“This way, please.”
After seating them, she handed them the menus and prepared to leave.
“Melanie, dear, could you get a short break?” Edith asked. “I’d like to talk with you for a minute.”
“Possibly. I’ll ask Jessica if she can cover for me.”
“Thank you, dear.”
Melanie went into the kitchen to find Jessica, wondering what Spence’s mother wanted. Surely he hadn’t told her about the baby. Or had Jerry told someone and word had gotten back to the Hauks?
“Jess, could you cover for me for about ten minutes? Mrs. Hauk needs to talk to me.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. I’ll hurry,” she added with a smile before she went over to their table.
“Is now all right, Mrs. Hauk?”
“Yes, thank you. It’s perfect.” She looked across at her husband. “Excuse yourself, please, Joe.”
“Edie, don’t—”
His wife glared at him and he stopped midsentence and slid out of the booth.
Now Melanie was really worried if it was something Joe Hauk couldn’t hear. She took his place in the booth and looked at Spence’s mother.
“Dear, I want to ask you not to marry my son.”