Bargaining for Baby(4)

"So, you've made up your mind?" he asked and she smiled sweetly.

"If you'd kindly step aside."

"And the baby?"

"We both know how you feel about raising Beau." It was in every curl of his lip.

A sardonic grin tugged one corner of his mouth. "You think you have me figured out, don't you?"

"I wish I could say I had the slightest interest, but I'm afraid I have   as much curiosity about your workings as you've shown toward your  nephew  today."

While she simmered inside, his gaze drilled hers for a protracted, tense   moment before his regal bearing loosened slightly. "What are you   proposing?"

"What you're dying to have me propose. I'll relieve you of any   obligation and take Beau off your hands." She would raise him, and show   him love and loyalty and a million other values of which this man was   clearly devoid. She'd work it out somehow with her job, with her father.   "And if you're worried that I'll ask for financial support, don't be.   I'd rather wash dishes fifteen hours a day than take one penny from   you."

The air heated more, crackling and sparking between them before those big bronzed hands lowered from his belt.

"How are you in small aircraft?"

Her mouth fell open then snapped shut again. What was he talking about? Hadn't he heard a word she'd said?

"I flew down in a twin engine," he went on. "There's room for passengers   but some people get queasy about small planes." His mouth twitched.   "Though I have a feeling you're not the queasy type."

"I meant what I said-"

"You meant what you said to Dahlia," he cut in, but then dropped his   voice as a curious older couple wove around them. "I don't need you to   understand me. Believe me, you don't want to. But know this. I want you   to keep your promise. I want to do right by this boy. I want to give  him  a home." Under the artificial light, his green eyes sparkled. "Come   back with us to Leadeebrook."

A choking breath caught in her chest.

Infuriating. Insufferable. How dare he be charming and sincere now!

But, although she'd like to deny it, the note of caring in his voice had   touched her. Maybe there was an ounce of human in Jack Prescott, after   all.

Sensing her slide, he moved to take over the carriage's handles. Still wary, she shook her head. "I'm not sure … "                       
       
           



       

But then he actually smiled-a damnable slow, bone-melting smile. "I   think you are, Maddy." He began to walk and when she relented and   followed, he added, "You've got two weeks."





Three




Four days later, Maddy clutched her passenger seat armrest as Jack   Prescott's private aircraft touched down on Leadeebrook Station's   unsealed airstrip.

Jack had given her two weeks to fulfil her promise to Dahlia. Two weeks,   no more, to have Beau settled in his new home with his new guardian.   She would've liked more time, or at least the option to discuss the   possibility of an extension should she deem one necessary. But, in the   short period she'd known Jack, of one thing she was certain-he didn't   speak for the sake of hearing his own voice. He was prepared to tolerate   her company for precisely fourteen days. She supposed she ought to be   grateful he'd seen the light and had relented at all.

When she stepped out from the plane onto the floor of the open ended   hanger, the heat hit her like the long breath off a fire. The urge to   spin around and crawl back inside the cool of the sumptuous cabin was   overwhelming. Instead she gritted her teeth and edged out into the   blinding white sunshine.

Shading her brow, she cast a curious glance around the endless isolated   plains-miles of bleached dry grass, parched scattered gum trees, lazy   rolling hills shimmering a hazy purple in the distance.

She worked her dry throat enough to swallow.

Practically any part of Australia could get hot enough to fry eggs on   the pavement. A serious summer's day in Sydney could rival a stint in a   sauna. But out here the heat was different-bone dry-as if any sign of   moisture would evaporate off a person's skin as soon as it surfaced.   Within a week she'd be as dehydrated as the lifeless leaves hanging from   those tired eucalypts.

Something bit her calf. She slapped at a beast of a fly then cringed at   the red dust clinging to her new Keds. Who would choose to live in this   godforsaken wilderness? No wonder Dahlia had escaped.

"Welcome to Leadeebrook."

At the husky voice at her back, Maddy angled around. Jack had followed   her off the plane, aviator sunglasses perched upon his proud nose,   carrying the diaper bag with one arm and Beau in the other.

Grinning, Maddy set her hands on her hips.

Heck, her iron cowboy looked almost relaxed. Nestled against that hard   chest, Beau certainly did, which was a good sign. She'd been so worried.

Since the accident, she'd taken time off work to be with the baby 24/7.   While her father sympathized with the situation, he wasn't pleased that   his star junior account executive had asked for a leave of absence. He   was less pleased when she'd told him she needed an additional two  weeks  out of the office. He needed the national deal she was working on   bagged, no excuses.

She'd worked to reassure him. The Pompadour Shoe and Accessory campaign   and media schedule were a wink away from being polished to a   "simply-sign-here" shine. She'd be back in plenty of time to tidy loose   ends. But these two weeks belonged to Beau, and today, in this   unfamiliar environment, she felt more responsible for that baby than she   could ever have dreamed possible.

When Jack had insisted she leave the plane cabin first-that he would   bring the sleeping baby out directly-she'd automatically gone to object.   She'd grown so used to the weight of him, his powdery scent, his  smile;  she ought to be the one to carry the baby out to greet his new  home.  But her friend's final request had echoed again in Maddy's mind.

Her job here was to do everything in her power to nurture an environment   in which these two could connect and she could walk away knowing that   Beau would be happy and cared for … that, God willing, he'd be loved and   appreciated for the special little person he was.

That meant stepping back.

Watching the baby blink open his sleepy blue eyes and frown   questioningly up into Jack's suntanned face-seeing Jack shift the nappy   bag higher on his arm in order to push the sunglasses back into his   thick hair and return the curious look-a cord in Maddy's chest pulled   tight.

There'd been a slight shift in Jack's attitude toward his nephew. It   seemed that now the funeral was behind them, he'd begun to show a   tentative interest in his ward. Tender looks. Once the barest hint of a   smile. But this was the first time he'd carried the baby, and while his   wall was still steadfastly up, hopefully these small steps were seeds   that would grow into a lasting, mutually loving relationship. Maybe,   despite her misgivings and the sinking feeling that had minced around in   Maddy's belly the whole uncommunicative flight here, Dahlia's wish   would come true. That by the time she returned to Sydney, this aloof   lone cowboy would have opened up, not only his home but also his heart   to the person who needed him most.                       
       
           



       

Maddy stepped forward. But rather than take the baby, she cupped Beau's soft warm crown and smiled.

"He's awake. I can't believe he slept the whole flight."

"Isn't that what babies do? Sleep?"

When Jack's dubious gaze met hers, a frisson of awareness shot like the   crack of a pistol through her blood. His sex appeal went beyond   powerful; it was mesmerizing. The urge to tip close and savor that   hypnotic lure was near irresistible.

Clearly Jack didn't mean for her to melt whenever they came within arm's   distance. He had not the slightest interest in her that way. But she   could do without him looking at her like that-as if she puzzled or   intrigued him. As if he needed to know how her mouth might fit beneath   his.

Her insides twinged and, guilty, she averted her gaze.

Those kinds of feelings were not only misplaced, they were dangerous.   Next thing, she'd be looking at him cross-eyed. If she wanted to survive   the following days-and nights-alone out here in Nowheresville with  this  maddeningly tempting man, she'd best make a pact with herself  right  now.