Secret Son, Convenient Wife(20)

Once in the study, Tate tried to concentrate on a thick business report but soon gave up and went to stand by the window. His mind was on Gemma, and he needed to follow his thoughts or they would drive him insane. Just like the woman herself.

As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted her. He wanted her in a big way. And that’s what it came down to between them—the only thing between them.

Want.

A want like no other.

God, how did he continue to want a woman who’d used him like she had? And how could he exorcise her from his system now that she was a part of his life? By ignoring the wanting, that’s how. By refuting it every time it reared its head, like he had last night over dinner, and again this morning in the kitchen. He couldn’t forget seeing her kissing Drake two years ago. The memory was tattooed on his brain. Her physical attributes might temporarily block it out, but it always returned, full force. The future looked dark indeed.

It was all her fault, so why was he feeling rotten about it?

Women!

He loved his mother, but she had let his father down badly. And Gemma had let him down badly. He hadn’t learned to trust his mother again. He wasn’t sure he could learn to trust Gemma. Not for a long time, he decided, as he saw Gemma pushing Nathan’s stroller along the path toward the lake.

The urge to join them was strong. And it had nothing to do with those long legs of Gemma’s showcased by her slim slacks. Heaven help him if she decided to strip down to a swimsuit and use the pool. He knew every inch of her luscious body, remembered every taste of her delicious skin and the husky sounds she made beneath him, the heavenly feel of being inside her.

Remembering was suddenly too much.

He had to concentrate on other things. Things like Nathan. The child who was his son. The paternity test had only proven what he’d already known. He couldn’t even explain how he’d known the connection between him and Nathan was there.

He’d just known.

Just like he knew that if they were spending the week here, the child would need to be occupied. And what he needed to do was concentrate on Nathan’s needs and not his own.

Right.

Nathan couldn’t swim yet because of his ears, so a sandbox and some toy trucks sounded like just the ticket. A friend had bought their son one, and the boy had loved it.

After taking one more look to check that Gemma and Nathan were okay as they reached the lake, Tate went to his laptop and searched the internet for a local toy store. It was much more interesting than reading a report.



After Gemma had tidied up the kitchen, she’d changed Nathan into cute little jeans and a T-shirt. Next, sunscreen on them both, she got his stroller and headed out. Tate had insisted they bring the stroller, though she hadn’t thought she would need it. But now his reason became obvious. He hadn’t intended to spend more time with them—with her—than necessary, and had probably been trying to ease his conscience, figuring she at least wouldn’t have to carry Nathan around everywhere.#p#分页标题#e#

How caring of her new husband, she’d mused cynically.

Now, as she pushed Nathan’s stroller along a side path down to the lake, the sunshine melted her cynicism. It was so beautiful and peaceful out here, with a light spring breeze playing over the rolling countryside, making her feel as if she were walking in a private park.

The lake was even more breathtakingly gorgeous up close, partly surrounded by trees and with a gazebo close by. Along the water’s edge, patches of tall reeds partially hid nests of swans, while others quietly glided on the water, creating gentle ripples over the reflective depths.

Gemma decided to take Nathan out of his stroller and carry him to the water’s edge to show him the swans, when she heard a noise over in a group of trees. She twisted toward the sound, thinking it was Tate, her heart missing a beat. Only it wasn’t Tate. A young teenager came out of the shadows, walking his horse toward the lake.

He jolted when he saw her. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

She stared, not really sure what to say.

“I’m Rolly.” He pulled a face. “Roland, actually. My dad works for the people over the rise there. I help him out. They let me exercise their horses.”

He looked to be around eighteen and didn’t appear threatening, so Gemma relaxed a little. “I’m Gemma, and this is my son, Nathan.”

He nodded as his gaze slid to her son then back. “I’d heard there was a wedding here yesterday.” He glanced toward the stroller near the gazebo steps. “Tate’s not with you?”

She was immediately on her guard and realized that from here she couldn’t be seen from the house. The young man didn’t look dangerous, but who was to say this Rolly was who he said he was? He could be a reporter, and even if he wasn’t, she wasn’t about to say too much.