Chapter 8
It pained her heart to realize that she had to toe the line.
Her son had made it plain that she had to fall in line or else.
That woman was coming to live in her home.
She had had to endure her being here at the ranch for a year until she had gotten rid of her.
Now she was back and it seemed that she would be staying.
She had been forced to supervise the changes her son had insisted on with regards to his suite. He wanted things moved from his closet to accommodate hers. More towels had been put into the bathroom, and a maid had unpacked her clothing and stored them away inside the huge closet.
Her son had also ordered some things online at Romano's and they were being delivered tomorrow. She hardly ever saw him. He would attend to his duties on the ranch early in the morning and then he would be at the hospital. He was in and out, from the ranch to the hospital to check on her.
There was nothing she could do. She was going to have to pretend to welcome that woman in her home and try not to show her distaste for the fact that her son was going to be shacking up with her.
Sara-Lee had failed her, and she had wasted no time letting her know how much.
But she was still hopeful. The woman was in a precarious situation.
She was not out of danger yet. She was going to have to be extremely careful, or she would end up losing the fetus.
She would be basically bedridden, and Barbara knew that a woman like Julianne Merrywood with her driving ambition would soon find that to be chafing.
There was no way she was going to agree to that kind of arrangement for very long.
She would just have to wait patiently for the time when she simply left. Her son might have blinders on, but she was seeing clearly. She would get tired and want to leave, or she might just have a miscarriage after all.
With that in mind, Barbara firmed her lips and went about seeing to the decorating changes with a grim smile on her lips.
She would endure the woman being inside her space.
After all, it was a big ranch, and she would be spending most of her time in Bryson's suite.
She would be polite and courteous. After all, she was a McNab and could tolerate an intolerable situation.
She would play hostess if it killed her and just wait for her to leave or for something to drive a wedge between her and Bryson. She had no doubt that would happen very soon.
"Are you going to carry me around everywhere?
" she asked as he lifted her from the wheelchair and into the passenger seat of the jeep.
She had been sprung from the hospital, which was a relief as she had been going insane, just lying in bed.
The room might have had all the amenities of a five-star hotel, but staying put had fried her nerves.
But she was aware that she was exchanging one elegant prison for another.
"If that's what it takes, yes." Putting her down, he secured the seatbelt around her before rounding the hood and getting behind the wheel.
"I don't want to go to the ranch." She had been having this argument since the week started and he had ignored her.
"You have no choice." He shifted into drive, glancing at her briefly and noticing the fire in her eyes.
"I have a damn choice. I'm a grown-ass woman and you cannot just order me around as if I'm a child."
"You're with child." He exercised patience as he navigated the midday traffic. It was difficult to believe that it had been a week since he received the call from her that had scared ten years off his life.
"You have a difficult pregnancy. The doctors said it's going to take some time for you to start doing normal things again.
You almost miscarried, almost lost our baby, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that you and our baby are okay.
Even if it means you lashing out at me for it.
I intend to take care of you, even if I have to place guards outside the doors of our bedroom to do so. "
The glaring look she threw at him was lost because he was not looking at her. "I'm beginning to hate you."
He threw her a mild look and was not even offended, damn him!
"That's fine. As long as you're all right, I can take anything."
"I'm going to make things miserable for you."
"Is that so?" he asked in a mildly interested tone. "How so?"
She wanted to scream at his reasonable tone. Nothing she did was getting a rise out of him. And she felt like a bitch.
"Oh, bite me," she muttered, settling back and closing her eyes. Her eyes popped open when she felt the slight pinch on her cheek.
"Your wish is always my command." Amusement glittered in his eyes as she turned her head to stare at him.
"You bit me."
"You asked me to."
"You're a moron." She had to bite down on the mirth springing from her throat. "I still hate you."
Leaning over, he stole a quick kiss before the lights changed. "And I love you."
Settling back, she turned her head to look out the window at the passing scenery.
The evidence of the storm had all but disappeared.
She had heard from her bed in the hospital that he had put men on the job to do the cleaning up and restore the power lines.
In between his constant visits to the hospital and his responsibilities at the ranch, he had seen to his town.
The man was a typhoon, she thought whimsically.
Brian had not been surprised to receive the call that she was staying.
"Honey, it's for the best. I will let the others know. Just take care of yourself and that young one you're carrying."
Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. Going back to the ranch to face his mother was not something she was relishing, not one bit.
To her frustration, he insisted on carrying her inside.
Her hopes that she would avoid seeing his mother were dashed as soon as they stepped into the lofty foyer.
Barbara McNab swept into the hallway as soon as they crossed the threshold, her sharp green eyes taking in the way her son was holding the woman she did not approve of.
"Mother."
"You missed supper. Ms. Merrywood, welcome to our home." Julianne raised her brows at the polite and slightly condescending tone and had a feeling that the woman was making it clear that she was merely a guest and an unwelcome one at that. "If you're hungry..."
"They fed me at the hospital, thanks anyway." Julianne turned towards Bryson. "I really need to lie down."
"Of course. I'll be right down. Please tell the kitchen not to bother rustling up anything for me. I need to go out and check on some fences. I will get something to eat with the men."
Barbara nodded, turning to watch as her son strode towards the staircase and bounded up the stairs. Schooling her expression, she made her way into the lovely blue and white salon where she had been dealing with her correspondence.
"This is humiliating," she muttered as he placed her carefully against the pillows.
"You're going to have to be more specific," he told her mildly as he pulled the sheets over her and sat at her hip.
"Your mother and the staff saw you carrying me inside as if I'm a child."
"Really? You want to go there?" Leaning over, he kissed the pout off her lips. "You're being paranoid."
"I'm being practical. You cannot keep doing this. I cannot keep doing this. The doctors said I can walk. I'm not used to just lying around and not doing anything. I need to get some exercise."
"And you can do that by walking around the room at intervals.
I mean it, darling. If I have to post guards inside the room to make sure you stick to the doctors' orders, that's what I'll do.
" He flicked a finger on her forehead that had her glaring at him.
"You're too damned stubborn for your own good. "
"Oh, just go away."
"I will and hope that when I return, your disposition will have improved." He grinned at the dirty look she threw him.
"Don't count on it."
Sitting back down, he pushed the tendrils of curls from her forehead.
"I'm in love with you." He shook his head when she opened her mouth.
"I don't need you to make jokes or brush it aside.
I love you, Julianne, and this is me telling you that I would do anything for you.
And if that means keeping you safe, keeping our baby safe, then so be it. "
Julianne felt her throat thickening as the tears threatened to fall and could not find the words to respond.
But he didn't seem to want words. Bending his head, he took her lips and gave her the sweetest, most melting kiss she had ever had.
Her arms came around his neck as she held him there, just savoring his potent mouth, the tingle of awareness racing through her body.
"Christ!" he whispered hoarsely, reluctantly ending the kiss. "I just might have to take a bloody cold shower before heading out."
"You started it."
"Yes, I did." He cupped her face between his palms. "Stay in bed." With a last rough-tender kiss on her lips, he left.
Pressing a hand to her stomach, she blew out a breath and realized that unlike before, she could not simply leave.
She loved him so much that leaving was no longer an option.
And he loved her. As much as she tried to downplay her feelings, he wasn't afraid to express his.
He had often accused her of not taking him seriously.
But she did, and she was scared, afraid that he was going to leave just like her father did.
She had been to therapy, and even if the sessions had not ended up with the therapist explaining about abandonment issues, she would have known that was what was wrong with her.
But he had changed her mindset, and she could no longer ignore or deny it. Sliding down on the pillows, she closed her eyes and drifted off.