Chapter Eleven
The moment Redford’s gaze met Carmen’s something fired to life inside of him. Had it been a month? How could she look so damn beautiful while ill? Granted he could see the circles under her eyes, but her skin looked radiant, her eyes bright and those lips he had kissed so many times looked ready to be kissed again.
He knew at that moment it would not have been as easy as he’d assumed to take her out on a date and have the willpower to not make love to her again. Even now, intense desire flowed through his veins, making him aware of everything about her. Even that cute baby-doll gown she had on.
“What are you doing here, Redford?” she asked again, quickly placing the bed covers across her thighs, which had been exposed by her short nightgown. Evidently, she’d noticed his gaze.
“I arrived last night after finding out you were pregnant and having a difficult time.”
“And this affects you how?”
He couldn’t believe she had the audacity to ask him that. “If you’re pregnant, the baby is mine.”
“You’re sure of that? You used a condom.”
He knew her words, spoken sharply, were meant to get a rise out of him. They didn’t. “Yes, I used a condom, but I’m also aware that we shared multiple orgasms that night. A condom can only hold so much, Carmen.”
The blush on her cheeks was priceless. She recovered quickly and lifted her chin even higher. “I admit your sperm might have contributed, but my baby isn’t yours nor is it ours. It’s mine. I got it from your own lips that you don’t want kids.”
“Yes, but that’s a moot point now since you are pregnant. I’m not the type of man to walk away from fatherhood.”
“Tell that to the next woman you impregnate. At the time we slept together you didn’t want kids, so there’s no reason for me to think you’d want mine.”
“I’m telling you I do.”
“Well, I don’t believe you.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. She was being difficult. Leslie had warned him that she would be. “Then I guess I need to prove it to you.”
“You can’t prove it to me.”
“I believe that I can.”
“You can certainly try.”
She’d said just the words he had wanted her to. “Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to do so, Carmen. I will make sure you don’t regret it.”
He saw the confused look on her face. “What are you talking about, Redford?”
“You’ve just told me I can prove to you that I want our child.”
“And?”
“And I intend to do so.”
He thought she looked cute rolling her eyes when she replied, “Whatever.”
“Don’t you want to know how I intend to do so?” he asked.
“No, because such a thing can’t be done.”
“We’ll see. Now I’ll let you rest.” When he reached the door, he turned and asked, “Is there anything you need before I go?”
“Not a thing.”
Redford gave her a smile before leaving. He doubted she knew just what she had agreed to. However, she would find out soon enough.
Carmen watched Redford leave, confused as all heck. Where had he come from? When had he gotten here? More importantly, why on earth would he claim to want her baby when he’d told her he didn’t want kids? And what was that nonsense about him proving something to her?
She was about to pick up her phone to summon Leslie when her bedroom door opened, and Leslie walked in. “I was just about to call you,” Carmen said. “When did Redford get here?”
“Last night with Sloan. I told you Sloan had told him about your pregnancy. I didn’t tell you about him being here because we got sidetracked when you said his name wouldn’t go on your baby’s birth certificate. I knew that wouldn’t fly with Redford and felt he was the one who should tell you that. I gather he did.”
“Yes, but like I told you, I don’t believe him.”
“But I understand you agreed to let him prove otherwise.”
“Yes, but he will be wasting his time.”
“I guess he feels he can prove it while he’s here taking care of you.”
A dumbfounded look appeared on Carmen’s face. “What are you talking about? Redford will not be taking care of me.”
“Did you not tell him he had to prove he wants the baby?”
“Yes, but I didn’t say anything about him staying here to take care of me.”
“You told him to prove he wants the baby and staying here to take care of you is his way of doing so.”
“That’s utter nonsense.”
Leslie crossed her arms over her chest. “Redford said he asked you if you wanted to know how he intended to go about proving it and you said that you didn’t want to know.”
Yes, she had said that. “But I had no idea what he was planning.”
“Well, he did offer to tell you.”
Carmen frowned. “Whose side are you on, Leslie?”
“I will tell you what you would tell me if our roles were reversed. I am on the side of what’s fair. You would take any opportunity to right a wrong, Carmen. You and I both know it. We also know you don’t go back on your word and you all but gave Redford your word that he could prove he wanted the baby the two of you made together.”
Carmen’s frown deepened. “We might have made it together, but this is my baby and my baby alone.”
“Redford thinks otherwise.”
Carmen didn’t say anything for a moment, and then asked, “Where is he?”
“He left to go to the hotel to gather his stuff to move in here.”
“That won’t be happening. When he returns, let him know that I want to see him immediately.”
“Okay, I will do that. But I want to give you something to think about.”
“What?”
“There are some men who would run away from their responsibility, whether they wanted to be a father or not. You should appreciate a man who wants your baby and is willing to prove that he does.”
Carmen was quiet and then she said softly, “That’s something I did notice during my conversation with Redford.”
“What?”
“He never referred to my baby as mine, although I always do. During our discussion, he always referred to it as ours.”
“I think that’s a good mindset for Redford to have. No matter what kind of relationship you and he might share, the bottom line is that the two of you created a life together. Now...are you ready for lunch?”
She saw how easily Leslie changed the subject and knew her best friend well enough to know the move had been intentional. She’d wanted to leave her with something to think about. “Yes. I’m hoping I keep it down.”
When Leslie left her alone, her thoughts shifted back to Redford and just what she would say to him when she saw him. One thing was for certain, he would not be staying here to take care of her and that was final.
Redford tapped lightly on the door before entering to find Carmen sleeping. Leslie had told him Carmen wanted to see him as soon as he returned. He figured she now knew his plan of action and wasn’t happy with it. Too bad. He refused to let her renege on her word that he could prove her wrong.
Glancing around the room, he saw the colors in here were even brighter than those in her living room. The bright yellow walls were almost blinding. However, the mint green curtains managed to tone the effect down a bit. Huge throw pillows, a good half dozen or so, were lined against one wall and he figured they would have a place on her bed when it was empty.
Laying on top of the bed covers was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was slumped with her back against a pillow while sleeping in what he assumed was a comfortable position. Her hair was combed back in a single braid situated across her shoulder. He had noticed the hair style earlier; it looked rather cute on her. Sleeping made her long lashes more pronounced and her lips appeared even more kissable than he remembered.
He slid into the chair across from the bed with his gaze still trained on her. She wore a robe over her short gown, and his gaze lingered on her tummy. It was hard to imagine a child growing inside her at this moment and giving its mother a hard time while doing so.
He recalled his mother telling him how sick she’d been in the early months of her pregnancy with him. His father had told him one time, or two, maybe three, what a difficult pregnancy she’d had. He had been tempted to call his mother and ask her about it, but then she would question his inquiry.
Right now, he was reluctant to let anyone know. Especially Lorelei St. James. She would catch the next plane out of Skagway—although she hated flying—to help take care of the woman who would be giving birth to her first grandchild.
His parents would demand he do the right thing, and to them that meant a wedding. Redford would have to reiterate to his parents how he felt about marrying any woman, baby or no baby. Although he could accept becoming a father, there was no way he could accept the role of husband to anyone. Ever.
More than once, his father had questioned why he hadn’t gotten over what Candy had done and moved on after all this time. It was hard to explain to a man who’d married the woman he loved at twenty and who’d been faithful to her through high school and a nearly forty-year marriage that a deceitful Candy had broken his heart in a way that could never be repaired.
Carmen shifted in bed and so did his gaze on her. It moved from her stomach to her face. She still had that peaceful look, and he was glad for that. When he’d returned with his luggage, Leslie told him Carmen had thrown up for the third time that day. He could tell Leslie was concerned. According to Leslie, the doctor had warned Carmen that things might get worse before they got better. More than anything, he wanted her to know he would be here for her and their child. No matter how long it took, he would remain right here.
Last night from his hotel room, confident of his executive team’s ability to handle things in his absence, he had told them he would be taking an official leave of absence for the next six weeks, possibly longer. Although he was certain they were curious as to the reason, he hadn’t told them any more than that.
Redford moved the chair sideways, closer to the bed. Then, leaning back, he stretched out his legs in front of him. He might as well grab some sleep. He had a feeling when she woke up and he laid out his plans for the next few weeks, she would not be happy about them. That meant he needed to come up with a counter-plan.
Not only was he an obsessive researcher, but he had the art of persuasion and negotiation down pat. He intended to use those skills because he refused to leave her. She was having his baby, and he was determined to take care of them both.
Carmen’s eyes felt heavy, but she lifted them open when she picked up the scent of a man. Not just any man but that of Redford St. James. There was no way she could not recognize his cologne when the fragrance had been entrenched in her skin after they’d made love. Was that the reason she had dreamed about him practically every night since? Replaying in her mind everything they’d done? Their actions in the cottage were what had gotten her in this condition. But still, she couldn’t wipe from her mind all those images of a naked Redford, his dark eyes heated with desire and a certain body part fully erect.
Now he was here, clothed, with his head tilted back, sleeping. And she couldn’t take her eyes off him. For now, she wouldn’t question why. Her gaze moved over his gorgeous facial features. She couldn’t help wondering which of them he would pass on to her son or daughter. Maybe the shape of his nose, or maybe the hypnotic curve of his lips, or possibly his noble yet angular jaw. She was certain her child would be beautiful because of him. Carmen shifted her gaze back to his eyes.
She was certain she hadn’t made a sound, but suddenly his eyes opened and she fought back a gasp when his intense gaze held hers. She felt a tingling sensation that began in her breasts and slowly moved down her body to stop right there in the apex of her thighs.
Surely this wasn’t supposed to be happening to her when she was a sick woman. A woman who couldn’t keep anything in her stomach. Evidently, that had nothing to do with desire. Well, it should. Did she need to remind herself again that desiring Redford St. James was the reason she was in this condition?
“You’re awake.”
His voice was deep, husky and too sexy for this time of day. “Did you expect me to sleep the entire day?”
“It wouldn’t be uncommon for a pregnant woman.”
She wondered how he would know such a thing and decided to ask him.
“Research. You wouldn’t believe all the information I’ve read on pregnancy since finding out about yours.”
She’d heard about his obsession with research. More than once she’d heard Sloan call him Einstein. “We need to talk, Redford,” she said, deciding not to put it off any longer.
“Okay,” he said, straightening up in his chair and looking at her intently with a sensual smile on his face.
Carmen refused to let his smile get to her. There was no way she would let him stay here to take care of her, no matter what he wanted to prove. She was about to tell him that when nauseousness swept over her, and she recognized what it was. Ignoring the dizziness, she quickly got out of bed to rush into the bathroom. Before her feet could touch the floor, she was swept into strong arms—arms whose strength she remembered—as he quickly carried her to the bathroom.