A Baby by Chance Read online

  Together, they sat down to eat.

  “So, what do you usually do most mornings after breakfast?” Madison asked in the same brisk, businesslike tone she had used the evening before.

  Chance watched her sip her juice and tried not to think how her soft lips had felt ghosting over his skin, or how long it would be before he felt them again. Not long, if he had his way, that was for damn sure. “Depends on whether it’s one of the days I have my part-time help here or not.” Chance dug into his wheat flakes with gusto and tried not to think about making love to her again. He couldn’t afford to rush things here. Rushing things was what had gotten them into so much trouble in the first place.

  “The boys from Lost Springs don’t come every day?” Madison asked in the soft throaty voice that had so undone him the month before they’d met in person.

  Aware she was studying him from beneath that fringe of blond lashes, Chance gulped his coffee. The burning liquid in his throat was nothing compared to the scorching heat in his groin and the warmth gathering in his chest. “They always get Sundays off,” he told her, as if that was all he’d been thinking about. “During the summer, they come in the middle of the day, unless I need extra help, but in the school year it’s late afternoons only.”

  Madison sipped her milk. “They won’t be in the commercial anyway, so just forget them for a moment. For our purposes, pretend you’re running the ranch alone, with no assistance whatsoever.” She searched his eyes. “What would you do around here first thing in the morning?”

  After making slow, leisurely love to you? Chance wondered silently, easily imagining Madison living here with him—as his woman—even after their baby was born.

  Aware she was waiting for his answer, he smiled and said, “I’d go out and feed and water the horses and muck out the stalls. Put the horses in the pastures, and work with the ones on the schedule for that day.”

  “Would you mind doing that for me this morning?”

  “Not at all.” He’d be happy to do a lot more for her, too.

  Madison jotted a few notes, then looked at him seriously. “Will you mind if I take pictures of you while you’re working? It will help me a lot. I can send them back to AMV and Connelly and Associates. It’ll help in the preparations. The more that’s decided before the director and the crew actually get here, the faster the filming of the commercial will be.”

  Chance was all for getting them in and out as quickly as possible. “Fine,” he said shortly. As much as he liked having Madison with him, he was not looking forward to filming the damn commercial. On the other hand, it was what had brought him and Madison together again, giving their relationship—whatever it turned out to be—another chance.

  Madison made a few more notes while she munched her cereal, then rubbed her forehead as if she had the beginnings of a headache.

  “Are you sure you’re up to this?” Chance asked gruffly, wishing she’d realize it didn’t hurt to give herself a break every now and then.

  Madison gave him a look that reminded him to mind his own business. “If I’m tired later, I’ll nap. But I’m used to going all day long.”

  Was she ever, Chance thought hours later. In fact, she was damn near indefatigable, asking questions, making notes, snapping photos of him at every turn. At first he was self-conscious. It felt odd, having her follow him around, peppering him with questions, documenting practically every breath he took. But he got used to it, even if he couldn’t stop wanting to kiss and hold and make love to her all over again.

  By the time the evening rolled around and the Lost Springs boys had left for the day, it felt as if Madison had been on the ranch with him forever. It was going to be damn lonely if and when she left again. But he didn’t want to think about the inevitable. Not while she was here.

  “What do you want to do this evening?” he asked after they had both showered and put together a supper of baked chicken, garlic roasted potatoes, green beans and fresh fruit.

  Madison shot him an amazed look as she helped carry their food to the table. Her hair was still damp from her shower, her cheeks and nose pink from a day spent in the sun. In deference to the warmth of the summer evening, she had dressed in a snug-fitting red T-shirt and khaki hiking shorts that showed off her deliciously long legs. Her skin was as soft and luminous as her hair, and her bare feet were every bit as sexy as the rest of her, the shapely toenails painted a delicate shell pink. Next to her, dressed in faded jeans, boots and a khaki shirt, Chance felt almost overdressed.

  He held out her chair, and Madison slid into it gracefully. She thanked him with a smile, then spread her napkin on her lap. “I’m going to work.”

  “You’ve already worked all day,” Chance pointed out. Madison had surprised him by being an excellent cook. She almost put his considerable culinary skills to shame.

  Madison sipped her milk while he dug into the food with gusto. “There’s a lot to do to get this campaign up and rolling in six weeks,” she said, taking a delicate bite of chicken.

  Chance shrugged and passed her the basket of oven-warmed rolls. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect her and their baby. “We can expand the time.” Hell, he’d like to draw out her stay with him.

  Madison shook her head. “The client would never allow it.” Her eyes flashed a storm warning. “They’ve got to have the campaign up and running by the end of the summer in order to get ready for the January debut of the Ranchero.”

  Damn, Chance thought, although he had figured as much. He was going to have to find a way to spend some time with her that was not business-related.

  “What are you planning to do?” Madison asked with a cursory smile.

  He had hoped to spend time with Madison and get to know her a little better, not just for the baby’s sake, but their own. Clearly that was going to have to wait for another day. “Work on the books, I guess,” Chance told her indifferently. “Enjoy the sunset.” He tried to hide his disappointment that he would probably be enjoying the sunset alone.

  * * *

  CHANCE’S PREDICTION PROVED accurate. Madison went right back to work as soon as the dishes were finished, and labored through sunset and beyond. Not wanting to disturb her, Chance brought the ranch books up to date, then sat on the front porch, rocking and thinking, wondering how different things might have been between them if only he had waited and gotten to know her before they had made love.

  They would have seen each other again beyond that first weekend, he was sure of it. One thing would have led to another. She would have come to his bed at some point, maybe even carried on a hot and heavy love affair until the traveling back and forth between Dallas and Wyoming wore on them, and they broke it off. But it would have been great while it lasted.

  But that hadn’t happened, and now they were roped into the current situation. Chance knew Madison felt trapped. He could see it in her eyes, and he couldn’t blame her. These circumstances were not what either of them wanted. But there was no use crying over a field that was already harvested. What had happened had happened, Chance thought. They were just going to have to deal with it and go on from here as best they both could. And that meant erasing the heartache of the past and giving his child a father and family like he’d never had.

  “Chance?” Madison’s soft voice cut across his thoughts. She stepped onto the moonlit porch. Except for the radiant glow that seemed to engulf her from head to toe, no one would ever guess she was pregnant. She was all slender curves and indefatigable energy as she paused to slip her feet into a pair of sandals, then crossed the rough-hewn porch to his side. Her smile was warm and welcoming. “I just thought I’d let you know I’m about finished for the evening.”

  Chance inclined his head at the place next to him on the porch swing. “How’s it going?”

  “Very well.” Madison hesitated only slightly before accepting his tacit invitation and sitting beside him. Leaving his arm stretched along the back, Chance stopped the swing long enough for her to get settled co
mfortably, then resumed the gentle rocking motion.

  “Seeing you in action today really helped me out a lot,” Madison continued, crossing her legs, while beside her, he resisted the urge to slip his hand around her shoulder.

  Chance had the feeling that, given the choice, she’d say to heck with politeness, forget about enjoying the starlit summer evening and rush off to bed. To prevent that—and assuage his curiosity about just what she’d been laboring so diligently over all these hours—he said, “So, what have you managed to get done so far?”

  Madison sighed wearily and let her head fall back against his arm, her blond hair spilling over his forearm and wrist. Chance had the feeling there was a part of her that wanted nothing more at that moment than to curl up in his arms and go to sleep as he held her. “It’s all very rough,” she warned finally.

  Chance understood the need for one’s work to be perfect before sharing it. He didn’t like showing a horse that was half-trained, either. “I don’t mind.”

  Madison drew another breath and straightened. As she pivoted slightly to face him, her bent knee nudged his jeans-clad thigh. Suddenly, she was all career-driven energy again. “It’s all subject to client approval, of course,” she said, her low voice vibrating with infectious enthusiasm. “But what I’m proposing we do is go with two sets of ads, geared to different audiences. The first will open with an Old West film of a cowboy and a horse, and then a pioneer family and a wagon team, with a voice-over that says, ‘In the past there was only one way to get around.’ Then we’ll move to the present, with sexy shots of you driving the Ranchero pickup on your ranch, in all kinds of weather, over all kinds of terrain, using it to haul hay and so on during the day, using it at the end of the day to squire a beautiful woman around, and of course for that you’ll be in black tie.”

  “Of course,” Chance said dryly, able to envision it all. And even liking the idea, as long as the beautiful woman he was with at the end of the day was Madison. “I often wear a tuxedo out here on the ranch in the evening,” he teased.

  Madison rolled her eyes, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the citronella candles in the glass lanterns attached to the porch wall. She leaned toward him, tantalizing him with the subtle but unmistakably feminine fragrance of her perfume. “We’re tapping into fantasy here, Chance.”

  Chance wished he could tap into his fantasy. He’d have her shifted from the other side of the porch swing and on his lap in no time.

  Failing to notice what was on his mind, Madison continued telling him her plans. “The second spot will feature a shot of all your horses, running wild and free in one of the meadows on the ranch, with the mountains in the backdrop. The voice-over will say, ‘If you want the very best horses in the country, there’s only one place to go.’ There’ll be more shots of your ranch and your horses and some of the famous people who’ve bought some of your horses. Then the scene will shift and the voice-over will say, ‘If you want the very best trucks...’ And they’ll show the Ranchero pickup.”

  Chance was impressed by what she had done, and he told her so.

  Madison flushed happily at his praise. She relaxed against his arm again, and it was all Chance could do not to tangle his hand in her hair and lift her lips to his. He even knew how she’d taste. Like peppermint. And woman.

  “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to scout specific locations for filming tomorrow and choose the horses that are going to be in the commercials.”

  The truth was, Chance was happy for any excuse to spend time with her. By now he didn’t care what they were doing as long as they were doing it together. “Sounds fine.”

  “But I’ll need you to help me,” Madison warned.

  Chance had been counting on it. “It’ll be my pleasure,” he said. Before her stay was up, he planned to become indispensable to her in myriad ways.

  “Thanks.” Madison sighed and stretched her arms above her head, her shirt pulling against the soft curves of her breasts.

  Watching, Chance knew his life had changed the moment Madison walked into it, and no amount of wishing otherwise would ever change it back again. He wasn’t going to rest until she was his. And stayed his. No matter how they had to work it out. But to make that happen would take some doing. Fortunately, because he’d agreed to let the Ranchero ads be filmed on the Double Diamond, he had time.

  He smiled at her. “Tired?”

  “Very.” Madison shivered in the cooling night air. “I think I’m going to get a glass of milk and go to bed.”

  Chance tore his eyes from the evidence of her chilling. “I’ll get it for you.”

  Oblivious to the way her nipples had puckered beneath the fabric of her T-shirt and bra, she put out a hand to stop him. “You don’t have to wait on me hand and foot.”

  I want to, Chance thought, and it surprised him how much. He’d never been anxious to wait on anyone before. Already on his feet, he headed for the door. “It’s no trouble. Just sit tight.” Besides, maybe walking around would ease some of the pressure at the front of his jeans, he thought.

  Disregarding the throbbing in his groin, he poured her a tall glass of icy cold milk, grabbed a soft cotton afghan Lindsay Duncan, his friend at the boys’ ranch, had crocheted for him one spring, and headed to the porch swing. He handed her the afghan first, watched while she smiled and thanked him and draped it around her shoulders. When she was comfortably situated, he handed her the milk, then settled beside her, draping his arm across the back of the swing once again.

  “Do you always work this hard?” Chance asked, limiting the motion of the swing while she drank.

  Madison nodded. “I have since I started in advertising. But I don’t mind. I get real pleasure out of the artistic challenge of designing an ad campaign.” She paused to put her empty glass down beside the porch swing. Straightening, she settled into the curve of his arm. Chance’s foot touched the floor at the same time and angle as hers did, and they resumed swinging.

  She looked at him companionably. “You must feel the same way.”

  Chance nodded. Since he’d left Lost Springs to strike out on his own, this ranch and the building of his business had been his whole life. He looked at her. “I sometimes wish I had a little more free time, though.” He wished he had a little more fun and passion and—hell, even the love of a good woman wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

  “Not me,” Madison insisted stubbornly, drawing the afghan around her a little tighter. “I like having a life that’s all business, where everything is under control.”

  Needing everything to run strictly according to plan was like asking for a ticket to disaster, Chance thought, because life was unpredictable. The more you counted on something, the more likely you were to be disappointed. He did not want to see Madison disappointed.

  “Meaning if you had more of a personal life, your life would no longer be under control?” Chance taunted lightly.

  Madison narrowed her eyes. “I find it’s a lot harder to plan and anticipate in my personal life than in the professional arena.” She sighed. “This unexpected pregnancy is a case in point. I really want this baby but—” she smiled ruefully “—the circumstances under which he or she was conceived and the timing could have been a little better.”

  Chance knew their pregnancy had caught her as unaware as it had him, but she seemed to be taking it in stride, and he admired her for her resilience even as he worried about their future. If anything was bound to be unpredictable, not to run strictly according to plan, it was life with two unmarried parents and a baby. And damn it all, if there was anything he wanted their baby to have, it was a happy, secure home and two parents who loved him.

  “What are you going to do about mixing motherhood with business?” Chance asked, unable to mask his concern.

  “I don’t know.” Madison’s teeth worried her lower lip, and she steadfastly refused to meet his eyes. “I haven’t had time to figure it out.”

  Chance watched her train her eyes on the starry night sky.
“Will the company let you take a maternity leave if you want one?”

  “By law, they have to.”

  “You know what I mean,” Chance said impatiently. “Will you be penalized in terms of opportunity and assignments if you have a child?” He had friends whose wives had been forced to go back to work much earlier than they wanted to for fear of permanently losing their place on the fast track. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way, of course. But behind the scenes, in subtle, unspoken ways, it often did. Chance didn’t want to see that happen to Madison. He didn’t want to see her pressured by the people she worked for.

  Madison frowned. He felt her tense, and at the rhythmic prodding of her foot, the motion of the swing picked up. “Most of the women at the agency haven’t scaled back much, either during or after their pregnancies. In fact, most are back at their jobs within six weeks of the birth of their babies, if not before,” she told Chance with a faintly troubled sigh.

  She paused briefly, as if searching for some inner reserve of strength. “I’m sure I’ll be able to do that, too,” she said finally, “and be a great single mom and very loving mother to boot.” Her chin set determinedly. “It’s just going to take more organization on my part, more efficiency.”

  Chance wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince—herself or him.

  “I’m going to have to get a nanny and a housekeeper to help me, of course,” Madison continued resolutely. “But with the jump in salary that comes with the VP slot combined with my savings, I think we’ll manage just fine.”

  Chance didn’t want to think about his baby—their baby—being raised by strangers. But he also knew, at this point, anyway, it wasn’t his decision to make.

  Fortunately, he had time to convince her that no job was more important than their child.

  The rocking motion of the swing, combined with the milk she’d drunk and the blanket she had wrapped around her, had combined to make her very sleepy, Chance noted. He slowed the sweetly lulling motion of the swing. “Ready to go up?”