A Baby by Chance Read online

  “It’s a lot of things,” Chance said quietly, knowing even if she’d braced herself for this discussion with him, she hadn’t braced herself for the reality of having a child. If she had, she would already be admitting it wasn’t nearly that simple. Nor would it ever be. “Kids need more than a sense of obligation in their lives, Madison. They need love and tenderness and genuine care and affection from both their parents. They need time for stories, play times, picnics and heart-to-heart talks. Time for just hanging out and being with their mom and dad.”

  Madison went into the bathroom. “I’m prepared to let you participate in whatever activities interest you, Chance.”

  “It’s a little more complicated than that, Madison,” Chance snapped.

  “Oh, really, and what makes you the expert?” she challenged as she bent over the tub to collect her shampoo and conditioner.

  “My childhood.” Chance watched as she made sure the bottles were capped tightly before sliding them into a plastic-lined toiletries bag. “My mom died when I was four. My dad never really got over it. And from that point on, he buried himself in his work. He met all my basic needs, but he never really had any time for me and he never expressed any love for me.” It had been a miserable existence. Chance didn’t want to see the same thing happen between Madison and their baby.

  “I’m sorry.” Madison paused to give him a brief, compassionate hug before moving past him. “But as I’ve told you before, our child will know he or she is loved.”

  “How—if you’re not there to give that love?” Chance asked simply, wondering if she were really that naive, or just choosing to be for the sake of their argument. “This isn’t some kind of part-time job you have, Madison. It’s very demanding. And when you get this promotion you’re up for—”

  “It will be easier,” Madison interrupted, going to the closet.

  Like hell it would! “How do you figure that?” Hanging on to his temper by a thread, Chance watched her pull one of her smart linen pantsuits off a hanger.

  Madison smiled as she folded the garments and slipped them into her suitcase. “Because once I am a vice president of Connelly and Associates, I’ll have more control over my hours. I’ll set my schedule instead of someone doing it for me. And I’ll be able to have more personal staff. Instead of an intern helping me out, I’ll have a permanent executive assistant, plus a secretary all my own.”

  Chance sighed. “You’ll also have more responsibility.”

  Madison’s lips tightened.

  “As a VP, you’ll be expected to bring in new accounts. Those potential clients will need wooing. Wining and dining.”

  Madison straightened slowly, the color draining from her face. He assumed she hadn’t thought about this. She had. The knowledge hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. “And your point is?” she asked icily, resenting the blazes out of him for bringing this up.

  Chance knew she didn’t want to hear it, but it had to be said. “The job you have now and a baby are not compatible, Madison. And I think you should take a cold hard look at that fact before you accept a vice presidency.”

  Hurt flashed across her face. It was swiftly replaced by her trademark stubbornness. “I’ve worked long and hard for this.”

  “I know that,” Chance said gently, his exasperation growing. “But you have to be realistic. And think about how much you’ll have left over emotionally at the end of the day to give a child.”

  * * *

  TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED in both directions as far as Madison could see on the Central Expressway in Dallas. She glanced at her watch. It was just her luck she’d get caught in a massive traffic jam en route to the restaurant where she was supposed to meet the AMV dealers. She also had heartburn and was so tired from the travel and the amount of work she’d been doing lately that she ached.

  This kind of stress could not be good for the baby, she thought as her snazzy red sports car inched along behind the minivan in front of her. Which reminded her. She rubbed her hand across her tummy and the warm cozy womb in which her baby slept. She was going to have to turn this car in before the baby was born and get something more suitable. Something safe. And practical. And big enough to carry all the gear that babies seemed to require these days. Stroller, car seat, diaper bag, playpen or port-a-crib, plus assorted toys, maybe even a tricycle to ride in the park.

  To the right of Madison was a young mother in a small sedan. She had an empty car seat in the back and looked even more stressed out and impatient than Madison felt. She kept glancing at her watch, too.

  That could be me in a few months, Madison thought, trying to get to the day-care center or baby-sitter to pick up my child. Was that the kind of life she wanted for herself and her baby? She frowned as the reporter in the traffic helicopter above told the radio station listeners that traffic was going to be backed up for the next three miles, due to construction. Or did she want a life that included plenty of time to read stories and go to the park and bake cookies and bandage hurt knees?

  Madison sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Her baby—at first just a notion—was suddenly becoming very real to her. It was too soon for her to feel movement in the womb, but she had a mental image of her baby’s tiny little body, curled up snugly inside her, growing and changing day by day. This baby was a part of her and a part of Chance. Their baby was the miracle that had brought her and Chance together and would continue to bind them for all time. As she thought about it, she knew she didn’t want to miss a minute of this baby’s childhood. She wanted to be there to see their baby’s first steps, and hear his first words. To cuddle their baby in her arms and watch Chance do the same.

  But how she could do that if she were on the road, filming commercials, or stuck in high-powered meetings, or flying off to meet with a client?

  Madison sighed. Much as she hated to admit it, she knew Chance was right. It was time to start making some hard decisions about her life. She wanted to find a way to have it all, a romantic life and a satisfying career and maybe—one day in the very distant future—even a long-term relationship, one that might someday lead to an even more permanent arrangement with Chance, like marriage.

  But first she was going to be awarded her vice presidency, she thought determinedly, because darn it all, she had earned it.

  * * *

  “I’M SO GLAD you’re back!” Shawna whispered to Madison when she arrived at the ranch early Monday afternoon.

  “Why?” Madison asked the young intern as she got out of the rental car she had driven from the airport. “What’s going on?”

  Shawna put her clipboard in front of her face. “Because Chance has been about as warm and cuddly as a big old grizzly bear, that’s what!”

  Her heartbeat picking up, Madison scanned the pasture where they were filming for any sign of Chance. She finally located him, deep in some sort of discussion with Vince, Ed and several crew members. To her dismay, none of the men looked happy. “He’s refusing to cooperate again?” Madison guessed on a sigh.

  Shawna handed Madison a list of phone messages. “He’s cooperating. He’s also in what seems like a permanent bad mood. And I think it’s just ’cause you haven’t been around to sort of soothe the savage beast in him.”

  Madison scanned the list of messages quickly, seeing if there were any that had to be returned immediately. “Surely you exaggerate.”

  Shawna gave Madison a look. “I may still be in college, but there are some things I know about, Madison. And lovesick guys happens to be one of them. If you ask me, Chance has been missing you desperately.”

  Just like I’ve been missing him, Madison thought, pleased to find she wasn’t alone in that.

  “And he’s been taking it out on everyone around him,” Shawna continued as Madison began walking toward the men.

  “Well, we’re almost done.” Madison flipped her sunglasses over her eyes. “That ought to cheer him up.”

  Shawna gave Madison a skeptical look as she struggled to keep up. “Not if it mean
s you’re leaving and going back to Dallas permanently at the end of the week. He doesn’t seem to be looking forward to that at all.”

  Madison looked up and saw them bringing in the snow machine. Thus far, they had filmed Chance driving the Ranchero on all sorts of terrain, in all sorts of weather. Except snow. Snow was on the schedule for this morning. Madison wished her schedule had allowed her and Chance a moment alone before they jumped headlong into the business part of their relationship. Alas, that wasn’t to be. The group discussion had already broken up. Vince was stepping behind the camera, and Chance was leading a horse to the pasture, where several of his top horses were already making tracks through the half foot of snow the crew had laid down earlier.

  As Madison neared Chance, she saw Ursula Rodriguez look at Vince. “What about the black stallion? I thought I made it clear, AMV wants Shiloh in this snow shot.”

  “Shiloh’s not well-trained enough to be part of the commercial,” Chance said as he slipped out of the pasture and closed the gate behind him.

  Vince and Ursula exchanged looks. “I don’t know what the problem is,” Vince said furiously. “I saw you riding Shiloh this morning.”

  “And the sun rose in the east,” Chance drawled sarcastically, his back still to Madison. Chance stared at Vince and braced his hands loosely on his waist. “What’s your point?”

  The air between the men was so fraught with tension it fairly crackled. “The point is, I think Shiloh would make an excellent addition to this frame,” Vince said.

  Chance shook his head curtly. “How many times and ways do I have to tell you people? I don’t mix Shiloh in with the other horses.”

  “Just for a few minutes,” Ursula pleaded.

  “No,” Chance said firmly.

  Able to see a battle brewing, Madison lengthened her steps and joined them. “Chance is right. Shiloh is off-limits,” she told the group. Ed and Ursula looked greatly displeased. Vince stared at Madison in frustration.

  Chance turned to Madison, his expression gentle and welcoming. “When did you get back?” he asked quietly.

  Aware others were watching them closely, Madison ignored the yearning of her heart—which told her to throw herself into his arms and kiss him warmly—and gave Chance a look of brisk efficiency. “Just now,” she said

  matter-of-factly.

  If Chance was upset by her cool greeting, he did not show it. He glanced at the pasture. “Mind if I speak to you privately for a few minutes?” he said. “I’ve got some legal stuff we need to go over. It’s in the ranch house.”

  Madison looked at Vince. “Five minutes and no more,” Vince snapped. He glared at Chance. “We’ll send someone to get you as soon as the shot is set up.”

  Chance nodded. With snow on the ground and the temperature already inching up to seventy degrees, they’d need to move swiftly.

  He wheeled around and headed for the ranch house in the distance. Madison fell in step beside him. “You know it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to haul you into my arms and kiss you soundly, don’t you?” Chance said, giving her a brief sidelong glance.

  Madison swallowed and flashed Chance another quick, efficient smile. “I know,” she said softly.

  Chance took the steps leading to the house two at a time. He charged ahead to hold the door for her. Her heart pounding, Madison walked ever so casually into the ranch house. The second they had crossed the threshold and were out of view, Chance grabbed her wrist and tugged her into the kitchen, out of view of the windows. The next thing she knew, his arms were around her, and he was kissing her like there was no tomorrow.

  “Damn, but I missed you,” he whispered.

  “And I missed you,” Madison whispered. So much. She trembled with the joy she felt at holding him again, even as she knew their time was limited. “You said something about legal matters.”

  “I was going to ask you....” Chance stopped and grinned. “But now doesn’t really seem the time.” He bent his head and kissed her again. Even more thoroughly.

  Dimly, Madison heard what sounded like pounding. Then Shawna Somersby’s youthful voice. “Madison? Chance? Are you guys in there?”

  Madison flattened her hands across Chance’s chest and pushed away from him. Even as she rued the end of their private time, she struggled to pull herself together. Quickly, he scanned her face. “Better do something about your lipstick,” he whispered.

  Madison swore and blotted the moisture on her lips with her fingertips. “I don’t have any here. It’s in the car.”

  Chance smoothed her hair into place with his hand. “Maybe no one will notice.”

  Like hell they won’t, Madison thought.

  “I’ll distract everyone. You get your purse.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Chance?” Shawna continued her pounding. “They’re ready to start the filming now.”

  Chance strode out of the pantry and the kitchen, his boots moving commandingly across the wood floor. He opened the front door. “Sorry, Shawna. I didn’t hear you.”

  “Where’s Madison?” Shawna prodded curiously.

  “Right behind you,” Madison said cheerfully, hoping like heck that Shawna didn’t notice she had gone into the house with her lipstick perfectly applied, only to come out with none on at all.

  Unfortunately, she knew from the look Shawna gave her that she had noticed. Damn. She could only hope for the sake of her business reputation that Shawna wouldn’t say anything to anyone.

  Working to distract the young intern’s attention, Chance took her elbow and propelled her down the steps. “Now, where am I supposed to be again?” he asked.

  Shawna pointed. “Over there. Where the Ranchero is. Same old drill. When they yell action, you get in and drive to where the horses are. Once you get a little closer, they’re going to start the snow machines up so it’ll look like you’re driving through a blizzard.”

  “Got it.” While Chance headed for the truck, Madison hurried toward her rental car and the purse on the front seat.

  Chance jumped in the pickup. The snow machines started up. And that was when they all heard it. The startled whinny. And saw the magnificent horse rear up in a flash of satiny black against the onslaught of snow. Madison and everyone else knew what had happened.

  “How did Shiloh get in there?” Madison shouted. But even as she said it, she knew. Vince and Ursula had not taken no for an answer.

  * * *

  MADISON DIDN’T STOP to think. She ran in the direction of the pickup, the snow machine and the rearing, spinning stallion.

  Chance had stopped the truck and leaped out. He was running through the snow spitting out of the thunderous machine toward the beautiful stallion. “Shut it off!” he yelled. But it was too late. Shiloh, spooked beyond reason, had created a stampede among the horses in the pasture. Clearly threatened and not about to run from a fight, he was suddenly headed straight for the snow machine and the entire crew.

  Marshaling powerful muscles, Shiloh soared over the pasture fence, clearing it in a single bound. Too late, Madison realized Shiloh was coming straight at her. She would not have time to get out of the way.

  Chance knew it, too.

  In a split second, he changed directions, lunged away from Shiloh and straight for Madison. Swearing all the while, he grabbed her around the waist, simultaneously pushing her forward and spinning them around so their bodies slammed to the ground. Barely missing Shiloh’s thundering hooves, she landed on top of him.

  Shiloh shot past the cameras and headed for the distant mountains. Once he had cleared the area, the horses in the pasture settled down immediately. Among the crew, however, bedlam erupted.

  “Are you all right?” Chance demanded.

  Madison felt stunned. And numb. She swallowed hard. “I think so.” At least nothing felt broken.

  Gently, Chance slipped from beneath her. “Call a doctor!” he shouted. “Get one out here now!”

  Ursula Rodriguez strode forward. “Aren’t you
overreacting a bit? She seems okay. You both do.” Beside her, Ed Connelly nodded agreement, while in the distance Vince was yelling at everyone in shouting distance.

  Chance’s patience was exhausted. “You idiots! She’s pregnant!” he fumed. “Get a doctor out here! Now!”

  * * *

  A HUSHED SILENCE fell over the group gathered around Madison and Chance.

  “Pregnant!” Shawna echoed softly in shock. And Madison knew, as she struggled to sit up, that she had just failed as a role model for the young intern.

  “Yes, pregnant,” Chance snapped as everyone continued to blink in shock. “With my baby!” Giving her no chance to walk on her own, Chance swept Madison up in his arms and carried her to the house. He laid her gently on the sofa.

  Seconds later, Shawna came dashing in, cell phone in hand. “They’ve got a doctor from the hospital emergency room on the way. He’s bringing an ambulance, too, just in case it’s needed.”

  “You feeling okay?” Chance grabbed an afghan off the back of the sofa and tucked it around Madison. “You want anything? A glass of water or a cup of tea?”

  How about a new reputation? Or a way to turn back the clock and erase the one terrible mistake after another that she had made? Madison shook her head as tears continued to stream down her face. “No,” she whispered hoarsely, shutting her eyes against Shawna’s curious glance. “Nothing. Thanks.”

  “Are you in pain?” Chance whispered.

  Madison shook her head again. “Just shaken up.”

  And scared that she might lose their baby.

  * * *

  CHANCE STAYED WITH Madison until the doctor arrived. To their mutual relief, he pronounced both Madison and the baby fine despite the tumble she had taken.

  “I’m sorry about Shiloh getting mixed in with the other horses,” Madison said to Chance as soon as the doctor had left.

  “You have nothing to be sorry about,” Chance said with gruff gentleness as he brought her a glass of milk and knelt before her. He kissed the back of her hand. “I’ll go out and let everyone know you’re okay.”