air, she rocked back and forth, trying to quell a rising panic. “Oh, I don’t know what to say…” she wailed, not caring that Peggy was still in the room.
“Say yes, Skylar.” Zack’s voice remained calm and constant. “I won’t let you down.”
Why should she believe him? She’d always felt so apart from everyone, like an afterthought. Did no one else see how impossible this was?
It had hurt to hear her father’s glib words, passing her fears off like she didn’t know her own mind. No guarantees, do what’s right, don’t surrender to girlish notions…such as love?
A tear welled up. A tear! Skylar Fortune didn’t cry. She swiped at her eyes, succeeding only in dislodging it and starting its journey. “He can’t force me,” she said through clenched teeth. “You can’t force me. I need the time to make my own decision.”
His easy smile and dimples faded. She saw disappointment in his face where, a second ago, victory had lurked. He thought she’d just go along, do as she was told. Skylar didn’t make waves, hell, not even a ripple. Everyone would no doubt think she’d be lucky to snare him.
“Don’t you think we’ve wasted enough time?”
She met his accusatory glare and upped it. He wasn’t easy now, but he’d backed her into a corner and, like one of her stallions, she was apt to kick.
“If you’d informed me a couple of months ago,” Zack said tightly, “we’d have had all the time in the world to get to know each other.”
“What difference does it make?” Skylar demanded. “Two months, five months, nine…why do we have to decide about marriage right now?”
Something in his gray eyes shifted. “My baby will not be born illegitimate.”
The quiet intensity of his words, each carefully enunciated, the warning in his eyes, made the air throb between them. Skylar inhaled, almost afraid to speak. This wasn’t the Zack she knew.
Then he blinked and she couldn’t be sure she had seen anything. He was still grim, but he was Zack. New Zealander. Razor-sharp businessman. Vintner and new studmaster.
Sexy. Charming. Considerate.
Father of her baby.
Skylar sighed. She wanted him, she had from the first. But not this way. Not shackled to him because of a broken condom. “I can’t give you an answer right…”
“When?” he demanded, cutting her off.
Her jacket rustled with the rise of her shoulders. It was hard not to be disappointed when the intensity he had just displayed suggested it was more the baby he was concerned with, not her. She raised her chin and put some steel into her spine.
Zack inhaled. “I’ll have to go home for a few days to sort out some things.” He frowned down at the table. “Make arrangements for a longer absence. We need to spend time together, Skylar.”
Or then again…Skylar nodded hopefully, her breath hitching when he reached for her hand.
“This is my first baby, too,” he told her, his tone softer now. “I want to be there for it. The whole thing.”
Or maybe not. Her shoulders dropped, but at least she would have some peace, some thinking time. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Zack suddenly pulled her toward him, squeezing her fingers firmly. “I want you to swear, on the baby’s life, that you’ll not do anything stupid while I’m gone.”
Her heart lurched. “Wh-what?”
“Like run,” Zack grated, “hide. Let your family talk you into getting rid of the baby.”
“They wouldn’t…I would never…”
She was shocked that he could even think that…from the instant she had first felt pregnant, that was an option that had never entered her head.
“Swear, Skylar.” Zack’s grip was just short of painful. “I have no intention of losing this baby.”
“Zack, I would rather die than…”
“I won’t be cut out of this, do you understand?” His voice was low, almost menacing. “I may not be quite in the league of the Dakota Fortunes but I’ve got enough behind me to make things very nasty, and very public, if you do anything to hurt my child. Do you understand?”
Skylar nodded woodenly. “I swear.”
Well, at least everyone knew where they stood. Zack Manning had no interest in her. It was the baby he wanted. She was only the incubator.
A movement over his shoulder caught her eye and Skylar stiffened and snatched her hand from his.
Three
A clawing tension descended as Maya Blackstone walked into the room. Skylar straightened her spine, folding her arms protectively around her middle.
“Hi.” Ever curious, Maya scooted around to the side and beamed when she saw who was sitting with Skylar. “Zack! I didn’t know you were back.”
“Gidday, Maya.” Zack slowly got to his feet, a genuine smile on his face. “Just leaving actually, but I’ll be back in a few days.” The smile faded as he turned back to Skylar. “Take good care, Skylar. You have my number.”
He nodded at the two women and walked out.
“Want something to eat?” Skylar felt almost giddy with relief at his leaving, though that was tempered by the knowledge she now had the task of telling everyone about the baby. At least she could do that her own way, without Zack breathing down her neck.
Maya shook her head. “I’m relieved to hear you talk about food,” she said, looking thoughtfully after Zack. “Since you missed our last two dinner dates.”
Maya didn’t come to the house if she could help it so they usually got together once a month at her place in town.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to see if there was any word on Mom. Blake tells me Nash has hired an investigator.”
Blake! He should be first to know, really. She owed him, Skylar thought darkly, for instigating Zack’s visit. And then there was her mother…
Sensing she was the object of avid attention, Skylar looked up into Maya’s curious face.
“So, the handsome Kiwi is back. How do you feel about that?”
May as well get it over with. While she was choosing her words, Maya tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t tell me, I can see. Your usual slobby attire aside, you look great, Skylar. The picture of health.”
She blinked, frowning. “What do you mean, slobby? These jeans are only a year old.”
Her friend grinned. “Come on. You wear your clothes like a shield.” Her nicely manicured fingers flicked toward the front of Skylar’s jacket. “Your wardrobe could do with a complete overhaul.”
“Excuse me for living,” Skylar protested. “Just because Eliza is in Montana with Reese doesn’t mean you have to take over as chief nag.” At least she was spared being dragged all over town to replace her wardrobe and having her half sister camped on her doorstep, making sure she took care of herself.
Anyway, back to the task at hand. Skylar hadn’t told her best friend she’d slept with Zack, though she had mentioned liking him—a lot. “Maya, do you remember the night of Case’s wedding?”
Maya nodded. “The night Eliza got her wish and finally talked you into a dress.”
What a monumental disaster that turned out to be. “And later you barged into the cottage after the fight with Creed?”
Maya’s