At the Rancher's Request

Three (#ulink_a238d001-9a3a-5350-88da-8eb280d6bd80)

As Mike walked down the hall to his suite, he raked his fingers through his hair. Savannah had defused the moment, eased them both away from memories that hurt and put their kiss in a better perspective. Even though it was meaningless to both of them, he shouldn’t have kissed her. Her kiss had stunned him, but it had been a long, long time since he had kissed a woman other than Elise—or wanted to. Nearly two years. It was natural for Savannah’s kiss to rock him. Along with their kiss came guilt, a feeling of betrayal of Elise’s memory and most of all, horrendous longing for Elise, the love of his life.

He walked into Scotty’s room and looked at his sleeping son who was curled on his side with his knees drawn up. Dark curls framed his face. Mike’s love for Scotty overwhelmed him. He ran his knuckles lightly along Scotty’s cheek, feeling his soft, smooth skin while love for his son held him by Scotty’s bed. He wished Elise could be with him to look at Scotty. “Your baby is beautiful,” he whispered to the empty room, thinking of her. “Elise,” he said, missing her, wishing she could see her son, wanting her with him and wishing he hadn’t kissed Savannah, yet their kiss hadn’t carried any significance. He loved Elise and Scotty with all his heart and always would. Tears stung Mike’s eyes and he blinked them away, drawing a little blanket up over Scotty’s shoulder.

“I love you, Scotty,” he whispered.

He left the room, leaving the door between their bedrooms open. Ten minutes later Mike returned with a blanket and stretched out on the brown leather sofa to sleep near his son.

He thought again of Savannah. In spite of a twinge of guilt, he’d had fun just being with her tonight—something that hadn’t happened in a long, empty time.

* * *

Sunshine spilled into the bedroom through sliding glass doors that opened onto a balcony. Savannah stepped out of bed, surprised she had slept until the sun was up. She showered, pulled on jeans and a red shirt, slipping her feet into loafers. She hurried down the hall. Half a dozen mornings lately, she had had morning sickness and she prayed she didn’t this morning. At the moment she was hungry, but in minutes she caught the first whiff of coffee and her stomach tightened. Surprised when she heard voices from the kitchen, she debated going to her room and waiting until Mike and Scotty were out of there, but she suspected they would come find her eventually. With a deep breath, she entered the kitchen.

Mike sat at the table across from Scotty, who was in a high chair that was pulled up to the table. Mike came to his feet as soon as he saw her.

“Good morning,” he said, smiling at her.

Tingles increased her awareness of him. How handsome he looked in jeans, a navy Western shirt with rolled back sleeves and his cowboy boots. His thick, black curls were as tangled as they had been last night and he looked appealing, handsome.

“Please sit,” she said, smiling at him. “Hi, Scotty. How are you on this beautiful morning?”

“I’m hungry,” he answered, smiling at her in return and she laughed.

She turned to Mike. “I thought you had some chores this morning and were going to be gone.”

“I’ve already been out. Scotty was still asleep. I’m going back to join them again after breakfast if you meant what you said about watching Scotty.”

“Sure I did if that’s all right with Scotty.”

“Scotty?” Mike prompted. “You’ll stay with Miss Savannah, won’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” Scotty said and smiled at Savannah again.

“That’s nice, Scotty. Did you see the snow this morning?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered politely. “This afternoon Daddy will help me make a snowman if I eat my breakfast.”

“A little bribe,” Mike said, grinning. “And it’ll be after I get some more chores done,” he added to Scotty who nodded. Mike turned to Savannah. “What can I fix you? We have bacon, eggs, orange and/or tomato juice, coffee, hot biscuits, dry cereal, blueberries, oranges, dried apricots—”

“Stop,” she said, laughing. “You’re naming way too many things. I just want cereal and a glass of milk. I can get my breakfast. You stay with Scotty.”

Mike reached the cabinets when she did and he retrieved a glass, turning to get the milk and pour it for her. “Tell me when.”

“When,” she said. “Not too much. Thanks.” She was so aware of Mike beside her, of his dark eyes intently on her. The sight of him made her remember last night, standing in his arms while they kissed.

In minutes she had cereal and a glass of milk as she sat beside Scotty and across from Mike.

“Please go on with your regular routine today and don’t let me change it,” she said.

“Will you help us build a snowman later?” Scotty asked.

“Sure, I will,” she said. “A snowman sounds like fun.”

Mike had a covered bowl on the table and when he raised the lid, she saw scrambled eggs.

“If those aren’t still hot, tell me. I’ll scramble some more,” he said.

She shook her head. “No, thank you. What I have is plenty.” She sipped her milk. “Do you know if it kept snowing into the night?”

“Oh, yes,” Mike replied. “The boys keep up with it and Ray said we had a record-setting eight inches.”

“Oh, Mike. I’m sorry—I’m sort of the houseguest who came for a night and stayed for a week. Eight inches—I won’t be able to get my car out of that and I doubt if the state road will be cleared.”

“You’re right on all counts. We’re glad to have you, so just relax, Savannah. This is a break in routine winter days.”

“Thanks,” she said, drinking some milk and eating cereal. After a few bites, her stomach lurched and worry gripped her. She didn’t want to be sick in front of Mike. She turned to talk to Scotty.

“I have a scarf you can use to put around your snowman’s neck,” she said, trying to ignore her queasy stomach.

“Savannah, are you all right?” Mike asked, studying her.

Feeling worse by the second, she shook her head. “Where’s the nearest bathroom?”

He stood and came around the table swiftly, taking her arm as she stood. “We’ll be right back, Scotty,” Mike said, leading Savannah away from the table. Mike headed to the hall and opened a bathroom door.

“Thanks.” As soon as the door closed, she lost the small breakfast she had eaten. She washed her face and hands with cold water and waited while her stomach settled slightly. When she opened the door, Mike leaned against the wall with his arms folded. Studying her, he straightened.

“Better now?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Do you need a doctor?”

“No, I’ve been to one. Don’t worry, this isn’t contagious.”

“I didn’t think it was,” he said quietly.

“You better get back to Scotty. He’s in a high chair.”

“He gets himself into that chair a dozen times a day and he gets himself down. Scotty is a climber so there’s no worry. He’s an easy kid to have around, and he’s an only child and that makes it easier. C’mon. You probably want to sit.”

“Yes, I do.”

They went to the family area where Scotty sat on the floor playing a game on a laptop.

“Mike, are you sure Scotty isn’t a bit older than you told me? He’s on a computer.”