Unplanned, page 12
“What! How?”
“I told him.”
“Told him what?” Travis asked, coming up behind Mattie.
Dana sucked in a breath, then released it. “I told Galen I’m pregnant.”
“I assume…” Travis glanced at her stomach. “The child is his.”
Mattie slapped at his arm. “Travis…”
“Yes. Galen is the only man I’ve ever been with.”
Travis’s eyes widened. “You mean you were a—”
“Virgin?” Hunt said in a questioning tone, coming over to join the conversation.
Galen stepped into the cave. “I guess I shot myself in the foot.”
Hunt looked his way. “I guess you did.”
Dana glanced from one man to the other, confused.
Angry, she threw up her hands, stalked to her sleeping bag, and plopped down. If she had a gun at that moment, Galen would have a bullet in his foot, and she’d enjoy watching him hop around before he bled out. That certainly would serve him right for everything he’d done to her.
Chapter Thirteen
Galen paced the length of the cave, as antsy as any expectant father would pace a hospital waiting room. Hell, I’m one now. Too bad the mother of his child found it hard to look at him without exhibiting disgust.
Women.
This was why he’d never wanted any attachments, had never wanted anything beyond a night in the sack. Things became too complicated when feelings got involved.
“You’re wearing away the dirt floor, Galen. Maybe you should take a break.” Hunt clasped a hand over his shoulder to stop his excessive pacing. “According to Mattie, you have about seven months before you need to worry.”
Galen glanced at Dana, who sat with her back against the wall, looking as if she wanted to kill someone—probably him. “I really don’t think she’ll be inviting me to the delivery. Do you?”
Hunt laughed. “Not if you don’t apologize for that foot thing.”
Galen glared at his friend. “You were the one who gave me the idea. You should be the one to say you’re sorry.”
Hunt raised a hand. “I wasn’t the one who knocked her up. You did that all on your own.”
Galen pulled Hunt toward the entrance to the cave, afraid Dana would overhear. He didn’t need her to be any angrier with him. “If you were in my shoes, what would you do?”
“Not be in your shoes.” Hunt grinned.
“Look, I didn’t know she was a virgin. I mean, look at her. She’s twenty-eight years old. Besides, she caught me when my guard was down. I was weak from blood loss. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Galen could tell his friend that, and even try to convince himself of the fact, but then why sleep with her yesterday morning? Why all the jealousy where Hunt was concerned? He might have been weak from the wound to his arm, yet when she came to him in that tent and cared for him, he’d lost all control and kissed her—not the other way around. Dana had been nursing him in his time of need and he’d used that proximity to seduce her. This was all his fault and he needed to step up to the plate for the first time in his life. To hell with running away from anything that had the potential to hurt him. He’d been doing that since that woman took his innocence and then treated him liked he’d done something wrong. He’d only been thirteen at the time—just a kid. No way was he to blame for any of it and it was time for him to wash his hands of the whole affair so he could live a normal life.
“Excuse me.” Galen walked away from Hunt and went straight to Dana. He hunched down beside her. “Can I talk to you?” The look he received could have frozen lava, but he refused to be deterred. “I need to speak with you, Dana. Alone.”
She looked as if she was about to refuse, but she started to rise.
Galen held out his hand and when she took it, he helped her up. He allowed her to take the lead, all the while stringing words around in his head. For the first time in his life, he knew what he had to do.
Outside, she leaned against the mountain wall. “So what do you need to tell me?” Her tone spoke volumes of her state of mind. She didn’t want to be there with him.
“I’m sorry about that comment before. It was crass, rude, and downright stupid.”
“I won’t argue with you.” She studied her hands as if bored with the conversation.
“Look. I know I haven’t handled anything with us right. This is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with a woman who wasn’t as cavalier about sex as I am. I didn’t know what to do or say. But now I’m thinking about you and the child. I think that we should get married.”
Her gaze flew to his. “What?”
“I’m asking you to be my wife.”
“Why? Because of the baby I’m carrying?”
“It’s the right thing to do, Dana.”
“Right how? Because you care for me, or do you feel obligated because I’m pregnant?”
Galen fisted his hands at his side. “Why are you making this so difficult? Do you want to marry me or not?”
“Not if you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons.”
Angry, Galen jutted his fingers through his hair. Gallant for the first time in his life, and she was fighting it all the way. Maybe he hadn’t worded things right?
“I’ve asked you to marry me, Dana. Who gives a rat’s ass about the motives behind it? Either you say yes or you don’t. I’m not going to keep asking.”
“My brother wouldn’t like you.”
Where the hell had that come from? “I’m not asking your brother. Besides, how do you know he wouldn’t like me?”
She snorted.
The gesture in itself pissed Galen off. Did she really think he was unfit to be her husband? Hadn’t she been the one to tell him not to lie about him being a loser? Had she actually thought that about him?
“My brother owns RRC. Do you know what that is, Galen?”
He shook his head. “No, what is it?”
“It’s only the largest consulting firm in the US. He deals with rich, powerful people every day. I’m his only sister—only family.”
Right away Galen understood what she was saying. She was too good for him—way too good. Not that he hadn’t already known that. This just confirmed it.
“You’re an adult. You don’t need his permission to marry me.”
“You’re right. I don’t need it. I do, on the other hand, want him to be happy about my choice.”
“Why sleep with me then? I don’t understand. You could have chosen someone your brother approved of to take your virginity. Why me?”
“Chemistry, I guess. You were the first man I actually wanted to sleep with.”
“Are you sure you didn’t choose me to rile your brother in some way? Maybe I was just a pawn in a game you were playing with him. Find the one man he’d never approve of.”
She lowered her gaze.
“Is that it, Dana?”
When she looked up, tears clouded her eyes.
Galen’s anger melted away. He hated to see her cry.
He swallowed up the space between them and pulled her into his arms, refusing to let go when she fought him. In her ear, he whispered, “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Please forgive me.”
He was happy when her fight ceased and she melded into him, her arms reaching around his neck to draw him close. Immediately her nearness ignited a fire in his gut. Anytime they’d fought, it was like an aphrodisiac. He wanted her more than he ever had.
He pulled back just enough to look in her eyes. What he saw burned his soul. She wanted him too.
Galen glanced around, then took her hand and led her away from the cave entrance to where the brush was thickest, between a series of large boulders that completely hid them from prying eyes. He backed her gently against the rock base and kissed her hard, his hands working up her rib cage to cup her firm breasts. He thumbed her nipples slowly and she moaned against his mouth, turning his cock to steel. Galen loved how she responded to his touch, how she made him feel as if he were the only man for her.
He worked his tongue along the seam of her lips and dipped inside. Her tongue mated with his.
Determined to give her as much pleasure as she gave him, Galen worked his hand under her skirt and slid it up her silky thigh, connecting with the soft mound between her legs. She wrapped her slender limb around the back of his, grinding her body into him. He could hardly think when she was this close, her gasps of pleasure driving him past rational thought. He unzipped his pants and pushed her panties aside, entering her heat with one purpose and one purpose only: to make her scream his name in ecstasy. As he moved inside her, he kept his pace measured, forcing himself to go slow and easy even though his body burned to plunder, to drive hard and fast, to lose himself in her. Control had never been one of Galen’s strong suits, but with Dana he needed to keep his cool. She deserved that much. As he drove into her, she dug her fingernails into his back, the pain exciting him to the core. She moaned in his ear and he could no longer hold back. He pounded into her until her womb tightened around him and they both came. The intensity almost sent Galen to his knees.
When his breathing steadied, he looked at her, shocked at the tenderness in her eyes. “I’m sorry for earlier,” he said, hoping she’d forgive him. “I open my mouth and all the wrong stuff comes out.”
Her bottom lip twitched with amusement. “We’ve both been guilty of that.”
“You think they’re wondering what’s taking us so long?” He pointed toward the cave’s entrance.
“I guess we’d better get back.”
Before she could leave his side, Galen drew her in for a light kiss. “After all this mess is over, we’ll need to talk again. I’ll expect an answer to my question.”
She nodded, then took his hand and they went back to the cave. Galen hoped when that time came, she’d say yes to marrying him. Even if she didn’t love him, their child would be better off with them both together.
* * * *
The blare of a radio woke Dana. She sat up and looked around the cave. Hunt was gone.
The noise came again. From outside.
She moved Galen’s arm from her shoulder and rose.
Before leaving the cave, she glanced down at the man she’d made love to a few hours earlier and smiled. In sleep, a lock of his hair had fallen in his face and it made him more handsome than ever. Dana knew at that moment she loved him and that she’d marry him with or without her brother’s consent.
She turned and walked outside to find Hunt talking on a two-way radio, the conversation obviously unsettling by the deep furrows in his forehead.
Hunt spotted her standing there and turned his back to her. “Calm down, Reyna. What exactly did he say?”
Seconds ticked by.
Dana waited anxiously to find out what was going on.
Hunt spun around and she knew something awful had happened. “We’re coming back. We’ll leave Dana and Mattie with you and your folks. Give us two hours. We’ll get him back alive, Reyna, or I’ll die trying. “ Hunt clicked off, then dropped his arm at his side and looked at Dana. “Adios has Juan. He said that if we don’t bring Galen back, they’re going to hang him in the square in the morning.”
Dana’s hands flew to her mouth.
“We have to go back to Guishil, and no, I don’t plan to trade Galen for Juan. We’ll have to think of a way to get to him out without anyone getting caught.”
Dana’s stomach dropped. “How are you going to do that? You’re way outnumbered.”
“I don’t know yet, but we have to get moving. I don’t trust this Adios character to wait to execute Juan. We have to get you and Mattie to the Sanchezes and then head back to Guishil.”
“I’m going with you. I can help. We both know that Adios has an interest in me. Maybe we can use that to get Juan out.”
Hunt shook his head. “No. You’re pregnant and we’re not going to put you and the baby at risk.”
“I’m not sitting around worrying about this. I want to be there to help.”
“Hunt’s right, Dana,” Galen said from outside the cave. “You need to keep our baby safe right now.”
“But I’m the only one who can distract Adios. We need to take advantage of that. Unless you have a plan.”
“It’s too dangerous. I can’t let you do it.” He walked to her and placed his palm on her arm. “Besides, I’d go crazy thinking he had his hands on you.”
“Do you have a better idea?” Dana looked from one man to the other. “Well?”
“Not at the moment, but we’ll think of—”
Dana covered his mouth with her hand. “You know it’s the only way, Galen. I promise not to do anything stupid. Let me help get Juan out of there. Please.”
Galen looked to Hunt for help. “Talk to her. Tell her this is too risky.”
Hunt shrugged. “I tried. She won’t listen to me either.”
Dana started for the cave. “We’d better get Travis and Mattie so we can get moving. Like you said, we can’t trust Adios.”
Inside the cavern, she went to her sleeping bag and gathered her stuff, then rolled the bag up and tied it tight.
Fifteen minutes later they were on their way down the mountain. Dana spent the time thinking about what she planned to do once they arrived back at Guishil. She had to somehow lure Adios away from the jail so Galen, Hunt, and Travis could get to Juan. They’d all come to the conclusion that Adios was the thinker of the bunch and getting him out of the way would cut the odds considerably.
Chapter Fourteen
Dana sashayed into the police station and smiled seductively at the man behind the desk. The gesture garnered her flushed cheeks from the heavyset guard sitting before her. “I’d like to see Chief Adios.”
“Who should I say would like to speak with him?”
“Just tell him it’s a friend.” She winked at him, hoping he understood her meaning.
The man rose and disappeared down the hall and left Dana to wonder what the heck she was doing. Adios was no fool. What if instead of wining and dining her, he had her arrested? After all, she had aided and abetted.
Perspiration trickled down the hollow in her back, more from anxiety than from the heat. Maybe she should have stayed at the Sanchezes. Putting her baby at risk might not have been the smartest thing for her to do, but Juan’s life was at stake and she had to do something to help. Especially since he’d stuck his neck out to help them.
Adios came down the hall. His eyes widened when he saw her. “Senorita Rutherford. I never thought I would be seeing you again. Where are your friends? They are now all wanted for attempted murder.”
“What?” she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.
He smiled. “Yes. One of my men was shot out at the Montgomery ranch. I can only assume one of your friends did it.”
“I couldn’t say. I haven’t seen any of them in days. I’ve been a little under the weather at the hotel.” Before Dana came to the station, she’d checked to see if Adios had looked in on her. He hadn’t.
He studied her face, and from what she could tell, he was trying to read if she was lying or not. She could see he wasn’t sure.
“I am so sorry you have not been well.”
She smiled. “You are too sweet.” Flirting with him was the hardest thing Dana had ever done. “I thought we could finish the dinner that was interrupted.”
The leer he gave her almost made her change her mind about the plan they’d concocted. She just hoped disgust didn’t show on her face.
“I think that could be arranged. But I insist we do it at my home this time.”
Dana hadn’t expected him to suggest this. It wasn’t safe to be alone with him—not with the way he was looking at her.
She swallowed hard. “Okay.” Galen would be furious with her for doing this, but they had to get the chief away from the station somehow and this was the only way to accomplish that.
“Take a seat and I’ll go make some arrangements.”
Dana did as instructed, though she wished she were safely tucked in Galen’s arms right now.
She’d decided she was going to marry him, whether Galen loved her or not. The only downside was dealing with her brother. Robert would never approve of the match, but if they were already married there wouldn’t be any way for him to talk her out of it. Especially since she was carrying Galen’s child—the only child for either of them.
Dana glanced at the man behind the desk, who’d returned and was now staring at her legs. Uncomfortable under his scrutiny, she crossed them and tugged her skirt down over her knees.
Ten minutes later, Dana was about to get up and leave when Adios came back and held out his hand. Without flinching, she took his and allowed him to guide her from the station, her stomach in a ball of knots. She’d be fine if he kept his hands to himself. She could handle everything else.
A short walk brought them to an adobe home, large by the area’s standards. They walked under an arbor that led to the back of the house, the light scent of flowers relaxing Dana somewhat. The landscaping in the back was gorgeous and fragrant. Flowering bushes ran the length of one side of the property while the other was fenced. In the middle of the yard was a fountain flowing into a large pool. Dana couldn’t help but think the home was too expensive for a civil servant. That in itself made her question the man’s honesty. He probably took bribes to keep this lavish lifestyle.
“Please, come join me.” Chief Adios pointed to a table set for two on the patio. A young woman stood next to the table, waiting to serve them.
Something definitely wasn’t right. The man had to be doing something to supplement his income. Maybe the dead banker had something to do with it?
Dana allowed him to the pull out a chair for her and she sat, clasping her shaky hands in her lap. The last thing she wanted was for him to see how jittery she was. He’d know then she was up to no good.
He took the seat across from her and nodded to the woman standing next to him. She took a bottle chilling in a bucket beside the table and poured two glasses.
Dana stared at the alcohol in front of her. “Remember, I don’t drink.”
He shrugged and lifted his glass to his lips. He gave the woman another nod and she went inside the house.
