Kings of California: Bargaining for King's Baby

“What marriage is ordinary, Adam?”

He blew out a frustrated breath. “You’re purposely misunderstanding me.”

“Oh, I understand just fine,” she said and tapped the tip of her index finger against his chest. “You want to pretend that I’m not really here. The only place you want to see me is our bedroom. Well, get over it. I am here. And I’m not going anywhere just yet.”

“I know that.” He shot a look at Travis, lowered his voice and said, “I’m just saying it doesn’t make much sense to uproot your horses. Besides, there’s no room for them here. Not to mention the fact that you could have talked to me about this before arranging for their arrival.”

Okay. Love him or not, Gina wasn’t going to be walked on. “There’s plenty of room on this ranch for the horses, Adam. You don’t even use the front corral and the barn’s half empty.”

“That’s not the point—”

“You just made it the point. Plus,” she said, rushing on before he could get started again, “you knew going in that I work with those horses.”

“I didn’t think—”

“What?” Her eyes widened and she waved both hands in the air. “You didn’t think I’d work with them here? Where I live?” She lowered her voice a little and leaned in. “What did you think, Adam? That I’d just stay tucked up in the bedroom waiting for you to service me? I said I wanted a baby, but I also have a life. One I’m not interested in giving up.”

“You could have told me—”

“Maybe I should have. But I didn’t realize I would have to discuss every one of my decisions with you to get your approval.”

“I didn’t say that—”

“What did you say then?” She was almost enjoying this, Gina thought. Adam looked confused and off balance. But it was better than disinterested. At least he was looking at her. Talking to her. Actually, she thought, keeping him off balance might be just the answer.

He scrubbed one hand across his face in an impatient gesture. “Fine. I’m not going to argue about this.”

“Too late.”

“You want the damn horses here, then fine.”

“Oh,” she said, laying one hand on her chest. “Thanks so much.”

His mouth worked, he pulled in a long breath and then said, “You’re really starting to irritate me, Gina.”

“Good,” she said and gave him a smile. Irritated meant she was getting to him. Keeping him confused could only help her. “I like knowing that I can make you feel something.”

When she turned to leave, he grabbed her arm again, spun her around and before she could ask what else he wanted to complain about, he kissed her. He covered her mouth with his in a fast, hungry kiss that left her knees wobbly. He let her go then took a step back as if even he were surprised by what he’d done. “Be careful what you wish for, Gina. Not all feelings are pretty.”

She lifted one hand to her mouth, rubbed her lips with her fingertips and looked up at him. “Even that would be better than feeling nothing.”

“Now you’re the one who’s wrong,” he said. Then he jerked his head at the trailer, where the driver was jumping down from the truck cab. “Go get your horses settled in.”

He turned his back on her and walked away, stepping into the darkness of the van without another look her way.

Adam stalked to the rear of the barn and turned into the small ranch office that had been built into what had once been just another stall. He took a seat behind the battered desk his ranch foreman usually used. Today, though, he was damn glad that Sam was somewhere out on the ranch.

Travis stopped in the open doorway, leaned one shoulder against the jamb and looked in at him. “You really enjoy being a jackass?”

“Butt out.” Adam propped one boot up on the corner of the desk and folded his hands atop his middle. He could still taste Gina and that wasn’t good. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. But she’d prodded him until damned if he could control the urge to touch her.

Since coming back home from Vegas, he’d done his damnedest to avoid spending much time with her. If he kept himself busy enough, it was almost possible to pretend that she wasn’t living there. That nothing had changed in his life. He went about his normal routine during the day.

But every afternoon, his mind started drifting to thoughts of her. His body started yearning. And every night, he went to her like a man on fire.

He hadn’t counted on this. Hadn’t planned on being affected by Gina’s presence at all. This was just one more deal made. One more bargain struck.

But she was wriggling her way into his thoughts, his life, with a surety that bothered him more than a little.

“Gina deserves better than the way you’re treating her.”

Adam shot Travis a look through narrowed eyes that should have fried him on the spot. Naturally Travis was unaffected. “What’s between Gina and me is just that,” Adam said. “Between Gina and me.”

Travis pushed away from the doorjamb, walked into the room and pushed Adam’s foot off the edge of the desk before sitting down. One eyebrow lifted and a corner of his mouth tipped into a half smile. “She’s getting to you.”

“No,” Adam lied. “She’s not.”

“She could if you let her.”

“And why would I do that?” Adam’s fingers, laced together atop his stomach, tightened until the knuckles went white.

“Let me answer that with another question. Do you really like living like a damn monk?” Travis demanded. “Do you enjoy locking yourself away on this ranch? Shutting out everybody but me and Jackson?”

Adam inhaled slowly, deeply, getting a rein on the flare of anger that had erupted inside him. “I’m not shut away. I’m working. The ranch demands a lot of time and—”

“Tell that to somebody else,” Travis said, neatly interrupting him. “I grew up here, too. I know what it takes to run this place. Didn’t I watch Dad do it year after year?”

“Dad didn’t have the same plans for it I do.”

“Yeah,” Travis agreed amiably. “Dad wanted a life, too.”

“I have a life.”

Smiling, Travis nodded. “After seeing that kiss, I’m guessing you’ve got a shot at one, anyway. If you don’t screw it up.”

Adam fixed him with a frown. “Is there a reason you came by here today? Or are you just here to be another thorn in my figurative paw?”

“The thorn thing appeals, I’ll admit. But I did have a reason.” Standing up, Travis stuffed both hands into the pockets of his black slacks. “I’m taking one of the family jets to Napa for a couple of weeks.”

“Bon voyage,” Adam said, standing himself. “But what’s that got to do with me?”

“Just wanted to let you know. There’s a winery there doing some interesting stuff with cabernets. Want to see what I can find out about their operation.”

“So why is it when you do something related to the vineyard it’s okay, but when I’m concentrating on the ranch I’m a recluse?”

“Because—” Travis grinned “—I make time for the ladies, too. I don’t live and die by the grape, Adam. And now that you’ve got yourself married again, maybe it’s time for you to remember that there’s more to life than this damn ranch.”

“You know exactly why I’m married. Don’t make it out to be more than it is.”