LITMIR.BIZ

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elderly woman’s eyes fairly bugged with mischievous glee. She slapped Cord on the shoulder with a hefty whack that made his arm burn almost as hot as the skin on the back of his neck. “Why, you old son of a gun! Aren’t you taking your brotherly duties a bit too seriously, Cord? Tessa’s her own woman, aren’t you, honey? And I’d love to have ya, but I need me a chauffeur more than anything. It would save my knees tremendously ’cause driving’s what’s really killing me. You can drive me to the salon and then back after we put in the morning hours. What do you say?”

      “Yes,” she answered.

      “No!” Cord insisted. “Tessa—”

      Nan elbowed him and flashed a genuine, teasing smile. “It’s okay, big brother. I won’t let her do anything that might harm the baby. You can rest easy on that account. There’s no heavy lifting at a beauty parlor, Cord. Just a lot of gals having some fun and talking too much over curlers and coffee.”

      Thunderstruck, Cord and Tessa stared at the gnome of a woman.

      “How did you know?” Tessa’s hand instantly went to her stomach.

      Nan peered at the mound not quite disguised by the faded jeans and baggy sweater. “You’re not exactly incognito, though I can tell you’ve tried hard to be. And Cord’s macho routine is a dead giveaway.”

      “I’m not being macho!” He merely wanted to make certain there were no bad guys waiting to chase Tessa down. She seemed to have forgotten all about his nighttime visitors.

      “Your mama know you’re staying here, honey?” Nan stared pointedly at both of them.

      “Actually, I’m not really staying here—”

      “Yes, you are,” Cord said firmly. “Until the situation is resolved.”

      “It’ll take a couple of months just to resolve the situation, I reckon,” Nan put in. “Hester’s gonna have a fit if she finds out you’re here.”

      At the mention of her mother’s name, he saw Tessa’s face take on unhappiness like a sinking ship takes on water. “Hester doesn’t have to know.”

      “Nope. She won’t know from me.” She patted Cord’s shoulder conspiratorially. “You’ll make a fine uncle, Cord. You’ve always had that family instinct. It’s the Irish in you, I suppose. Herding the flock together. Keeping the clan secure.” She shuffled out the door, pulling a plastic rain bonnet from her coat pocket. “It’s misting, and that might make the roads a little slick if it gets any colder. It’ll sure as shooting make the ladies’ hair fall, so I’ll probably get a ton of cancellations this a.m. Come over in fifteen, Tessa. Cord, we’ll probably just start easy today with two hours, and if the roads get bad, I’ll get the little pre-bundle of joy right back here.”

      She never even looked back for his confirmation. Together, Tessa and Cord watched the elderly woman make her way across the gravel driveway to the open field that lay between the two houses. Once she gained her own yard, Cord swung the door shut.

      “Tessa—”

      “Don’t ever tell me what to do.” Her large eyes were full of blue fire, her skin flushed along the cheekbones with anger. “Please, Cord. Mrs. Ashley is offering me an opportunity I don’t intend to pass up. I need a job. I know I said I’d stick close to the house, today at least, but I won’t be alone, and it’s just a short drive into town.”

      He stared at her, suddenly starting to understand the hasty jump at employment. “Tessa, I’m just worried—”

      “I know you are. And I appreciate that. But please try to understand that both of us are worrying right now.” She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t think you understand that I’m going to be raising a child alone. Even if Hunt isn’t d-dead—” she hesitated after forcing the word out “—he might not be able to help me with the baby. She’s offering me a chance I just can’t afford to pass up.”

      “Tessa!” Cord couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Surely you don’t think I wouldn’t provide for my own blood.”

      “I know you would.” Her voice was full of quiet determination. “You want to provide for me right now and I’m no blood relation of yours. But, Cord, I can’t go from one brother to the other just because there’s a child involved. I have to stand on my own two feet.”

      He recoiled from the meaning in her words. “God, Tessa, I…”

      They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment. He nodded once, his heart tearing. Somewhere in his subconscious, maybe, just maybe, he had been relishing his role of stand-in man in Tessa’s life. Sure, he owed it to Hunt to take care of his girlfriend, but she was Hunt’s girlfriend. Not his. And she never would be. The tearing went further than his heart and deep into his soul.

      “You’re right,” he said quietly. “I may be trying to hold you too tightly because of Hunt. I may be overly suspicious because I got spooked last night. But I won’t interfere in your personal life again, Tessa.” He swallowed, avoiding her gaze. “You are your own woman in my eyes.”

      Before she could reply, he strode out the door, heading for the barn.

      So she couldn’t see that there was more than brotherly concern in his eyes.

      Chapter Three

      Cord waited until he saw Tessa walk across the field to Nan Ashley’s house before emerging from the barn. He went into his study through the back door, watching out the window until Nan’s car pulled out of her driveway and pointed toward town.

      Sighing, he picked up the phone and dialed some numbers. Tessa had unfortunately been right. He had been overbearing in his role as protector. He had basically forced her to come to his ranch for his own feelings of security. He had asked her to stay close to the ranch today to ease his own fears.

      He bowed his head as the phone rang at the other end. Tessa had made it as clear as the glassy icicles hanging from the eaves that she wanted to fly solo, regardless of whether Hunt ever returned to her. She wanted to find her own way in the world.

      He understood that desire. He simply wished her way in the world led to him.

      No one answered at the military base. Frowning, he considered his two options: Call again later, or go looking for answers.

      Putting on his Stetson and grabbing up his keys, Cord locked the door behind him. Tessa would be with Nan at the beauty parlor for a few hours; knowing she was safe gave him unworried license to leave the ranch.

      “THIS IS GOING TO WORK OUT very well for both of us.”

      Tessa smiled at the pleased note in Nan’s voice as she steered the vintage sedan into town. “I’m so glad you needed help.”

      “I’d say you’re the one who needs help,” Nan pointed out wryly. “Cord looked like he swallowed a rock when you asked me for a job.”

      He had looked dismayed. Tessa guiltily shoved the memory aside. “Cord’s got enough to do without watching out for me.”

      “Could be he wants to.”

      Tessa shook her head at the pert reply. “Cord considers it an obligation on his brother’s behalf.”

      “Because of the baby?”

      Tessa started to shake her head again but realized the baby likely had a lot to do with his vigilant watch over her last night. “Partly,” she admitted reluctantly, not willing to divulge that Cord had received unwelcome news last night from men he didn’t trust. That was a confidence she wouldn’t share with anyone until Cord could determine whether he had reason to mourn his brother or not.

      “You know, Tessa, from where I’m sitting, it seems you’re in a bit of a pickle.”

      Tessa sighed.

      “When

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