Читать книгу Expecting His Child - Leanne Banks - Страница 9

“Have you heard anything from—” Martina’s sister-in-law, Jill asked “—your assistant procreator?”

Martina grinned as the two women carried the results of their shopping trip into her condo. “I like that. Takes a lot of the messy emotion out of it?”

“I wouldn’t want to upset the mother-to-be.”

“By using expressions like former lover, or father of my child, or one of the top five men my brothers most hate.” Martina gritted her teeth. “Thank you.”

“Hate is a strong word,” Jill said, revealing her public-relations background. “Your brothers may not really hate Noah Coltrane. They don’t even know one another.”

“They hate him,” Martina said, stomping upstairs to the nursery. “Brock hates him because he’s a Coltrane and one of their bulls jumped the fence and had entirely too much fun with some of our heifers. It made calving season a real pain because the bull was the wrong size and some of the calves were too big, and then there’s your husband, Dr. Tyler Logan, who used to get into fistfights with Noah on a weekly basis when they were in their teens. And then there’s the small matter that Noah got their baby sister pregnant. Yeah, I would say his name is dirt.”

“But people change and they haven’t truly sat down and talked since they became adults.”

“That’s to prevent bloodshed and eventual death by lethal injection. Texas believes in capital punishment.”

Jill chuckled and put her arms around Martina in a hug. “Don’t you think you’re exaggerating just a little?”

“No,” Martina muttered. “And I’m not exaggerating when I say how nice you are to check on me and go baby shopping with me.” Martina knew Jill was unable to bear children because of an injury from an automobile accident, and her sister-in-law’s continued generosity often brought tears to her eyes. Jill hadn’t allowed her injury to prevent her from being a mother to a child who needed her. She and Tyler had adopted a son as soon as they got married.

Jill’s watery gaze met Martina’s damp one and both women laughed. “At least you can blame this on hormones. I’m really okay. It’s amazing what marrying your brother and adopting Sam have done for me. I just want you and your baby to be healthy and happy.” She sobered. “And I notice you didn’t answer my question about your assistant procreator.”

Martina made a face. “Yes. He found me.” She pulled bumper pads and sheets with a soothing cloud motif from a bag.

“And?”

“And he immediately said we should get married, and I told him never, and he said we need to get to know each other, and I suggested e-mail.”

“You must have felt something for him to get involved with him,” Jill said.

Martina didn’t like being reminded of her initial attraction to Noah. It had been strong and sexual, and she wasn’t feeling very sexy these days.

Her doorbell rang, saving her from responding.

“Pizza,” a male voice called.

Martina felt a twinge. The voice was familiar. “I didn’t order pizza,” she muttered, rising from the floor. Although pizza sounded like a good idea.

Jill joined her at the top of the stairs. “Your pizza-delivery guy looks a lot different from mine.”

Noah had let himself in her unlocked door. His intense gaze wrapped around Martina and squeezed before he gave a slight grin that made her stomach flip. How had he known she would be hungry? Martina rolled her eyes at herself. When was she not hungry?

“What a surprise,” she said in a neutral voice, walking down the stairs.

He flipped open the lid to reveal a large, hot pizza with mushrooms and onions. She eyed him suspiciously. “How did you know they’re my favorite toppings?”

“It’s my job to know,” he said in a voice that would melt brick.

Martina tried to ignore the way her heart sped up.

“You’re the man who arrived on horseback at Brock and Felicity’s wedding,” Jill said, her eyes growing wide in realization. “The fa—” She stopped and appeared to correct herself. “The fellow procreator.”

Noah’s jaw tightened. “Noah Coltrane. I’m the father of Martina’s baby. And you?”

Martina ground her teeth. “This is my sister-in-law, Jill. She’s married to Tyler.”

“A pleasure,” Noah said, shifting the pizza box so he could shake hands.

Jill nodded, still neutral. “You come bearing pizza?”

“I understand pregnant women get hungry,” he said in the same sexy voice that made Martina feel hungry in all ways. “Satisfying Martina’s appetite is my job.”

Jill’s lips twitched. “Something tells me you’re up to the challenge.” She glanced at Martina. “I should run and leave you two to your appetites and pizza.”

“No. You don’t have to go. There’s plenty for—”

“I really need to get back.” She gave Martina a quick hug and whispered, “Enjoy yourself. It’s not as if you can get pregnant.”

Shocked, Martina gaped at Jill. Traitor! “Tyler would not appreciate that comment.”

“He may eventually,” Jill said. “Take care and call me for anything.”

“Yes, but—” Martina watched her sister-in-law smile and leave. She turned to Noah and scowled.

“Nice lady,” he said cheerfully. “How are you?”

“I’m retaining water.”

Looking down at her from beneath his black Stetson, he nodded. “I can take care of a lot of things, but probably not water retention. Pizza?”

“Yes,” she said, and added dutifully, “thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He strolled into the kitchen in front of her, giving her an unobstructed view of his impressive backside. A memory flashed in her mind of the time Noah had coaxed her into making love in front of a mirror. The images of her naked body and his and the passion between them were so hot she prayed her thoughts didn’t show on her face.

Noah turned and studied her. “Are you okay? You look flushed.”

Darn. “Heating for two.” Martina smiled and headed for the freezer. She opened the door and stuck her face inside to cool her cheeks as she pulled out some ice cubes.

She dumped the ice into two glasses and grabbed a couple of soft drinks. “How are you managing to get your work done and take time out to visit me?”

“I keep my trading to a minimum on the day I see you and work on my other projects on the weekends. I can handle it,” he assured her in that low, sexy voice.

Martina’s gaze skimmed over his broad shoulders. Yes, he could probably handle just about anything he wanted. “You don’t really need to visit so often,” she said.

“Sure I do. You’d miss me,” he mocked.

“Oh, I don’t think—”

“Have some pizza,” Noah interjected. “I have a surprise for you after you finish eating.”

“What kind of surprise?” she asked, immediately curious.

“It’s little.”

“What is it?”

“Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

She gave a much-put-upon sigh.

Noah’s smile twitched with humor. “Your impatience reminded me a little of my brother Gideon.”