Expecting the Rancher's Heir

“Me, too,” Melissa and Avery both spoke at the same time.

“I’m glad I have you two together,” Melissa said, deciding it was time for a change of subject. Even though Trevor deserved getting the warning about his notorious behavior, she took no pleasure in it having to be done. “One of the guests at the spa left a magazine in the reception area and it had pictures of a nursery decorated with an ‘under the sea’ theme,” she explained. “I really liked it and I think that’s what I want to use for the nursery. It incorporated all of the pastel colors and had the cutest baby sea creatures.”

“I looked at that just the other day,” Avery said, nodding. “It’s adorable.”

Melissa briefly wondered why Avery had been looking at nursery themes, but dismissed the thought. Her friend had probably been looking for ideas to use for the baby shower.

“I love the little pink sea horse and blue octopus,” Melissa added, knowing she had settled on the theme she wanted for the nursery.

“It would be perfect for a boy or girl, too,” Erica agreed enthusiastically. “And we can use all of the colors when we decorate for the shower.”

Melissa hugged both women. “You two are the best. Thank you for planning this baby shower for me.”

“Uh-oh. It looks like I’m going to have to go soothe the savage beast,” Avery said suddenly, pointing toward Guy as he walked back into the ballroom. “He doesn’t look as if the encounter with Trevor was pleasant.”

“I doubt that it was,” Melissa said, hating that her family had to deal with yet another conflict.

“I’m afraid I need to get back to Christian,” Erica apologized, rising to her feet. “I see he’s been cornered by someone, no doubt looking for free legal advice.”

As she watched her two best friends walk back to their fiancés, Melissa wondered where Shane was. She checked her watch. He had told her he would only be a few minutes and that had been a half hour ago.

Deciding he would probably be back soon, she left the table to freshen up before the closing speech began. As she started down the hall toward the ladies’ powder room, she couldn’t help but recognize Shane’s voice coming from just around the corner.

“I’m flattered that you asked me to help with the investigation, Senator,” Shane said. Melissa started to join him and the senator, but his next words stopped her in her tracks. “I have a couple of stables to design, but after I send the blueprints to the contractors, I’ll have all the time in the world to devote to the investigation.”

“There could be times when you’ll have to do some frequent traveling,” Senator Kurk warned.

There wasn’t even so much as a moment’s hesitation before Shane answered the man. “That won’t be a problem. There’s nothing keeping me from spending all the time needed on the job sites and giving them my undivided attention.”

Lissa couldn’t stand to hear any more. She and their child were nothing? Hadn’t he listened to what she’d told him just the night before?

Feeling as if her heart had shattered into a million pieces, she turned and walked straight to the resort’s lobby. Shane was no different than her father had been. He intended to put work ahead of his family, and that was something she just couldn’t accept.

At the front desk, she asked for a piece of the resort’s letterhead and an envelope. When she finished scribbling the note, she sealed it in the envelope and handed it to one of the clerks working the reservations desk.

“I want this delivered to Erica Prentice at the head table in the Grand Ballroom,” she said, surprised that her voice sounded so steady. “Take it now before the closing speech starts.”

“Yes, Ms. Jarrod,” the young woman behind the counter said. “I’ll take it to her right away.”

As the woman hurried down the corridor leading to the ballroom, Melissa thought about walking to the lodge, but decided against it. She had left her light wrap at the table and the temperature outside had already dropped considerably. Besides, she didn’t relish the idea of walking that distance in three-inch heels.

She turned to the concierge. “I want someone to drive me to Willow Lodge.”

The man nodded. “It may take a few minutes to—”

“Now!” If she didn’t get back to the lodge soon, there was a very real danger of her falling apart right there in the middle of the lobby.

Never having heard her bark orders at anyone, the man moved faster than she had ever seen him and in no time Melissa found herself seated in the back of one of the resort’s courtesy limousines. She forced herself to remain stoic on the short ride up the road to Willow Lodge. She knew that she had already caused enough gossip and speculation among the employees with her outburst at the concierge. She didn’t want to add more by dissolving into a sobbing heap in the back of the limo.