The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine. Sara Orwig

another job that pays at least as much as the one I have. I don’t have the skills or the wardrobe for an office job,” she said, thrusting out her chin defiantly. “Pay is higher at Two-Steppin’ Ribs because the bar is out in nowhere.”

      “How many hours are you taking this semester?”

      “Two classes—six hours. I’m in pre-law.”

      “You’re a sophomore, aren’t you?”

      “I think you already know the answer. And you’re thinking that a sophomore is not much for someone who is twenty-two, but it’s the best I could do,” she replied, curling her long legs beneath her and settling in the corner of the sofa. His gaze slid along her legs. He tried to keep his thoughts on his mission, but he was responding to her physically in a manner that shocked him.

      “All right. Here’s the deal,” he said. “I’ll send you to school. You quit that job and move out to the ranch with me—”

      “No way! I’m sure you think I’m easy, but I’m not climbing into bed with you to get my tuition,” she said, flinging the words at him and standing.

      “Sit down,” he said with such ice and authority that she did. “I don’t want your body.” Even as he said the words, a devilish urge made him too aware that he was lying to her as far as what his body desired. Yet he could control himself and good sense kept telling him that he shouldn’t want her physically. She would be pure poison. He didn’t want to get involved emotionally with any woman.

      “I’ll pay for your school, let you quit that damn job,” he repeated, “take care of you and the baby. I’ll pay your medical bills—”

      “No one is that filled with benevolence. What do you want out of this generous offer?” she asked in a cynical voice.

      “Stop fighting me,” he said, gazing steadily into her green eyes and thinking that every inch of her made a man think of sex. “I want to know my niece or nephew. I want to make sure this baby is taken care of in the manner he or she should be. I don’t want your body,” he reaffirmed, trying to avoid looking at her lush body and failing annoyingly to stop thinking about it. “I want to know your baby. I want to see you able to take care of yourself and the baby. I can pay for your education. In turn, this Ransome will become part of our family. Dad has had one heart attack already. I want him to know his only grandchild.”

      “If you want your father to have a grandchild so badly, you should rethink your stance against marriage.”

      “I married once and never again for me,” Matt replied grimly, refusing to discuss the matter further.

      “What happened? She didn’t like your bossy arrogance?”

      He banked his irritation and ignored her question. “Your baby will be the only Ransome in the next generation. My dad isn’t getting any younger and he desperately wants a grandchild. I think he’s given up on all of us, but now, with your baby, his hopes are rekindled.”

      As Olivia bit her lip, Matt couldn’t resist looking at her mouth.

      “Look, dammit. What are you holding onto here besides your independence?” he asked. “This isn’t a castle. Your job is tough and tiring and pays little. You work in an unhealthy atmosphere. Men hit on you, and I can imagine what they’re saying to you—”

      “And you won’t hit on me?” she asked in a sarcastic tone.

      “No, I won’t,” he said flatly, trying in vain to shove erotic images of her out of his mind. “You know you’re an attractive woman, but you’re like a relative,” he said, while an inner voice laughed and he wiped his perspiring brow. When had the temperature in the small room climbed so high?

      “What do you want?” she asked. “You look like the straight-arrow, determined, accustomed to getting-your-way type.”

      “I want to take care of my dad and our ranches—we own three. No commitments beyond my family and our ranches. I want my dad to get to know his only grandchild. Pretty damn simple,” Matt snapped, thinking it should not be complicated, but it was. He was playing with dynamite right now by bringing her into their family.

      “I suspect there’s more to it than my baby.”

      “I swear I’m telling you the truth.”

      “I know I work in a bad place and I’m looking for another job,” she said, waving her slender fingers at him. “I’m holding on to my independence because that’s all I really have. I don’t want to have to depend on you and I don’t want to have to repay you for favors.”

      “If it reassures you, we can put my offer in a contract. I don’t want anything physical,” he repeated. “I’ll pay for your school and all your expenses and your baby’s. I’ll pay you a lump sum up front so you’re not beholden to me for money. You don’t have to repay any of it.”

      “That sounds too generous. I know you can’t understand someone holding such a value on independence, but it’s important to me. In spite of what you say, I can’t believe there aren’t strings attached to your offer.”

      “Listen. I’m trying to give you the help you need to become completely independent. In exchange, I want to know my brother’s child That’s all there is to it.”

      She glowered and inhaled, and he looked down as her full breasts strained against the fabric. When he glanced up, she frowned.

      “It’s difficult to be convinced that you really want to know this baby—or that your father wants a grandchild badly—when Jeff so totally denied us and was emphatic he didn’t want anything to do with my baby.”

      “None of us knew Jeff’s attitude. My guess is, his reaction was to get out of his responsibility, which was typical of my younger brother.”

      “So what happens later when I want to move on?”

      “We’ll work that out when we come to it. I hope you’ll stick around until you finish your education. Maybe by then you’ll like us and trust us enough to stay close permanently. Do you have long-term plans?”

      “I intend to finish school and get a job. I still say, you could marry again if you want kids so all-fired much.”

      “There is already a baby coming who is a Ransome. I’m not going to turn my back on a child who has Ransome blood. I have to keep reminding you—your baby is my relative.”

      Matt stared at her while she glared at him and the clash of wills was tense, but along with the contention was a sexual undercurrent of desire. Sparks danced between them, and Matt was certain she felt the same attraction he did.

      Instinctively, he knew the appeal was as unwanted to her as it was to him. Trying to control his insistent lust, he made a stronger effort to think only of the future and a baby he wasn’t going to surrender without the fight of his life.

      “If I give you a sum of cash up front and promise to pay your expenses, you won’t feel dependent on me. I’ll repeat—we can sign a contract.”

      “I don’t want to get involved with Jeff’s kin,” she insisted and he wondered if she had a clue how much he was willing to give her to change her grim conditions.

      “Possibly my offer will help with your decision. We’ll set up a trust fund for your baby. I’ll cover your expenses and you’ll have room and board at the ranch. Plus how’s a hundred thousand dollars paid to you, half now, half in six months?”

Two

      Olivia stared in disbelief at Matt Ransome as the princely sum stunned her.

      “For that much money, you want me, body and soul, plus my baby,” she replied curtly as she stood. “Get out!”

      “Sit down,” he ordered in the cold, quiet voice