Seduction, Westmoreland Style - Brenda Jackson [62]
“He’s pretty much made up his mind that he will never let another woman into his life.”
Casey stood and met Morning Star’s gaze with a defiant look in her eyes. “Well, we’ll just see about that. I love McKinnon and I won’t let him turn his back on what we can have together. I simply refuse to let him do that.”
Morning Star smiled. “And I’m happy to hear it. No matter how difficult he gets, don’t let him push you away. Fight him with your love.”
Casey nodded. She intended to do that very thing.
McKinnon spotted Casey the moment he turned the corner of the ranch house. She’d sent a message by Norris that she needed to see him and not knowing if it could wait, he had put his work aside to look for her.
On his way he’d seen Henrietta leaving and wondered why she had ended her work day early. Since it was Friday, chances were she probably had something to do and had forgotten to mention it to him.
He inhaled deeply. Casey was standing in the courtyard by the flower beds, the same place she’d been standing the night they had shared their first kiss. He muttered a curse. That was the last thing he needed to think about now. But hell, how could he not when she looked so beautiful standing there in jeans that cupped her bottom so deliciously, and a short silky-looking blouse that showed what nice breasts she had; breasts he had touched and tasted so many times. He let his gaze flick over them one last time before putting his control in place.
“Norris said you wanted to see me, Casey,” he said, trying to stop his heart from hammering away in his chest.
She looked up at him. “Yes. I thought we could finish our discussion now.” She watched as his body moved into that stance she loved—arms crossed over his broad chest and booted feet braced apart. The man certainly had the body to fill out any pair of jeans he put on. Today his hair was pulled back in a ponytail, making him look very sexy.
He blew out an impatient breath. “We finished our discussion last night. There’s nothing to add or subtract.”
“I think there is and would like for you to hear me out.”
His lips pressed into a firm line and he inhaled deeply. “Okay, say whatever it is you have to say so I can get back to work.”
She nodded and slowly crossed the courtyard to him. He nervously rubbed his hand across the back of his neck when she came to a stop. She was too close for comfort and she smelled too damn good.
“I just want to get a few things straight in my mind, McKinnon. Let’s do scenario number one. If I had come to you the other night, and told you that I had a female condition that stopped me from ever giving you a son or a daughter, would you have ended things between us for that reason?”
“Of course not!”
“Okay, let’s move to scenario number two. If, for any reason, I wanted to adopt a child, would you have had a problem with that?”
McKinnon frowned, wondering where she was going with this. “No, I would not have had a problem with it.”
“And what if I wanted to try artificial insemination to get pregnant, would you have a problem with that?”
“No, I wouldn’t have a problem with that either.”
“That’s good to know.” Then she placed her hand on her hips and glared at him. “Then what the hell is your problem,” she snapped, all but screaming at him. “What kind of woman do you think I am to expect more from you than I’m willing to give myself? Just like I wouldn’t expect you to walk out on me if I couldn’t produce a child, I would think you would have the decency not to expect the same thing from me. But do you? Hell no! You expected me to be like that other woman—who evidently didn’t know a good thing when she had it—and run off. There’re plenty of babies out there who need a loving home, a home that we can give. I think it’s a crying shame that you think so little of me.”
“Casey,” he said in a low tone, so low it almost sounded like a whisper. “It’s not that I think so little of you, it’s because I think so much of you that I want you to have more. I love you. I love you so much it hurts and knowing