Claiming The Rancher's Heir (Gold Valley Vineyards #2) - Maisey Yates Page 0,43

big living room that she could imagine being filled with baby toys, and a big old Christmas tree.

Fake or real, it suddenly didn’t matter.

The way the bedrooms were configured, with one just down the hall from the master bedroom that she knew would make the ideal nursery, was perfect. More than she had ever dreamed. For a life she hadn’t been able to imagine before, but could now, so vividly that it hurt.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“This is it,” she said.

A life that was theirs. A life that didn’t belong to anyone else.

“Yes,” she said. “I think this is going to work.”

Let it never be said that Creed Cooper was a coward, but he had been avoiding having meaningful conversation with his family for far too long. They were all dancing around the issue of his marriage, and his impending fatherhood. And it was obvious that whatever leash had been holding Honey back had just broken.

He was in his office, finalizing details for the upcoming joint winery event, when Jackson, Jericho, Honey and their father walked in. Or rather, Honey burst in, and the others came in behind her.

“Are we just not talking about this? About the fact that you got married?”

“I mean, there’s not much to say.”

“You married a Maxfield.”

“I did,” Creed said.

“She’s pregnant.”

“Honey, do I have to walk you through how that happens, or did you get sex ed in school?”

“I’m good,” Honey said, her tone dry. “Thanks, though. My point is, what exactly is going on?”

“I got her pregnant. I married her. That’s what a gentleman does.”

Honey rolled her eyes. “I was under the impression a gentleman waited until he was married.” She looked like she was deciding something. Then, decision made, her lips turned up into a smirk. “Or at the very least used a damn condom.”

“Can you not say the word condom?” Creed asked.

“Why? I would assume you’d prefer to think that I was using them rather than not.”

“I would prefer not to think about it at all.”

“You’ve given me no such luxury. Since you clearly had unprotected sex. Like a...horny goat.”

“Are you just here to lecture me on protocol or...?”

“Do you love her?”

“What does love have to do with anything?” And the words sat uncomfortably in his gut. Because he felt something for Wren, sure as hell. He was selling his ranch for her, moving into another house.

As if she could read his mind, Honey’s gaze sharpened. “Is she making you leave your ranch?”

“No,” he said. “I suggested we get a place that’s more about the two of us.”

“You...did?”

“It was the least I could do. Considering I basically forced her to marry me.”

“You didn’t,” Honey said.

“I did,” he responded.

His sister stared at him, and he could feel his older brother mounting a protective posture. At him? That was ridiculous.

“Honey,” Jackson said. “Maybe just leave it alone. Like we told you to when you were ranting a few minutes ago.”

“You guys are terrible bouncers,” Creed said, addressing his brother and Jericho. “You let her come right through the front door.”

“I just don’t get it,” she said. “Why you would marry somebody you’re not in love with.”

“There’s a lot of reasons to get married, sweetheart,” he said. “And they often don’t have anything to do with love.”

“Then what?”

“Well, lust comes to mind.”

“You don’t marry somebody just because you lust after them. That’s silly.”

“Fine. The pregnancy.”

“I still don’t understand how you could be so stupid. You’re not a kid.”

“Honey, I pray that you always keep your head when it comes to situations of physical desire.”

She tossed her pale brown hair over her shoulder. “I would never get that stupid over a man.”

The three of them laughed at her. Well, chuckles, really, but Honey looked infuriated.

“Spoken like a woman who’s never wanted anyone,” Jericho said.

Honey’s face went up in flames. “You don’t know anything,” she said, planting her hand on his chest and shoving him slightly.

“I know plenty enough,” he responded.

“Did you guys just come to my office to bicker? To yell at me about something I can’t change?”

“They’re our rivals,” Honey said. “That’s what I don’t get. Now you’re married, and did you do anything to protect the winery when you made that deal?”

No. They hadn’t signed a prenup of any kind. And in hindsight that probably wasn’t the best decision. But all he’d been thinking of was making sure he was protecting his rights as a father.

He hadn’t thought to protect his monetary assets at all.

“Everything will be fine,” he said.

“How could you be so