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A satisfied smile broke the corner of his sensuous mouth. “I t
hought maybe that news would appeal to you. It’s what I’ve always wanted.” His voice throbbed. “But because we were separated, I couldn’t imagine taking on the job without you.”
Oh, Cord— “I—I had no idea.”
“His cabin is larger than the one we lived in. We’d have plenty of room to raise our son.”
“Do it!” she urged him. “Call Art and tell him you want the job!”
“I will, just as soon as we’ve talked to Dan. He deserves to be the CEO of the company. When I tell him that the whole board will be behind him if I step down, that ought to open him up so he’ll tell me what’s wrong. No doubt Sheila is at the crux of his troubles,” he said in a menacing tone.
Ashley had no doubts, either, but was thankful Cord had been the one to voice them. “Can’t she block a move like that because your dad left her his shares?”
“No,” came the emphatic pronouncement. “I inherited mother’s shares, something my father couldn’t touch. If I exercise my right and vote like the others, Sheila will find herself without a position in the company, though she’ll always receive an income from the profits.
“When she discovers that you and I are going to live in the Tetons and she’s virtually alone, we can always hope she’ll disappear from the state.”
“I don’t think she’ll give up the house,” Ashley murmured.
“Maybe not. But as soon as our baby is born, we’ll never live there again so it doesn’t matter. My life is with you and our son.”
“That was your home, Cord!”
“Was being the operative word. The day my father let heir inside, my life changed forever. She can do whatever she wants with it after we leave. You and I are going to create our own memories elsewhere, so let’s not talk about it again.”
They’d been holding such an intense conversation, Ashley hadn’t realized that they’d already arrived at Dan’s Colonial-style house in North Salt Lake.
Cord turned off the ignition and came around to her side of the Land Rover to help her down. She could see lights on in the front windows. “Both their cars are still in the carport, Cord. That’s a good sign.”
He unexpectedly lowered his mouth to hers in a long, satisfying kiss. “Having you here with me like this makes all the difference, Ashley. Let’s go.”
As they headed toward the porch, Ashley realized that Cord wasn’t the same man who four days ago had passed her by in the hospital corridor looking ill and haunted.
The attractive, hard-muscled male who escorted her up the steps with a possessive arm, walked with new purpose. The combination of their reconciliation and impending fatherhood had given him a whole new reason to be alive. That elation was infectious and had spilled over to her, making her believe that the nightmare they’d lived through was almost behind them.
Almost.
If they found out Cord’s stepmother had something to do with Dan’s resignation, then Ashley would feel more empowered than ever to help expose Sheila for the liar she was. Hopefully Cord would be able to convince Dan to stay with the company and see this dark period through to a satisfactory conclusion.
“Cord! Ashley!” Dan’s wife said in surprise when she saw them standing on the other side of the screen. Her eyes darted back and forth between them. “But I thought—”
“We know what you thought,” Cord finished the sentence for her. “Ashley and I are back together. As you can see, we’re expecting a baby.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “But—”
“It’s a long story, Emily. Right now we’ve come as friends to talk to you and Dan. Would that be all right?”
“Yes. Of course.” She opened the screen so they could enter. “Dan’s up in the bedroom. Maybe I can get him to co—”
“Who’s at the door, Em?” Dan called out.
“It’s Cord and Ashley!”
After a long silence, “Just a minute.”
Emily sighed her relief and told them to follow her into the living room where Cord drew Ashley over to the velvet couch and pulled her down next to him. As soon as they were seated, Dan appeared in the entry dressed in casual trousers and a plaid shirt.
Ashley had never seen him in anything but a conservative suit and tie. Ironically, the warm, affable personality she associated with him was missing. In its place he presented a guarded, reserved demeanor totally uncharacteristic of him.
