A Baby by Chance Read Free Page B

into gear. He drove carefully between the rows of vehicles, past the news vans that had been set up to cover the event, then onto the narrow lane that connected the ranch with the highway. A split rail fence lined one side of the road. In the distance, a herd of horses grazed in a sun-splashed pasture.
    “Doesn’t feel that hot to me,” Chance observed.
    Oh, yeah? Madison thought. Then why had a bead of perspiration broken out on his temple? And why did he suddenly appear every bit as physically aware of her as she was of him, she wondered, catching a whiff of his deliciously sexy leather and spice cologne.
    Chance stopped to make sure the road was clear. He looked both ways, then turned his truck onto the main highway. He continued to study her off and on as they headed in the general direction of the Wind River Range. “So, do you date a lot of cowboys or am I your first?” he prodded.
    Aware he had completely misinterpreted the reason for her interest in him, Madison studied the occasional stands of aspen and pine. “You’re my first.”
    “How come?”
    Madison shrugged. “I don’t meet any. I work in the city, remember?”
    He fidgeted in his seat, his hard-muscled thigh nudging her much softer one in the process. “Then who do you date?” he persisted.
    His questions were awfully personal. But maybe that was good, Madison thought. She needed them to get to know each other if she was going to persuade him to do what she wanted.
    “To be perfectly honest, I don’t normally date a lot.”
    Chance lifted a brow. “That a fact?” he asked, clearly disbelieving.
    Madison sighed, not sure how they’d gotten on this topic. Her personal life had been disappointing as far back as she could remember in just about every way. “Afraid so,” she said lightly.
    “Why not?”
    “No time.”
    He raised a brow.
    “I work in advertising,” Madison explained. “For one of the most demanding and high-paying firms around.”
    “I know that. Still, you must get plenty of offers.” Chance persisted, clearly more interested in her social life than her career.
    Madison watched Chance bypass the road to Lightning Creek, the closest town, and turn the truck onto the bridge that crossed Sand Creek. “I guess.”
    “And yet you turn them all down.”
    “Most of the time, yes.” Without so much as a regret. She didn’t believe in wasting time, hers or anyone else’s.
    He smiled. “So why—if you’re so particular about who you go out with—did you want to date me?” Chance asked lightly as they rounded a bend in the road. The sexy promise in his voice sent shivers of awareness racing across her skin.
    “You know why?” Madison spoke flirtatiously, ready to do whatever she needed to build his ego to the point where he’d agree to be spokesperson for the Ranchero campaign.
    Chance abruptly steered the pickup to the side of the road. He stopped so suddenly she lurched against him. The way he considered her, she knew she was going to have to come up with something convincing if she ever hoped to win his respect. “I liked your...smile.” And the way you fit into a pair of jeans, Madison added silently. “And...the way you pirouetted around on stage to make all the women laugh. And the roses. I liked the fact you thought to bring roses today.” She finished with a burst of inspiration.
    “It seemed the least I could do for anyone who helped the ranch out with a contribution. Still—” Chance paused dramatically as he gave her another supercharged look
“—five thousand is a lot to pay for a date.”
    Madison drew a deep breath and steeled herself with resolve. “Like I said,” she retorted determinedly, “the money wasn’t really mine, and it’s going for a good cause—the boys’ ranch. I’m just here on behalf of my company.”
    “To grease the wheels...smooth the way to my cooperating with Connelly and Associates?”
    Madison was glad he was being so grown-up about this. “You’ve got my number,