Highly Compromised Position Read Free Page A

hourto talk, Mr. Windcroft. I have information that might change your mind.”
    Will said a blunt and crude word.
    â€œI think we ought to listen,” Nita urged. “Connor believes Tom.”
    â€œThat’s because they’re both in the Cattleman’s Club. And you believe Connor because you just married him. I’m not listening to a bunch of bull, and you can get out of our house!” Will’s voice rose, his face flushing.
    â€œSir,” Tom said firmly, “if you don’t hear me out, you have a lot to lose. Your mishap could’ve had worse consequences. Next time, if something terrible happens to Rose or Nita and you learn the Devlins aren’t responsible, you’ll hate yourself for not doing what you could’ve to prevent a tragedy. If you listen, you have everything to gain.”
    In silence Will scowled at Tom.
    â€œI think you know that we’ve had one murder—Jonathan Devlin,” Tom continued in a quiet, assertive voice. “Uncle Lucas doesn’t think it was a Windcroft who killed his grandfather. This may not be a Devlin-Windcroft battle after all.”
    Will sighed. “All right. Sit down and let’s hear what you have to say.”

Two
    â€œT hanks, Mr. Windcroft,” Tom replied, glancing at Rose.
    When Tom looked into her eyes, Rose Windcroft’s pulse jumped. Unable to tear her gaze away, she watched him cross the room. Tall, commanding, with sexy, melt-your-bones gray eyes, he made her pulse leap as much now as that first moment they had met at the Houston computer convention. This time he was casually dressed in a leather bomber jacket, a long-sleeved red-and-navy-plaid shirt and jeans.
    Tom offered his hand to her father, who glared at him without shaking hands. “Tell me what you came to tell me,” Will said bluntly.
    Tom was a Devlin! Rose was still stunned. One shock right after another. Her problems had compounded a thousandfold. She brushed her hand across her stomach.How could she have brought such upheaval into her life? The answer was crossing her living room—a virile, handsome, irresistible male who had made passionate love to her and gotten her pregnant!
    Tom had used condoms, but Dr. Amos Hartley had carefully explained to her that sometimes they broke or weren’t handled properly—a fact she already knew but hadn’t thought would ever apply to her.
    She hadn’t informed her family of her condition, and here was Tom Morgan in her life again and living on a nearby ranch. And not Tom Morgan, but Tom Devlin.
    She had decided earlier today that she would announce her pregnancy to her family. There was no use in delaying any longer. She now had to think about telling Tom soon too. She dreaded revealing the truth to Tom because the last thing she wanted was a man to offer marriage out of a sense of duty.
    She recalled how she and Tom had intended to exchange phone numbers, but she had had to leave the conference early because of a lucrative contract she was getting. The client had called and agreed to go with Rose’s company, and Rose had to be present to sign the deal. With all that had happened since then, the conference seemed longer ago than five months.
    Drinking in the sight of Tom, she inhaled while a pang of longing tore at her. When he had approached her at the side of the road, how she had wanted to throw herself into his arms.
    â€œI’m sorry about all that’s happened,” Tom said as he sat in a chair facing Will.
    On edge, Rose doubted her father would listen to Tom. Will sat with his lips clamped together, his chinraised as Rose had seen him do too many times before. She knew the gesture meant not only no but also hell, no!
    While the men talked, she thought about Tom asking her to dinner—anticipation made her heart race, yet she knew she shouldn’t go out with him again. Truce or not, it was difficult to spend time with a Devlin because she had grown up