Roping the Wind (30 page)

He stepped away from her and put his hands in his pockets. ‘I want to be successful, Helen. I want to be able to give you what you deserve.’

Her hands fisted at her sides. ‘Now who’s being an idiot?’

His gaze flew to her face. ‘Shit, Helen, I’m trying to do what’s best for you here.’

‘And you get to decide what’s best for me, do you?’

He closed his eyes. ‘We both know what it’s like to live with no money. It ain’t fun. It isn’t something I’d wish on anyone.’

Tears threatened her self-control and she ruthlessly converted them into anger. She moved closer until they stood toe to toe.

‘Listen to me, you complete idiot. This is the twenty-first century. I don’t give a damn about how much money you earn. I admire you for pursuing a dream and having the talent and guts to achieve your goals. I bet Grayson has offered to fund you and I would, too.’ She met his gaze. ‘I will
not
admire you if you go crawling back to your father. Is that clear?’

‘Helen, I can’t keep taking, not from Grayson, not from you. I’m not a kid anymore.’ His voice cracked and she touched his cheek.

‘How about you don’t think of it as taking? How about you think about it as us giving because we love you?’

Damn, had she said that out loud? Had she just admitted to loving him? She shivered when he closed his fingers over hers.

‘I suck at being loved, Helen. I have no idea how to handle it.’

‘Again, may I suggest you take your own advice and just accept it, deal with it and move on?’

He let out a breath and brought her fingers to his mouth for a kiss. ‘How come you make it sound so simple?’

‘Because it is.’

He drew her into his arms and kissed her again, his mouth rough as it moved over hers, her body tight against his. He whispered, ‘I don’t know if I can say the words, yet, but I promise I’ll work on it.’

She pulled back to smile at him. ‘You’d better. Even high-powered doctors need to be told they are loved occasionally.’

He smoothed her hair away from her face. ‘I promise I won’t go and slave for Beau. We’ll work it out somehow, although I don’t imagine it will be an easy ride.’

Helen nodded. They were both far too hard-headed and stubborn to make concessions. But being with Jay would never be boring. She looked up as he cupped her chin in his big hand.

‘I don’t want to walk away from you anymore, Helen. I want to stay right here.’

‘I don’t even need to hog-tie you to the bed anymore?’ Helen pretended to pout. ‘That was fun.’

His gray eyes took on a familiar lustful glint. ‘You can tie me up anyway you like, just as long as you allow me the same privileges.’

She shuddered as his lips met hers. After another long kiss, he set her away from him.

‘Honey, just remember that as soon as I get my company up and running and I can support you, we’re going back to plan A,’ he said.

‘And what might that be?’

He winked at her. ‘You, barefoot and pregnant.’

Helen took great satisfaction in kicking him in the shins.