Kathie Denosky - The Jarrods, Expecting the Ranchers Heir (Harlequin Desire)

.And to my daughter Melissa, I bequeath the third portion of my estate. In particular, I entrust you with executive oversight of the Jarrod Ridge spa complex. Though you may think I didnt notice, the success youve had with your fitness concern in Malibu truly impressed me. Ever since you were a little girl, Ive been so proud of you, even though our family business kept me away from home, and from showing how much I truly loved you. I ask only that you make your younger half sister, Erica, feel as loved and welcome in her new family. You always held your own among your headstrong brothers; now show her the way.

D ont say pregnant. Please dont say pregnant, Melissa Jarrod whispered, afraid to open her tightly closed eyes. Maybe if she repeated it enough times she could will the white stick in her trembling hand to give her the results she wanted.

When she finally worked up the courage to take a peek at the pregnancy test she held, her eyes widened and it felt as if her stomach dropped all the way to her feet. The word pregnant in the little results window couldnt have been clearer.

I cant be pregnant, she said disbelievingly as she glanced at herself in the bathroom mirror. Weve been careful.

But as her gaze dropped to her flat stomach, she realized that the way her luck had been running lately, it was not only possible, it was highly probable. She and Shane McDermott had been in a physical relationship practically from the moment she returned to Aspen two months ago. She sighed heavily. Although theyd taken the proper precautions, there had been that one night only a few days after theyd started seeing each other when theyd gotten carried away and passion had overtaken them.

Hoping the results of the test might be wrong, she quickly picked up the box to check the directions. No, she had done everything correctly. She turned the box to the side to see if there was a disclaimer or some reassurance that the test could have given a false-positive reading. Her spirits sank further when she found what she was looking for. The percentage of error was so low, it was almost impossible that she wasnt pregnant.

Wandering into the bedroom, she sank onto the side of the bed. What was she going to do and how on earth was she going to tell Shane?

He had made it perfectly clear from the beginning that he wasnt interested in a serious relationship, and that had been just fine with her. When shed first come back to Aspen for the reading of her fathers will, she hadnt been certain just how long she would be staying. But she, her brothers and her newfound half sister had learned they were required to take over the running of the Jarrod Ridge Resort for at least one year or forfeit their inheritance of the thriving enterprise. Even so, it would have been utter foolishness to engage in anything long-term, knowing that she would eventually return to California at some point in the future.

But with the positive results of the pregnancy test, their casual affair had just taken a very serious turn and become a lifelong commitment. At least for her. But how would Shane react when he learned that in a little more than seven months he was going to be a father?

Lost in a tangle of disturbing thoughts and fighting a wave of sheer panic, Melissa jumped when her cell phone rang. Reaching to pick it up from the nightstand, she noticed the number for the Tranquility Spa on the caller ID.

Whats wrong this time, Rita? she asked, taking a deep steadying breath.

Whether real or imagined, the assistant manager of Jarrod Ridges elite spa had reported a crisis nearly every day since Melissa had stepped in to temporarily take over the managers position. But for the first time in two months, she welcomed the insecure womans concerns. Anything was a welcome distraction from her own current dilemma.