Bound by Honor by Donna Clayton Read Free Book Online Page A

asked. "I don't understand. Who'll watch your niece?"
    "I will. I've always worked from home. That's why it was so easy for me to relocate to Broken Bow. I can work from any location." She shifted Lily to her left hip. "I build and maintain Web sites. All I need is a p lace to set up my computer, and access to t he Internet. You said you have cable. That's great. I'll have to call the company and sign up for high-speed Internet service. I'll pay, of course. It's a business expense."
    Lily patted Jenna's cheek, and Jenna smiled into her niece's face. When she looked at Gage again, he seemed edgy and she feared she was keeping him from his work.
    He gestured toward the east wing. "Kitchen and dining rooms are down that way. Bedrooms are this way."
    Jenna followed him down the hallway that ran the length of the west wing. There were four doors, two on each side.
    They passed what she guessed was the master bedroom. The door was open and she glimpsed a neatly made king-size bed.
    The door was closed to the room directly across from the master bedroom, and Gage passed it without comment.
    "Here we are," he said, setting the diaper bag and suitcase on the bed in one of the remaining two rooms. "I hope it's not a problem for you and your niece to share."
    "It's no problem. The bed's plenty big. We can make it work." She looked at the baby. "It'll be an adventure, right, Lily?"
    The bedroom was ample for her needs. Tastefully decorated in summery shades of yellow, it housed a queen-size bed, a dresser and a small desk. The south facing window offered sunny exposure.
    "This is perfect," she told Gage. She grinned at Lily again. "It's perfect for us, isn't it, sweet stuff?"
    Obviously enjoying her aunt's attention, the baby garbled a nonsensical reply.
    "See?" Jenna grinned at Gage. "Lily thinks so, too."
    The tension emanating from him was unmistakable now, and Jenna suddenly felt guilty.
    "I'm sorry I kept you so long. I'm sure you've got work to do. I assume the bathroom is across the hall." She bent and set Lily down on the carpet.
    Visibly relieved that she'd given him leave, he made a beeline for the door, but paused at the threshold to ask, "Can I bring your things in for you?"
    When she'd arrived from Rock Springs this morning, she'd been running late and hadn't had time to unpack her computer and her belongings from the car. Gage had been waiting for her on the front porch and t hey had gotten directly into his truck and headed for their appointment at the courthouse in Forsyth.
    "Thanks, but don't bother." Jenna pulled so me soft t oys from the diaper bag and off ered them lo Lily. "There's no rush. I'll grab what I need later, then unpack the car as soon as I can find some free time. I got myself caught up on work so I could have a few days to focus on Lily."
    He nodded. "I'll be out at the stable if you need me." Then he disappeared from view.
    She looked around, frowning at the thought of setting up her computer in here. She'd have to work while Lily was sleeping and she wouldn't want to disturb her niece. She hurried to the bedroom door.
    "Gage."
    He turned to face her at the end of the hallway.
    "What's in there?" she asked, pointing to the closed door across from the master bedroom. "I was hoping it might be a room where I could work. You know, so I wouldn't disturb Lily if she's sleeping."
    His wide mouth flattened. "Off-limits," was all he said before turning on his heel and stalking away.
    She backed into her bedroom unable to decide if she should feel merely surprised by the man's terse response or insulted by it.
    "What do you think, sweet stuff?" she asked Lily in a singsong voice. She picked up the baby, then laid her down on the bed for a diaper change. "Is Gage a big, ol' meany-beany?" She placed her index finger on the tip of her niece's nose and gave it a wiggle. Lily giggled. "Or is that closed door none of Auntie Jenna's business?"
    The baby gurgled and munched on the rubber nipple of the pacifier.
    "Ah, so