Page 79 of Wyoming Heart

“I’m having a nervous breakdown over here,” he pointed out. “I’ve never proposed marriage in my life. Would you consider putting me out of my misery?”

She laughed softly, got up and sat down in his lap. “Okay.”

She kissed him with aching tenderness, and his arms closed around her, mirroring the emotions she was feeling.

He lifted his head, and his own pale brown eyes were soft and quiet with growing possession. “Is that a yes?” he teased.

She laughed. “It’s a yes.”

He held her close and kissed her with growing hunger. “Torment!” he accused.

She smiled under his devouring mouth. “I am not a...a...oh dear!” She pulled out of his arms and ran for the bathroom. She hadn’t even had breakfast, so apparently last night’s cheese and crackers were making a return appearance.

He was right beside her. “Should I call a doctor? Are you okay?” he asked, with real concern.

She swallowed down the nausea and rested her head on her arm. “I’m okay,” she said huskily. A few seconds later, she felt confident enough to flush the toilet and get up to wash her face. He stood behind her, still worried and unable to hide it.

“Mina, what’s wrong?” he persisted.

She turned and looked up at him. “Your baby doesn’t like cheese and crackers, apparently,” she said in a breathless tone.

“My...” The blood drained out of his face and then rushed back. There was utter glee in the glitter of his pale brown eyes. “You’re pregnant?”

“The doctor I saw thinks so... Cort!”

He had her up in his arms, swinging her around, as he exhibited the most incredible joy he’d ever felt in his life. “Pregnant! And the first time!” He set her gently on her feet, his face jubilant.

“Well, at least I don’t need to ask if you’re pleased,” she said softly, and love sparkled in her brown eyes.

“Oh, pleased doesn’t come close to expressing it. I want to tell the world...oh God, we’re not married!” he burst out.

“Now, Cort...” she began.

But he was already on the phone giving orders. An hour later, she was being hustled aboard the Latigo jet, which had just landed at the Catelow airport. The fixed base operator was talking animatedly with the pilot, who was doing the walk around before he filed a flight plan.

“Nick flies us,” he told her as they strapped into their seats in the luxurious jet, which was even more elaborate than Jake McGuire’s. “He was a combat pilot, but he didn’t want to give up flying, so we got him. He’s good.”

“But where are we going?” she persisted.

“Las Vegas,” he said. “We get married. Then we go home and plan a big, splashy society wedding. You can meet my brothers and their wives. Well, except for Parker. He’s not married.” He frowned. “If my dad doesn’t sober up first, we’ll hide him in the closet until after the wedding.”

She laughed, caught up in his enthusiasm. “It really is unorthodox.”

“Orthodox is for normal people,” he chided. He leaned over and kissed her hungrily. “You and a baby. I’ve hit the jackpot and we aren’t even on the way to Vegas.”

“Will I be enough for you?” she worried. “I mean, that starlet was so beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful, you sweet little idiot,” he chided. “Beautiful inside and out. I’ve never known anyone like you.” He leaned back in his seat. “You’ll have all the time you want to knit and read romance novels,” he teased. “We’ll find a good manager to take care of your place in Wyoming. We can spend summers there, if you like.”

Knitting and reading romance novels. She grimaced, because she had yet to tell him what she really did for a living. She had to be honest with him. She opened her mouth, but Nick came aboard with another man, probably the copilot, and still a third man. She smiled and nodded politely as Cort introduced her to them.

“Marlowe—” he indicated the man with the pilot “—and that’s Bib. He’s our flight attendant. Want something cold and fizzy to drink?” he added.

“After we take off,” she said.

He took her hand in his. “No worries. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She really hoped so. She’d have to wait until they had a quiet moment to tell Cort about her profession. She could do that when they went back to Catelow, because she’d have to have her computer and her flash drive. She used the flash drive to back up her files, just in case the computer ever failed.

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