Page 67 of Wyoming True

“It does suit you.” He frowned slightly. “Do you have French ancestry?”

“I don’t really know,” she replied. “Mama said we had a relative who died in France two hundred years ago, but not who or how.”

“You need to do one of those ancestry searches,” he suggested.

She pursed her lips. “What a neat idea! There’s something to look forward to!”

He cocked his head. “What?”

“Well, it’s something I learned just after I was injured,” she replied. “The doctor said we all need goals, especially when we’re hurt and upset and afraid. We need little things to look forward to. A new piece of jewelry, a holiday, even just a special meal in a restaurant. He said that goals made the time go easier. And he was right. I’ve done that ever since. Little goals. Baby steps.”

He smiled. “Not a bad idea.” His pale eyes were thoughtful on her face. She was excited, and it brought an even greater beauty to her elven face. He felt a sudden wave of feeling for her and fought it. Theirs was going to be a marriage of friends. There would be no place in it for anything physical. It was a bad time to remember how sweet it had been to kiss her. He ached to repeat it but smothered the urge.

“I’d like you to come with me tomorrow to talk to the minister about details.”

She turned and looked at him, lost in the past so that she hadn’t quite heard him. “What?” she asked softly. “I’m so sorry. I was remembering when I was a child.”

He moved a step closer and looked down at her. “You were poor,” he recalled.

She nodded. “And now I could fund the treasury of a small country. So could you,” she added.

He sighed. “Yes. Too much money, too much time, too many days and nights spent alone.”

She flushed and averted her eyes.

He reached down and took her hand in his big one. He felt a jolt of delight. It was mirrored on her surprised face. “Listen,” he said gently, “we’re going to be married, but it’s not going to be conventional.” He hesitated, because she wasn’t getting it. He let out a rough breath. “We won’t share a bed, is what I’m trying to get across.”

“Oh.” She looked up at him with so many emotions clouding her mind that she could barely get a coherent thought. She flushed again. “It’s going to be hard for you,” she stammered.

“Why?”

“Well, you’re...you’re used to women, aren’t you? I mean, intimately used to them.”

His thumb rubbed against her wrist as he tightened his hand on hers. “I was,” he confessed. “But since Mina, I haven’t wanted that. I haven’t wanted anything intimate, with anyone.” He was surprised to recall how long he’d gone without a woman.

“If you find someone you can love, you’ll tell me, yes?” she asked worriedly.

“Okay. And if you find someone...”

“Oh, no, it won’t be me,” she interrupted. “I’ve had my fill of men.” She stopped dead and ground her teeth. “Not you,” she added. “You’re not like any man I’ve ever had in my life.” She hesitated, flushed. “I mean...” she began.

He drew her to him very gently and put his arms around her, as a friend might do when offering comfort. “I know what you mean,” he said at her temple. He liked the feel of her in his arms. She was soft and warm, and she smelled vaguely of flowers. He smiled. “We’re going to get along fine,” he said, his deep voice like velvet. “When you have problems with your hip, I’ll take care of you.”

She sighed, smiling against his warm chest. She could hear his deep, steady heartbeat under her ear. “And if you get sick, I’ll take care of you,” she replied.

His heart jumped. He’d never had a woman make that offer, not even Mina when he thought he had a chance with her. But then, Mina had wanted Cort, not him. He felt the rejection wound him, all over again. It was the first time in his life that a woman he wanted hadn’t returned his interest.

She smoothed her hand over his breastbone. Under the warmth, she could feel thick, cushy hair. Under that was firm muscle. She knew that he worked on the ranch. That would account for the muscles she felt, because he wasn’t the sort of man to sit at his desk and just enjoy his wealth. His hand stilled hers as it moved toward where his heart would be, but she was too content to think anything of it.

“Don’t you want anybody at the wedding?” he asked suddenly.

She drew in a breath. They’d already discussed this, and she knew Cindy, her only real friend, couldn’t afford a fancy dress and was too proud to take one from Ida. “I don’t have family anymore,” she replied. “I’d like Maude to come, though. And my two part-time cowboys. And Dr. Menzer and his wife.”

“Okay. I’d like Rogan Michaels to come, and Cort and Mina, I suppose,” he said, and Ida felt her whole body tauten. “But Rogan’s still in Australia, dealing with the aftermath of the fires, so he couldn’t come. And Cort and Mina took the baby to Jacobsville, Texas, to visit two of Cort’s brothers.” He didn’t notice that she suddenly relaxed. “I don’t have family, either.” He looked down at her and grimaced. “I was going to fly you to Manhattan. Suppose we go to Los Angeles instead?” he asked abruptly. “I have to meet a businessman there about a potential investment.”

“Los Angeles will be fine,” she said, not minding at all. In fact, she’d dreaded the long flight to New York, even though Jake’s baby jet was very comfortable.

“Anybody else you want to come?” he asked.

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