Page 523 of Conveniently Wed
He had to stop thinking about his near miss with Miriam. If she hadn’t eloped with Marvin, Franklin would’ve never met Lorinda, and marriage to Miriam could have been as tepid as lukewarm coffee on a cold cattle drive. Even if they weren’t going to make this a real marriage, Lorinda’s vibrancy was a welcome addition to his life. He’d just have to keep a safe distance from her.
Lorinda shouldn’t have given up the baby to Stella. If she had him with her in the hotel room, she’d need to take care of him. It would have given her an excuse to stay up all night. That chance had ridden away from the schoolhouse in Stella’s arms. Lorinda needed to come up with another reason to stay away from Franklin. Sleeping in the same room with him was out of the question.
After the party, Rusty insisted on driving Lorinda and Franklin the few blocks to the hotel. She felt silly riding with all the ribbons and bows on the buggy and horses, but she didn’t want to hurt the cowboy’s feelings. He’d been so nice to her the whole time she’d been at the ranch.
When Franklin helped her down from the buggy, he did it by sliding one arm around her back and the other under her knees. And he didn’t set her down. Amid more clapping, hoots,whistles, and stomping, he kept her in his arms as he entered the lobby and took the stairs to the second floor. Rusty followed him with her new traveling trunk hefted onto one shoulder and carrying in the other hand a smaller bag that had been in the back of the buggy.
The cowboys and maybe Mrs. Oleson must’ve known what Mr. Holcomb had planned. Although she knew she blushed when Franklin carried her, she felt even more heat fill her cheeks and neck. Did everyone at the wedding know? Wouldn’t they be surprised if they knew the truth?
Franklin gently set her on her feet, then turned toward the opening to the suite.
Mr. Holcomb, who had accompanied them up the stairs as well, opened the door with a flourish. “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Vine.”
He dropped the key in Lorinda’s hand just before Franklin lifted her in his arms again, startling her.
“I’m going to carry you over the threshold.” The husky murmur in her ear shook her.
Another of the many things the women told her always happened after a wedding. The heavenly smell of Bay Rum Oil and Franklin’s distinct masculine essence overcame her senses. His warm breath caressed her cheek, and his ebony eyes smoldered as they gazed into hers. She forgot to breathe. Franklin didn’t seem to be in a hurry to release her.
Rusty put both pieces of luggage down and doffed his hat. A wide grin split his face. “You have a good time tonight.”
Oh, my goodness.Could she be any more embarrassed?
“Thanks, Rusty.”
Wait a minute?She smiled at the cowboy. “Would you like to stay for a drink with us?” Maybe the men would get into a discussion of something at the ranch.
Franklin gave a slight shake of his head, and the cowboy exited. Franklin kicked the door closed. He started to put her down, but something happened and she almost tipped out of his arms too quickly. He grabbed her closer to him, and the front of her body slid down the whole length of his before her feet hit the floor. She felt the flexing of his muscles as he tried to keep her from falling. His physical strength overwhelmed her as his gentleness made her feel safe. But when her feet reached the floor, her knees almost buckled. She was thankful that Franklin still had his arms around her.
“It was a very good day, Mrs. Vine.” His warm smile was almost her undoing.
She glanced down at his arms that still encircled her, and he pulled them away and stepped aside.
She walked over to a table where a bowl of oranges and apples sat beside a plate of cheese and crackers. Anything to stave off the shared night. Her hand shook as she picked up a cracker and took a nibble.
When Franklin didn’t say anything, she turned to look at him. “How can we stay here together?” Her voice wobbled a little.
He took off his hat and tossed it onto the luggage and walked across to a closed door. “I’d seen this hotel suite before. Right after Arnie finished it. I knew it would be all right. There’s a bedroom through here.”
When he opened the door, Lorinda saw the beautiful bed with a carved headboard. Heavy draperies, which matched the bed covering, were tied back with large bows, so the outside light brightened the room. Everything was even more luxurious than the furnishings in the ranch house on the Rocking V. Lamps with crystals dripping from the bottom of the matched shades, even a lovely painting on the wall across from the bed. She didn’t want to step foot inside the doorway.
“You will have the bedroom. I’ll sleep on the divan in the parlor.”
His gentle words were probably meant to encourage her, but Franklin stood well over six feet tall, and that divan would barely be long enough for her to sleep on.
“I can sleep in the parlor.” She glanced up at him and caught the frown that flickered across his features. “You’re much too tall to use the divan.”
A smile curved his lips. “I’ve slept on the ground many a night with only a bedroll. I can use one of the pillows and some of the bedding and be happy on this plush carpet. It’ll be much softer than the ground.”
She started to object, but he raised a palm to stop her. “I insist.”
He led her across the large bedroom to another door she hadn’t noticed. “There’s a wash room in here. It even has a water closet...and a bathtub.” The last phrase was so low, she almost didn’t catch it.
Lorinda glanced around the wash room, then walked inside to get a better look at the water closet, hidden inside a tiny, cupboard-like space. She’d never seen one up close. Would wonders never cease?What will they think of next?For a moment, she wished they had one at the ranch.
Franklin stood in the doorway, watching her. She turned toward him.
“Are we all right now? No one will ever know what we do in this hotel room...or what we don’t do.”
