Page 524 of Conveniently Wed
It seemed as if she went from one blush to another all day long. She hoped the embarrassing things would come to an end, but she knew they probably wouldn’t.
She went through the doorway, trying not to touch Franklin anywhere. The fewer times they had physical contact, the better it would be for her. She couldn’t face another day with so muchto catch her off balance. She glanced back at her new husband and saw that he was also looking at her. She wondered what he was feeling. Did he sense her relief with the way the day ended?
Lorinda couldn’t wait until they returned to the ranch, so things would get back to normal for them. She had no idea what normal might look like after today.
17
Even though he was comfortable on the floor, Franklin didn’t sleep a bit, not even a short snooze. He heard every movement in the other room while Lorinda got ready for bed and had to rein in his thoughts to keep from joining her there and probably scaring her to death. After she went to bed, he waited for her to settle down. When all was quiet, he shut his eyes and tried to go to sleep, but the events of the day ran through his head in a never-ending cycle. Most of the memories were of Lorinda and the way she reacted to everything. Especially the kiss that shouldn’t have ever happened. He could still feel her cradled in his arms...the silky softness of her curls...the nectar sweet kiss that spiraled into something more than he’d ever imagined...how hard it had been to let her slip from his arms. Since then, the emotional connection he’d felt never let him go for even a moment.
From the time she walked down the aisle until she shut the bedroom door, Lorinda had been with him...except for the short time she went away with little Michael. When she returned she had that satisfied maternal look on her face he’d come to enjoy. He knew she had been nursing the baby.
Somehow, he felt excluded. He knew married men watched their wives nurse their children. Soon after Rand and Stella had their first baby, his best friend had mentioned how much it touched him to watch them together. How it strengthened the bond between them. Missing that made this marriage feel barren.
That’s what he wanted, wasn’t it? Holding Lorinda in high esteem, but untouchable. As though she was a statue on a pedestal. With a sinking feeling, he knew he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. He wanted a real wife in every way. Why had he given his word that he wouldn’t want more from Lorinda than her son as his heir? Their life together could last a long time, decades even. Right now his future looked bleak.
He’d made the rash statement about not wanting a physical marriage because of what Miriam and Marvin had done to him. His heart longed to be a true husband to Lorinda. When would he stop making life-changing decisions that were mistakes?
Noticing the faint glow that preceded dawn, he got up and folded his bedding. After slipping on his boots, he strode to the window to watch the wonder of the sunrise over the mountain peaks. He always loved this time of the morning. First the glow intensified. Soon the first rays of the sun painted a thin golden rim on each mountain. It shone like the gold hidden under many of the peaks. The gold that brought hordes of men to the Rockies to seek their fortunes. It also drew swindlers and crooks like the arsonist who burned Lorinda’s cabin, and the person who murdered her husband.
He should thank the Lord for that gold. Without it, he would’ve never met Lorinda. He couldn’t go more than a few minutes without thinking about his lovely bride. He’d just spent his wedding night on the floor of a fancy hotel suite.How pathetic is that?No one could ever know.
At least Lorinda was comfortable.
Restlessness bubbled inside him. He had to get out of this room before he erupted. He hoped no one would be outside this early. He’d have to think of a reason for being out, in case someone noticed him without his bride.
Breckenridge Bakery on Lincoln Street would be open this early. The establishment was only a few blocks away, but the walk would allow him to stretch his legs. Mrs. Oleson loved the cream puffs from that bakery. Perhaps Lorinda would, too. He liked their cinnamon rolls...huge, with lots of melted butter and cinnamon. They would make a good breakfast for them.
After tip-toeing across the carpeted floor, he eased open the door, praying it wouldn’t squeak. He hadn’t noticed it doing that yesterday, but he didn’t want to awaken Lorinda. Let her sleep as long as she wanted. Give her a break from having to get up early to take care of Michael. Thoughts of Michael brought a smile to his face. He missed the little guy, too.
As he walked down the stairs, Arnie Holcomb came out of the small tavern attached to his hotel. “You’re up early, Franklin.”
“I decided to pick up some breakfast at the Breckenridge Bakery.” He was glad he’d come up with that idea before meeting someone.
“Of all the six bakeries here, I like the food at that one best.”
Franklin nodded in agreement with the hotel owner.
“We have plenty of coffee. I can have some sent up to your room when you get back.”
“Thanks, Arnie. That would be right nice.” Franklin wasn’t too happy with the other man’s smirk.
His boots sounded a drumbeat on the boardwalk along the closed businesses on his way. Soon all these other stores would be bustling with customers. He wanted to complete his mission before they opened. He’d hoped this walk would invigorate him, but his thoughts kept returning to the hotel room, wondering what Lorinda was doing. Wishing he were in bed beside her afterhaving a satisfying wedding night. He was such an idiot to have come up with the idea of a marriage of convenience. Nothing inside him was satisfied. Probably never would be. He didn’t like that grim reminder.
Enticing smells greeted him two blocks before he reached his destination. Cinnamon rolls hot from the oven made his mouth water. He hoped they also had those cream puffs this early.
If only this was the morning after a real wedding night. He’d be looking forward to feeding the cream puffs to his beautiful bride...one bite at a time.
He shook his head to dislodge that image.
Lorinda slowly stretched as she awakened. Michael was still quiet. She opened her eyes and sat up, glancing around the room.The hotel suite. No wonder everything was so quiet.
She wondered if Franklin was awake. She didn’t want to go into the parlor and find him asleep on the floor. How could she have agreed to that? What a callous woman she must be. What could she do until he got up? Maybe he’d be up by the time she finished her morning ablutions.
Heading for the wash room, she hoped to get freshened up before Franklin saw her. She splashed water on her face, then wiped it off. A polished mirror hung over the wash basin. She looked just like she did before she became Mrs. Franklin Vine. For some reason, she expected there to be some differences after yesterday. With nimble fingers, she quickly unwound the loose braid she slept in. Her hair fell into abundant, wavy curls that reached down her back. After brushing them out for several minutes, the air crackled around her, lifting strands and letting them go.
When she lived on the mountain, she often left her curls hanging down or tied them back with a ribbon, much the way Franklin had done yesterday. But since she’d been living on the ranch, she pinned her hair up on her head in a soft style. That’s what she’d do today if all her hairpins hadn’t fallen to the floor at the end of the wedding. She wondered if anyone thought to pick them up. She hoped Mrs. Oleson did. If not, they’d need to buy some more.
She couldn’t remember the wedding without reliving that amazing kiss. A kiss that gave much more than it took from her. And she’d given plenty in the long embrace. His tender caresses gently coaxed more from her, and she gladly allowed him to deepen the kiss. She’d felt protected and almost cherished. But that was only for show. So no one would know about their marriage.
