Page 263 of Conveniently Wed
Would she tell Donny no?
At first, Stella didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Donny’s request. Imagine hearing Frank’s name called day in and day out. Many times a day. The idea was so ludicrous she laughed until tears streamed down her face.
“Why you laughing?” Donny’s injured tone sobered her instantly.
“It just hit me as funny.” She pulled him close. “It might be a bit awkward for everyone to hear your papa’s name. Why don’t you think of something else?”
She didn’t dare look at any of the others to see their reaction.
Donny nodded and considered the dog. It was mostly a brown-black blend with a white tip on his tail. His ears were tipped in white, and he had three white stockings.
“He has tips of white everywhere.” She hoped it would give Donny an idea for a name.
Bruce nudged her elbow, letting her know he understood. “Tippy is a good name for a dog like this.”
Donny considered it. Rolled the name off his tongue a few times. The pup went to him, wriggling in his lap. Donny laughed. “He likes it. Don’t you, Tippy?”
“Then it’s settled?” Tippy was a name she could live with. A regular dog name. The dog scampered from Donny to her, putting her off balance. She fell against Bruce, her shoulder jabbing into his chest.
Air whooshed from him. His arm encircled her shoulders. “Steady there.” His words sounded distant and rumbling. Had to be because her ear was practically buried in his shirt front.
She struggled to sit up, found herself having to press her hand to his knee to right herself. Her throat was strangely tight, her mouth unusually dry. Balanced again, she coughed. “Sorry about that.” The words squeaked from her throat.
“No need to apologize.”
Her ears were still not working properly, as his voice seemed husky.
Flora chuckled, reminding Stella they were not alone. She got to her feet with as much dignity as she could muster.
Stella stilled her face not to reveal her feelings, but she didn’t need to see Flora’s green eyes flashing amusement to inform her that her heated cheeks revealed the truth.
“We are going now.” Flora said. “Beginning to think we might be intruding.”
“Of course, you’re not.” No use in pretending she didn’t understand. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. The cows, the chickens.” She looked from the barn to the chicken yard. Focusing her thoughts on her livestock and her farm made it almost possible not to think of Bruce standing so close behindher that she had only to take half a step backwards to be against his chest. He’d wrap his arms around her and hold her tight just like?—
She took two long steps away from him. When had her imagination ever been so vivid? So wild? So untamed?
She wrapped her arm around Flora’s. “I’ll walk you to the barn.”
“Yes, of course. Because we can’t find our way on our own.”
Stella gave a quick laugh that sounded tinny to her.
Bruce and Kade followed on their heels with the children and the pup trailing behind. They all said goodbye to Kade and Flora as they rode away. The children went into the barn to visit the cat and her kitten.
Bruce stood at Stella’s side, his arms crossed, watching them ride away. She had things to do though she couldn’t remember what they were. But she didn’t move toward the house. It was all she could do not to lean toward him.
What was wrong with her? She had never been needy, hungry for a man’s attention.
And she didn’t intend to start being so now.
Her hands curled into fists, her teeth clenched, and she took a step away. And another.
And then he followed. Her fists uncurled. Her mouth relaxed into a smile.
They reached the house. Aunt Mary called to them. “I can’t see what’s going on. Please come in and tell me.”
Bruce held the door open for Stella, and she preceded him into the house. They pulled chairs toward Aunt Mary.
