Page 83 of A Baby for the Texas Cowboy
Then she remembered Anders’ ultimatum. If she had a problem with him or was hurt or pissed off, she needed to come to him, talk to him. There was even ass-kicking involved. Why should she run away again? Lose the life she’d started to build and enjoy? Take her baby away from a family who would love it?
She’d been running for too long. She’d even packed her bag except for the dress she’d bought for tonight after Catalina and Cruz had pressed her into splurging on it. But she would not be heading to the airport tonight, and she wasn’t going to hunt for another job.
She was making her stand—in Last Stand.
That was appropriate. Tinsley jumped to her feet. She’d showered before she’d thought about running, so she’d only be half an hour late or so. If Anders wanted a piece of her mind, she was going to give it to him, and so much more.
She changed into a deep orange, clingy dress with a low back. She added makeup and left her hair hanging down her back in waves.
“Ready or not, here I come.” She gave a last look in the mirror, first pouting her lips sexily and then trying out a smile.
Hell no. She didn’t look like her mother. Not now. Not ever.
She flung open the door, determined to march into the rest of her life.
Anders lounged against the doorframe, beer bottle dangling from his fingers. He looked from her to her packed bag.
“Running away again, darlin’?”
*
What was Tinsleywearing? She looked Beautiful. Stunning. Edible. And elegant in a way he’d never once aspired to. And she was leaving.
“Only place I’m going tonight is a party. I have an invitation.”
“That so?”
“I have a date with the champion bull rider of the world.” Tinsley cocked her hip and brow and looked so damn sexy and edible that he didn’t want to go to the party.
He pushed his way inside her room, closed the door and leaned against it.
“What if your champion’s not really the dating type? What if he’s into commitment, marriage, family settling down and only bringing his wife to parties.”
“A wife, huh. The perfect wife.”
“Ah shoot, Tinz, did you hear those idiots? Kane was right and you did come looking for me?”
“The only idiot is the person who wrote that list.”
“Can’t argue with you there,” he said pushing off the door so he could get closer. “I was a dumbass writing that list. I didn’t know jack. I think because I didn’t have a mother for most of my life, I had this idealized version of what a wife and mother would be and I held on with both hands.”
“So…” She reached out a finger and stroked down the mother of pearl snaps of his shirt. “You no longer want those things?” She sounded uncertain, and he found he liked it better when she challenged him.
He caught her finger and sucked it into his mouth. She caught her breath and her eyes flared with heat.
“What’s on your list now.”
“You. I love you, Tinsley. Have for a long time. I love your fire and your drive and your humor and sense of adventure and creativity and business savvy and everything. Total package. I love you and I want to marry you. I want to be a family with you.”
“Really? What changed your mind?”
“You. Time. The baby. Damn, Tinz, you’re so beautiful inside and out you hurt my eyes.”
“Beauty was not on your list.”
“Neither was so sexy that I am in perpetual pain from wanting to bury myself inside your body.”
“I want to work.”
