Page 128 of The Honorable Texan
“Hurricane.”He kissed her forehead gently.“That’s what it felt like.”
“I’m sleepy.Is it normal?”
“Yes, it is, and it does worlds for my masculinity,” he drawled.“Feel free to tell anyone you like that youravished me to such an extent that I fell out of bed in my excitement, and you went to sleep from the tidal wave of pleasure!”
She managed one tired little chuckle.“I’ll take out an ad in a magazine,” she promised.She wrapped her arms and one leg around him, completely uninhibited now.“I love you, but I have to go to sleep now.”
“Suit yourself, but I hope you’re not throwing in the towel.I’m a brand-new bridegroom, remember, you can’t just roll over and go to sleep once you’ve had your way with me… Meredith?Meredith!”
It was no use.She was sound asleep, worn-out by the pace of the wedding and her first passion.He lay watching her sleep, his eyes quiet and tender and loving.It had already been, he mused, one hell of a wedding night, even if they hadn’t waited for it to get dark.
* * *
When she wokeup, she was wearing a nightgown and lying on the bed, under the covers.Rey was sipping coffee and sniffing freshly cooked food under silver lids.He glanced up as Meredith sat up in bed and blinked her eyes sleepily.
“Supper?”she asked.
He grinned.“Supper.Come and eat something.”
She pulled herself out of bed, feeling a little uncomfortable and grinning as she realized why.She sat down beside Rey, who was wearing a pair of blue silk pajama bottoms and nothing else, and looked under lids.
“Seafood,” she sighed, smiling.“My favorite.”
“Mine, too.Dig in, honey.”He reached over and kissed her softly and gave her a wicked grin.“It’s going to be a long, lovely night!”
And it was.
* * *
They came backto the ranch after several magical, wonderful days together to find the house deserted.There was a note propped up on the kitchen table, obviously left by Leo, because his name was signed to it.
“Goodbye, cruel world,” it read.“Have run out of biscuits.No relief in sight.Can’t go on.Have gone into Jacobsville to kidnap a cook or beg door-to-door for biscuits.If I fail, drag the river.P.S.Congratulations Meredith and Rey.Hope you liked the wedding present.Love, Leo.”
“He wouldn’t really kidnap a cook,” Meredith said.
“Of course not,” Rey agreed.But he had a very odd look on his face.
“Or beg door-to-door for a biscuit.”
“Of course not,” Rey repeated.
Meredith went to the telephone.“I’ll call Dad.”
He waited while she dialed the cottage her father occupied and tapped his foot while it rang and rang.
“Dad?”she asked suddenly.“Have you seen Leo?”
There was a pause, while Rey gestured with his hands for her to tell him something.She flapped a hand at him while she listened and nodded.
“Okay, Dad, thanks!Yes, we had a lovely honeymoon!We’ll have you up for supper tomorrow.Love you, too!”
She hung up and sighed.“Well, Leo’s gone to San Antonio.”
“What the hell for?”he exclaimed.
“Apparently he walked out of Barbara’s café with a cook in his arms and put him in the ranch truck…”
“Him?”Rey exclaimed.
