Page 91 of Mister Cowboy
“Are you really blaming this on a baby? I saw how you were with Martin and Sylvie’s son. You’re a natural.”
Her eyes went a bit wild, and he backtracked. “You know what I mean.”
She nodded, but still looked panicked. “I think we should take this slow. Things will be different after the baby is born. You may feel differently.”
“No. I won’t change my mind about wanting you. I want to start our lives together.”
She didn’t answer him. Instead, she kissed him slowly and tenderly. Pulling away too soon, she walked quickly to the kitchen and grabbed her purse. “I should go.”
“Now? You just got here.”
“You’re bulldozing me, and I need time to think. A few weeks ago, you were running out on me and telling me you couldn’t be with me because of the baby, and now you’re inviting me to move in? I’m sorry, but I need time to think.”
He nodded reluctantly when all he really wanted to do was grab her and keep her there until she agreed. She needed time, and he could accept that. “Let me call Edward, he’ll take you home.”
The elevator ride down was slow and torturous. The night had bombed. Edward pulled up to the curb as they walked through the lobby. The black town car gleamed under the streetlights.
“I love you. You know that right?”
She nodded and lifted up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “I love you, too.”
* * *
The restof the weekend went by without a word from January. He’d called her several times, but his calls had gone unanswered and unreturned. The brush off had left him feeling anxious and out of sorts.
“Looks like you’re settling in,” Brecken said as he walked into Bob’s new office. “If there’s anything else you need, let me or Nadia know.”
“‘Preciate it,” Bob said, sitting at the desk. “When are we meeting with D&R?”
“They’ll be here next week. Dan was hesitant about the idea, but I think once he meets you and hears your plan, he’ll be on board.”
“Exciting times,” Bob said with a grin. “I think this is going to be a great year for all of us.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Now if I can only get the rest of my life in order.”
“Uh-oh. Let me guess, woman troubles?”
“How’d you know?”
“Married three times.” Bob held up three fingers on his right hand. “I know the look of misery a woman can induce on a man.”
He shook his head. “I think I did this one to myself. I asked her to move in with me, and she took off like a bat out of hell.” His stomach burned at the memory.
“So you proposed?” Bob leaned back in his chair, placing his hands on the armrests.
“No.” He thought back to the exact wording he’d used in the conversation. He’d played it over and over in his head. “I told her I loved her asked her to move in with me so we could start our lives together.”
“Forever, though? You asked her to move in with you forever and not as some temporary arrangement?”
He nodded. Of course forever. He wasn’t playing around. If she gave him the chance, he wouldn’t let her go ever again.
“So, you proposed without a ring.” Bob smiled. “I may not be so great at the part that comes after the vows, but I’ve learned a thing or two about proposing.”
“Fuck.” Brecken leaned against the doorframe. Bob was right. He had done exactly that, and he was the biggest idiot on the face of the damn earth.
“Listen. Get a ring. It doesn’t matter what else you do. Write it in the sky or whisper it in her ear, but there’s gotta be a ring. Women react to the ring.”
Mumbling a thanks to Bob for the advice, he ambled to Nadia’s desk, only to find it vacant.
