Page 32 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

He finally released her slightly to look at her. He smelled like hay and his tousled hair fell on his forehead. He had a dark shadow of stubble on his jaw.

“Well, now I’m dusty, too,” she said. “I can’t get used to this marriage thing. We’re sort of half-married. You kiss like it’s the real thing, but then we turn around and it definitely isn’t the real thing.”

“It is the real thing. We had a real ceremony and we are very legally wed.”

“For a little while and there’s not one shred of love in this deal. And it’s better that way, so back off, cowboy, before you get us both in deep trouble.”

“You are really killing the fun,” he said.

“Maybe so, but you’ll thank me when you get to thinking about it.”

She sat back down. “What about your grandfather? Did they bring him to the ranch today?”

“Change of plans. He’s coming tomorrow morning, instead. At ten o’clock. That’s why you didn’t hear from me or see me today. I was getting their place ready.”

“I’ll go with you in the morning if you’d like. I can say hello to your grandmother.”

“That’s another thing I like about you,” he said, suddenly sounding as if he meant what he said. “You’re considerate.”

“I understand the importance of family and losing family. I went through it with my mother, don’t forget. You try to be as kind and loving as you can while you have them.”

He hugged her. “There are a lot of facets to you.”

“That’s a new one,” she said, laughing and wiggling away from him. “You did manage to kill all the cleanliness from my shower.” She brushed dirt off her blouse.

“It just makes you a little earthy and sexy.”

“Somehow I find cleanliness sexy.”

“I’ll remember that.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, then tossed an envelope on the table near her. “The wedding pictures were in the mail today,” he said.

She dropped everything and rushed over to pick up the envelope.

“I love pictures. I want to see. Want to come look with me?”

“Oh, sure,” he said, too quickly and eagerly.

She regarded him shrewdly. “Why do I suspect your motives for looking at pictures with me?”

He grinned and she knew she was right. She shook her head as she sat on the sofa and he sat close beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders. “I can’t wait to see them,” he said.

“Maybe we should do this after you shower.”

“I’m already here against you and seated on the sofa. I can’t do more damage here, so let’s look.”

“I can’t argue with that logic,” she said and pulled out a few glossy pictures.

“You watch your hands,” she said, smiling at him, and he smiled in return. Her heart beat faster because she was certain he would kiss her again soon. She shouldn’t want him to, and she shouldn’t let him. If she could just keep her wits about her when she was near him.

She turned back to look at the pictures. She emptied the envelope of a thick stack of prints and began to go through them. She paused to study one.

“Marc, you and Gabe look exactly alike here. Your eyes are dark brown and his are blue, but the two of you could be brothers instead of friends.”

“People have told us that before,” he said casually.

“Surely you can see the resemblance.”

“I suppose.”

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