Page 33 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“I’m sure you’ve met his father.”

“Oh, yeah. Dirkson paid no attention to his sons. They might as well not have existed as far as he was concerned, from what Gabe always told me.”

“Well, Gabe looks nothing like Dirkson Callahan. I don’t think you’d know Gabe is related to him if he didn’t have that Callahan name.”

“That would probably suit Gabe just fine. None of the Callahan boys like him. That would be a hell of a note—none of your sons liking you, but it’s his own fault. They wanted to be a family and he disappointed them and hurt them time and again.”

“That’s sad. He can’t make it up now.”

“No, those years are gone. I’ll bet each one of the brothers is a fantastic dad to make up for the way Dirkson was. They never want to be like him.”

She shuffled through the prints then held one up. “Ah, here’s a fun picture. This one I want,” she said, holding out a picture of her dancing with Marc at the reception.

“You can have all of them.”

“You’re going to forget me and this marriage when I’m gone,” she said, laughing. “Thank you. I’ll be happy to keep these pictures.”

Startling her, he picked her up and placed her on his lap. “I’m not going to forget you.” His arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her close and kissed her.

She wrapped her arms around him and clung to him as she kissed him in return.

“I’m not going to forget you or this marriage. I think you’re seeing to that hour by hour. That night when we went dancing, I had the best time I’ve had since Kathy passed away. That’s unique, Lara. I’m not going to forget that.”

He gazed at her solemnly as he talked and she realized he wasn’t teasing. Her heart beat faster. That was awesome and made her feel better, but it scared her, too.

“I don’t want to make this marriage permanent, Marc, because you never would. Don’t mess up my future plans.”

“We won’t. We just had a good time together, and that’s great because it means you’re getting me out of that terrible grief I’ve been sunk into since I lost her. Thanks for that.”

“I’m glad, Marc. There’s a time to move on from being steeped in grief.” As she gazed at him, she had the feeling that there had been a subtle shift in their relationship—that she had more influence on him now than she had had previously. She wasn’t happy with the discovery. She didn’t want to get too close to him or become too important to him. He wouldn’t change when they ended this marriage and he definitely would end it. She needed to always remember that. This was a temporary situation.

She got out of his lap and warmed up the casserole she’d taken out of the freezer that morning. They ate together, and after dinner she stayed in the great room instead of fleeing to her suite. She sat with her laptop, doing her studies, while Marc sat at the desk going over the ranch books and bringing them up to date.

She finally stood as the grandfather clock chimed out in the hallway. “It’s ten o’clock and I’m turning in.”

Instantly Marc stood. “I will, too.”

“I meant alone in my own room,” she said, smiling at him.

He smiled back at her. “I tried.” He shrugged. “I’ll still head to my room. Now, if you ever get lonesome or change your mind—”

“I know. I’m welcome in your bed.”

“Any time you want to be there. I just don’t want you to forget me.”

She had to laugh. “I’ll try not to,” she remarked. “So, what time will we go see your grandfather tomorrow?” she asked, carrying the envelope with the wedding pictures.

“Probably about eleven. If you change your mind, you don’t have to go. That’s not part of your duties.”

“I want to. He’s old and frail and he wanted this marriage badly, so I think it would make him happy to think that I’m part of the family.”

“That’s very nice.”

“Really, it’s the least I can do,” she said as they walked down the hall. At the door to her room, she turned to him. “Good night, Marc. I’ll see you at breakfast in the morning.”

“I hope you do. Wear the same pajamas and robe. I like them.”

She shook her head at him. He really was incorrigible.

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