Page 26 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“Marc, you’re not paying attention to anything I just said.”

His eyes finally met hers. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m serious. I don’t want end up in bed. We discussed this and we both agreed to keep it like we had at the office.”

“Okay. I can go back to our office hands-off relationship. I was just having some fun. I really didn’t mean anything by it and didn’t think it would have any kind of lasting effect.”

“One kiss now and then might not, but it’s still better to keep distance between us and that’s what we agreed on. I can’t have too big a say in this, I know, because you’re the one who made me such a wonderful deal—”

“Stop right there. If you don’t want me to kiss you—even just in fun—you got a deal. We worked together for a year without any kind of physical contact and it was mutually beneficial. We’ll go right back to that. I can live with that.”

“Thanks. I may hate myself in an hour, but I think that’s the smart thing to do.”

“You let me know if you change your mind. Or if I get carried away and start to kiss you, just remind me again.”

She smiled. “Thanks. I’m trying to see to it that I’ll happily say goodbye to you at the year’s end.”

He walked away to pour a cup of coffee and she wondered if she was going to be filled with regret and longing the rest of the day. The solace was knowing that she had done the smart thing and stopped his casual kisses.

He ate breakfast with her, and then he was gone and the house seemed silent. She realized when he was around it wasn’t very quiet, which surprised her because his office had usually been a quiet place. Maybe it was partly the sound of the cowboy boots on the hardwood and terrazzo floors. She had the house to herself until he returned, which would probably be sundown. She suspected he was trying to keep his distance as much as she had tried last night.

She spent the day unpacking and got into the first of her courses. Soon she was immersed in studying, a relief, in that it took her mind off Marc most of the time.

She ate early and left him a note that she was studying. She escaped to her suite and closed the door, knowing she was running from spending the evening with him, but that was the sensible thing to do. He’d promised to maintain a professional demeanor around her, but she wasn’t one to tempt fate.

They managed to avoid each other for the next two days. He was up and gone before she was out of bed, and at night she ate an early dinner alone and then went to her suite. He had been right in saying there was enough food cooked and ready that they wouldn’t have to prepare anything. Without any household demands on her time, she got her course work done quickly and efficiently, which pleased her. She missed seeing Marc because he was fun, but it was better to simply back off and avoid him.

Friday night she was in the kitchen to get dinner when she heard a car. She looked out the window and saw Marc’s pickup stop at the gate.

Instantly, she was aware of herself in cutoffs and a blue T-shirt with her hair falling around her face. She shook it back and tried to smooth it down with her hand while her heartbeat raced as she watched Marc get out of his pickup and head for the back door in long, fast strides. She wondered if something had happened.

He opened the door. “Hi, darlin’, your husband is home.” She had to laugh as he swept into the room with a huge grin on his face. “Get your—” He stopped as his gaze swept her from head to toe, making her tingle.

“My, oh, my, you kept your talents hidden at the office,” he said.

She laughed as he looked at her legs. “I don’t believe this is appropriate office attire.”

“This is one boss it would have pleased,” he said.

“I think when you came through the door you were saying for me to get something. Right?”

He finally lifted his gaze and blinked. “Hey, as much as I hate to tell you to cover up a pair of million-dollar legs, get your party jeans. We’re going two-stepping. Gabe and Meg are coming, and some guys from the ranch, and we’re going to party. I told them we’d meet them in two hours at a honky-tonk in Downly. It’s a long drive for us, so that’s why the two hours. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll go.”

“Give me a few minutes.” Luckily, she’d showered earlier, so all she had to do was change and fix her hair.

“See you here when you’re ready. The guys from the ranch are already on their way and they’re party animals. Most of them are young and single, but they’ll leave the boss’s wife alone. And they’re a great bunch of guys.”

She barely heard him as she ran to change. Twenty minutes later she dashed from her room to find him waiting in the hall. Her heart missed a beat as her gaze ran over him. He wore tight jeans, a black Western shirt, his black Stetson and black boots. Excitement slithered down her spine and she smiled as he straightened up and his gaze ran appreciatively over her.

“You do look great,” he said and she smiled.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing down at her new boots, jeans and her red Western shirt. Her hair was loose, hanging on both sides of her face and combed straight, although she knew a slight natural curl would make it wavy before the night was over.

“I’m ready.”

“Let’s go party,” he said, taking her arm and hurrying out to his waiting pickup. In minutes they were on the highway. Darkness had set in and she wondered about the evening.

“There’s not a person in the world who will know you’re pregnant,” he said. “You don’t show at all. Are you sure you’re expecting?”

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