Page 41 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“How are you feeling today?” Marc asked him.

His grandfather looked at Lara. “Do you love my grandson?”

“I married him, sir,” she said.

Marc wondered what his grandfather was up to. There were moments he could be quite shrewd and Marc wondered if he had guessed that Marc wasn’t in love with Lara.

“I hear you have no family at all.”

“Not until I married your grandson. Now Marc’s family is my family. Isn’t that right?”

His grandfather smiled at her. “You’re part of our family and we welcome you.”

“Thank you,” she answered.

Marc placed his hand on her shoulder, wondering if his grandfather’s questions disturbed her.

“Let me see the rings Marc gave you.”

She stood and held out her hand, and his grandfather took it in his, rubbing his thumb across her fingers.

“Soft hands,” he said. “Very beautiful hands. Beautiful diamonds that mean he loves you very much.”

Rico released her. “I hope you and my grandson will always love each other. You took a vow to do that.”

“Yes, sir, we did,” she replied, sitting in her chair again and crossing her legs, a motion that caught his grandfather’s glance.

“You’re a beautiful woman, and you and Marc should have beautiful children. Marc was a beautiful child.”

“I’ll bet he was,” she said, laughing. “And thank you for the compliment.”

Grandpa smiled at her and Marc shook his head realizing she was not intimidated in the least by his grandfather and his questions.

“Today must be a better day,” Marc said, and his grandmother nodded.

“It is a better day and he has rallied some, they tell us.”

“Good. Maybe it’s from being home.”

They talked for another fifteen minutes and then Marc stood and said goodbye. In a short time they were back in the pickup for the drive home.

“I don’t know what some of Grandpa’s questions were about, especially that remark that we vowed to love each other.”

“He may have guessed what you’re doing—a marriage of convenience.”

“I’m glad he didn’t intimidate you. I think he was trying to.”

She smiled. “I thought he was adorable. And I feel like part of your family, Marc, even though common sense tells me that I’m certainly not. They’ve been so welcoming and I guess I just want a family.”

Marc sensed her mood change and lightened the tone. “Grandpa—adorable?”

Lara laughed and he loved the sight of her smile. Loved that he made her smile. “I’m glad you went with me,” Marc said, and meant it.

“I’m glad I did, too.”

He parked at the back of the house under the carport and they entered the great room. The minute he closed the door behind her, he reached out, caught her hand and pulled her into his arms.

“I can’t wait one minute longer.”

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