When Lila walked into the living room, both Sam and her dad stood until she was seated. Smiling at her, Sam’s gaze swept over her. Nearby on the back of the grand piano was the bouquet of flowers, looking as gorgeous as ever.
“Hi, Sam,” she said, smiling at him with her heartbeat pounding faster. “My flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like them,” he replied.
“Flowers are nice,” Beau said. “In August in the West Texas heat, it takes an ocean of water to keep any flowers alive. Is there an occasion for these flowers?”
“Yes,” Sam replied, and Lila held her breath. “I asked Lila to dinner tonight and she accepted so I thought flowers might be nice for the fancy Hollywood lady.”
She smiled at him in relief. “They’re very nice wherever I’m from.”
“You’re a Texan, honey, now and forever,” Beau said. “I’ve been thinking about calling you, Sam. I thought I’d run into you at the club, but then each time I forgot to talk to you. I want to build another house for a new hand. I want you to do the building.”
“Sure. We can talk about it anytime. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Sam said.
Lila listened to their conversation, participating when they changed the topic, thinking how formal and polite they were, yet the sight of Sam in a charcoal suit with a snowy shirt, his navy tie, set her pulse racing. In spite of her worries, anticipation was paramount. A celebration with Sam was too appealing for her to be filled with dread over arguments to come.
When they were in his car, he turned to her. “I have an airplane waiting. How’s Dallas? I considered Claire’s but thought you might prefer Dallas since maybe you’d rather keep talk down in Royal about us being a couple.”
“Frankly, I would,” she said, thinking about Royal’s elegant restaurant but preferring the anonymity of Dallas.
“Whatever you want, darlin’,” he replied. Sam drove them to the small airport where a pilot waited with Sam’s private plane.
Once at the restaurant in Dallas, she sat across from Sam at a table covered in white linen. He leaned back and unfastened his coat to let it swing open. Sam always oozed self-confidence, which probably was part of his take-charge personality.
He took her hand and smiled at her. Once again, for a moment a pang rocked her while she wished life was different and Sam held fresh, contemporary views.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Ginger ale is my preference.”
He smiled, candlelight highlighting his cheekbones, giving a warm tint to his tan skin. “I’ll have that with you, then.”
Smiling, she shook her head. “You don’t need to drink ginger ale.”
Before he could answer, their waiter appeared and Sam ordered two ginger ales.
“That’s ridiculous. Get a glass of wine, beer, whatever you like.”
“When you can drink wine, I’ll drink wine. Right now, you do what is healthy and I’ll join you.”
Looking at the dimly lit restaurant that held a small dance floor, a fountain at one end of the room, tables centered with candles in hurricane lamps, she thought of the unbridgeable chasm between them—one that she couldn’t change any more than Sam could change how he felt. There was no future for them. She had to get along with Sam since he would be in her life for many years because of one strong tie. But she didn’t expect to share many nights like tonight. She looked into his eyes, and it was as if a fist squeezed her heart.
He was handsome: thickly lashed blue eyes, symmetrical features, his straight, neat brown hair, a firm jaw, his straight nose. The charcoal suit gave him a commanding appearance. White cuffs showed at his wrists with gold cufflinks catching light from the candle’s flame. If only he didn’t hold such outdated views of women.
He gazed back, holding her hand, his thumb running slowly back and forth over her knuckles so lightly, yet she felt his touch to her toes.
“Thank you again for the beautiful flowers.”
“They’re a token—hopefully, something that represents joy and wonderful expectations. Lila, I’m excited. A baby seems a miracle.”
She tilted her head to study him. “You amaze me. I would never have guessed your reaction to the news that you’ll be a dad. You seem opposed to children at the club and yet you turn right around and seem dazzled over the prospect of having your own baby. That’s an enormous contradiction that I didn’t expect.”
“It’s how I feel on both subjects. I am dazzled over the prospect because my own baby is a miracle. Every baby is, and that has nothing to do with kids in the TCC children’s center. Our baby, Lila. That just staggers me. I’m restraining myself—I want to whoop and holler and I can’t stop grinning when I think about it. I can’t whoop and holler here, and we’ll have to toast the event with ginger ale, but I’m so excited I’m babbling.”
He grinned broadly, a happy smile that made her heart thud, and she couldn’t resist smiling at him in return. Startling her, he moved the candle out of the way, leaned across the table to draw her closer and kissed her hard. After the first startled second, she returned his kiss. She was oblivious to their surroundings as she kissed him. Joy tinged with a sadness filled her.
Finally, he sat back in his chair. “I’m thrilled beyond words.”
“I’m glad but still shocked. Your past never gave a hint that you would react this way. You voted against women joining the Texas Cattleman’s Club, and against the child-care center. If you could vote again tomorrow, you’d still vote that way, wouldn’t you?”
“I think so. I don’t expect our baby to be in a child-care center. Before, I never thought about the children’s center in terms of myself. I’ve told you why I voted like I did. The club was started as a male haven. I don’t see why the ladies don’t have their own club. And they do have some clubs in Royal and men aren’t trying to crash them. Actually, that’s insignificant and tonight I’d like to stay off the subject because I want this night to be a celebration of our baby. That’s the most important thing in my life right now.”
“I can’t argue with you on that one.”
He glanced toward the dance floor. “There are some couples dancing. Let’s join them.”
He stood, still holding her hand, and she rose to go with him. As soon as they were on the dance floor, he wrapped her into his arms to dance. She was close against him, moving slowly with him. As always, the dance became sensual, stirring desire. The piano player sang the romantic lyrics that she knew by memory. This night with Sam would remain a memory forever.
Beautiful flowers, this dinner, his attitude about the baby, no proposal, a joyful celebration tonight—he amazed her in all those things.
They danced slowly and returned to their table when the song ended. As he held her chair and seated her, he caressed her nape, a feathery brush of his fingers that made her tingle.
Their drinks had been served, and Sam picked up his glass of the bubbly clear liquid. “Here’s to our baby, Lila, and to you, my baby’s mother.”
“Thank you, Sam.” Smiling at him, she lifted her glass. She raised it to touch his lightly before taking a sip of the ginger ale.
She raised her glass again. “Here’s to you, Sam, for your understanding, for not rushing into an instant plan, especially for not proposing the minute you heard the news.”
“A proposal would be so terrible, Lila?” He waved his hand. “Don’t even answer. I told you that tonight is a celebration—one of the happiest occasions of my life. I don’t want any controversy, even in fun. Let’s stay off the thin-ice topics tonight.”
“Once again, I won’t argue with you. This is a wonderful evening, Sam.”
He gave her such a warm look she wondered whether he had mistaken that as an invitation to seduction. “Great,” he said, lifting his glass to her. They both took another drink and set down their glasses.
He took her hand, holding it gently and running his thumb over the back of her hand and her wrist, light brushes that she should have been able to ignore but couldn’t. He was doing everything right and it was beginning to unnerve her.
“Have you made any plans regarding our baby?” Sam asked.
“Not really. I’ve just been getting accustomed to the idea. I’ve let them know at work and I’ll take time off. My mom knows. I told Shannon and of course, my California doctor knows.”
“You don’t have a doctor in Royal?”
“I have my family doctor, but not anyone I’ve seen about this.”
“I think you should see a doctor here or in Midland—I’ll take you to Midland if you prefer. You never know when you might need one, and for the sake of the baby, I think you should have a record established with a doctor you want. If there’s an emergency, you don’t want to meet a new doctor for the first time.”
“I suppose you make sense and I should,” she said.
“I’d feel better about it, both for your sake and the baby’s.”
She nodded. “All right, Sam. You win this one.”
“I’m not trying to fight with you, Lila. I really want what’s best for you and our baby.”
“I have to admit, you surprise me more and more. You’re not doing anything the way I expected. You have won the Most Unpredictable Man title over this.”
He smiled in return and raised his glass of ginger ale in a toast. She touched her glass to his and sipped, laughing as she set it down.
“Have you thought of any names?”
“I’m debating about later and whether or not I want to know if I’ll have a boy or a girl. At this point, no, I’m not thinking about names. It’s too early.”
“Do I get input?”
“Yes. I don’t promise to let you name our baby, but I’m willing to listen.”
“Good. When you decide to go public, let me know. I’d like to tell Josh. With our dad gone, we’re basically all the family we have. There are cousins and aunts and uncles, but no one who lives out this way and none we’re close to.”
“I will soon, but not quite yet. I have to make some decisions first and I really would rather everyone in Royal know about the baby after I’ve gone back to California.”
“Whatever you want,” he said. “You said your mom knows—how does she feel about it? This will be her first grandchild.”
“I think she’s excited and she’s supportive, but this is new to her. I’m guessing her real excitement will come when she holds her grandbaby in her arms.”
“I imagine you’re right, there.”
“She likes you very much, so you have an advocate.”
“Do I need an advocate?”
“Not really, at this point. She also thinks the flowers are beautiful.”
“Flowers, taking you to dinner—those are things that I can do. What I feel like doing is dancing down Main Street and through the TCC, shouting to everyone I see that I am going to become a dad. Don’t worry, I won’t really do it yet. I might not be able to control myself when this baby comes into the world. We have a miracle, Lila.”
“You sound convincing, as if you really mean that.”
“I mean it with my whole heart,” he said, his sincere tone and blue-eyed gaze giving emphasis to his words. “This is the most fabulous thing in my life.”
“I’m repeating myself, but I never, ever for one second expected you to react the way you have.”
“See, you don’t know me all that well. But you will,” he added softly, his voice holding sensual promises. “In truth, I’ve been a little astounded myself at how I feel. I’ve never given little kids a thought, because I’m never around them. We didn’t have younger siblings. They just haven’t been part of my life and I never would have guessed I’d feel this way, but this is my baby, Lila. I’m thrilled.”
Growing solemn, she studied him. He might turn out to be far more of a problem than she had dreamed if he was locked into wanting his baby in his life. This was not something she had factored in when she had thought about Sam’s reaction to the news. He had been so opposed to the child-care center that she had never imagined he would be thrilled to become a dad. And he was becoming far more appealing to her—something that could prove her undoing.
The waiter arrived to take their orders and she withdrew her hand from Sam’s. As she ordered the grilled salmon, Sam waited, looking mildly amused, and she was certain it was because she had insisted on ordering for herself. He probably had ordered for every other woman he had ever taken out from the moment he had started dating.
Next, she listened while he ordered a prime rib.
“Thank you for letting me place my order,” she said as soon as they were alone.
“There’s no way I want to infringe on your independence in stuff like ordering dinner. That’s not one of life’s real issues.”
“It is rather well known that leopards don’t change their spots, so that was a leap for you.”
“I can adapt and I can definitely try to please you,” he said in a huskier voice. “That’s what I most like to do.” He took her hand again. “I would like to spend hours tonight, darlin’, just trying to pleasure you,” he said softly. His tone conveyed far more than his words and she tingled when she heard his thick, husky drawl.
“Sam, maybe I’ve underestimated you. You want to spend hours together tonight—that just makes my heart race,” she replied in her own sultry tone, unable to resist flirting with him and letting go of worries for a while.
His blue eyes darkened and he inhaled deeply, taking her hand and placing a light kiss on her palm. He held her hand, resting his on the table. “Now, that, Lila, makes me want to chuck dinner and head for a private place where I can ‘pleasure’ you for hours.”
“But we’ll do what’s sensible and sit and talk about our future,” she said with great innocence, still having fun flirting with him. “But I do feel better, Sam, that you’re being positive,” she stated.
“A simple compliment that I will definitely reply to before this evening is over,” he said softly, his voice becoming velvet, having the same effect as a caress.
“I think it’s time we change the subject.”
“For now, maybe, but we’ll continue the conversation later back at my place.”
“Back at your place? Sam, your self-confidence overwhelms me. Brace yourself—back at your place might not happen tonight.”
“If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. We’ll see,” he said with all the certainty in his statement that he would have had if she had flatly accepted. His confident smile indicated what he expected to do when they returned to Royal.
“So you worked in your office today or in Pine Valley where you’re building?” she asked, knowing she should stop flirting and keep space between them because she did not want a seduction scene later in the night.
“I have four houses right now that are under construction, and I spent time at one first and then another. Two are in Pine Valley. I was at my office and at the club. At the club, all the men can talk about is Alex Santiago’s disappearance. As far as I know, there’s still no word on Alex.”
“The few times I’ve seen Nathan, he looks preoccupied, as if he’s worried,” Lila said, withdrawing her hand from Sam’s.
“The last two times I’ve been at the club, rumors have been going around that Chance may have had something to do with Alex’s disappearance.”
“Why would Chance do anything to harm Alex?”
“A woman is why,” Sam replied. “Cara Windsor. Chance dated her and then she fell in love with Alex.”
“Chance doesn’t seem like the type to harm someone, but I don’t know him that well.”
“I agree with you. I know one thing—the last conversation I had with Alex, which was shortly before his disappearance, was interrupted by Dave Firestone, who was mad as hell. I left, so I didn’t hear what the heated exchange was about, but they were angry with each other.”
“That doesn’t sound so good. Have you told Nathan?”
“No, but I’m thinking maybe I should, with all the rumors flying about Chance.”
“I’d think so. It might be important. It would be terrible for them to focus on the wrong person,” she said, thinking more about Sam than the rumors.
Salads appeared and they paused in the conversation until the waiter had gone.
While they ate, Sam kept her entertained. She ate lightly, declining a dessert. Sam was showing his best side, handsome, charming, doing all the right things.
They danced until ten and then flew back to Royal. “Come by my house, Lila. It’s not too late and we can sit and talk.”
“Sam—”
“We’ll talk. I’ll take you home whenever you want. C’mon. Better sitting with me than going home and sitting up with Hack.”
“My brother,” she said, shaking her head and smiling. “This summer, you’ll always win with that argument. Okay, briefly.”
The moment she agreed, Sam changed course to drive them to his home in Pine Valley.
When they reached his house, Sam directed her to the kitchen. “We’ll get something to drink while we talk. You’re limited in your drinks. Want another ginger ale, milk, hot chocolate? I have a veritable grocery store here. What would you like?”
“Actually, hot chocolate sounds the best,” she said.
“Lila, this is good tonight because I want us to get to know each other. I know a lot about your family from being friends with your folks, although I see far less of your mother than your dad.”
While he talked, he removed his charcoal jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves. He unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt. When he reached the third button, he glanced at her to catch her watching him. Blushing, she turned away, wishing she had done something besides stare at him as he made himself comfortable.
“You can unbutton all you want, too,” he said.
His words ended her embarrassment and tension. She smiled at him. “Thanks for the offer,” she remarked dryly. “I think I’ll keep it together.”
He walked over to her. “I know one thing that can go and I hope you don’t object.” He removed the sterling clip holding her hair. Auburn locks tumbled to her shoulders. He placed the clip on a small table and then combed his fingers through her hair while they gazed into each other’s eyes. “You know this is the way I like your hair—down, falling free. Your hair is gorgeous, Lila.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, looking at his mouth while he stood so close. Her breath caught as she looked into his eyes.
She expected him to kiss her, anticipated his kiss and then was surprised when he turned away. “Hot chocolate it is,” he said.
She tried to ignore the flash of disappointment. He was doing what she wanted, so she should be relieved they hadn’t kissed.
As soon as he had their drinks, they strolled to the adjoining living area that overlooked the patio and sparkling blue pool. She sat in a corner of a sofa and he sat beside her, closer than she had expected. There was a table beside her and one in front of the sofa, so they had places to set their drinks.
“Tonight has been fun. I’m excited, Lila. This is my first child. How could I possibly keep from being excited?”
She had to laugh at him. “You have six months to go. Some of that excitement may wear off.”
“I think it may grow instead of diminishing.”
“If it grows much more, I think you really will be dancing around town.” She smiled at him. “I’ve had fun tonight, Sam. It’s been enjoyable, surprising, but the problems will come.”
“We can weather them,” he said.
“Your supreme self-confidence is always with you.”
“How much do you know about babies, Lila?”
“Nothing. I was around Hack, but I was a kid myself, albeit a bigger kid than Hack. I’m reading about parenting and I’ll take a class.”
“Oh, yes. I should take a class in being a dad and we probably should go together to a class on childbirth.”
“I’ll be in California, remember?”
“You’ll come back to Texas to have your baby, won’t you? I’d think your mom would want you to.”
“She’s already talking and making plans as if I’d agreed to do so, but I haven’t.”
“It would be really nice to have a Texas birthplace.”
She laughed. “You get a gold star tonight for tact,” she said, unable to keep from noticing the open throat of his shirt, which revealed his chest and the thick mat of curly light brown chest hair that Lila knew from memory.
“Whatever you decide. I know I don’t have any influence on that one.” He set down his drink and crossed the room to pick up his coat and rummage in the pocket. He held out a package wrapped in shiny blue paper and tied with a big pink silk bow. “For you, darlin’.”
Surprised, she glanced at the small package and then looked at him.
“Go ahead, Lila. It’s a present for you.”
“Sam, you don’t need to get me presents and flowers.”
“I don’t need to. I want to,” he said as she opened the box. He sat down again beside her.
She placed the paper and bow on the coffee table and opened the box to see a gold heart-shaped necklace covered in diamonds.
“This is gorgeous,” she said.
“Open it.”
“It opens? It’s a locket?” She pulled it open and a tiny folded paper fell out. She picked it up to unfold it and read tiny print: “For our baby’s picture. Sam.”
“Sam, that is so sweet. I’m touched by this and I’ll treasure it.” When she snapped the locket shut, she turned it over. The smooth back was gold with the current date inscribed. “You have today’s date,” she said, glancing at him.
“That’s to remember the night we celebrated our little one’s arrival.”
Impulsively, she threw her arms around his neck to kiss him lightly. “Thank you. It’s beautiful and that is just so sweet of you. Put it on me, Sam.”
He took it from her and set it in the box on the table. “I will put it on you, but not right this minute. Come here, darlin’,” he said, lifting her to his lap. “Ah, Lila, I’ve been wanting to bring you home with me and do this since you walked into the front room at the Double H hours ago.”
Her heartbeat raced while she looked up at him. His mouth was only inches away and the look in his blue eyes conveyed his intentions. As longing pulsed with each heartbeat, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’m already caught in a tangled situation that I can’t control. May as well be hanged for a sheep as a goat, as the old saying goes,” she whispered.
His attention was on her mouth and she raised her lips to his. His kiss was possessive, seductive, fanning the flames of desire that already consumed her. She loved being in his arms, being held by him, kissed by him, returning his kisses.
How was she going to say no to him and keep him at arm’s length? At the moment, she didn’t want to, which was what had placed her in this situation. Why did they have this magic chemistry between them that she had never found with any other man?
Running her fingers in his hair, she moaned softly, longing for so much more from him, wanting another night of loving. She pressed more tightly against him, kissing him with the same passion with which he kissed her.
She barely felt his fingers moving on her, but soon cool air brushed her shoulders and the top of her dress fell to her waist. Sam leaned back to gaze at her with half-lidded eyes while he removed her lacy black bra. As he caressed her, she shifted up her skirt to sit astride him.
Placing her hands on either side of his face, she leaned forward to kiss him, pouring her desire, her feelings for him, into her kiss. Every move was a mistake, but at this point she didn’t care. She had had a wonderful time with him. He had hidden all the take-charge, chauvinistic, arrogant ways he had. Not once in the evening had he demonstrated any of them in a manner that had annoyed her. She hadn’t seen them at all. And without those ways, he was delightful, appealing, incredibly sexy.
“Sam, you don’t fight fair. You can be the most irresistible man.”
“I don’t want to fight you at all,” he whispered while his tongue followed the curve of her ear, sending tingles in its wake.
He leaned back to look at her, cupping her breasts in his hands. “You’re the most beautiful woman on earth, Lila. Each time I see you, you dazzle me and I want you in my arms,” he whispered before leaning forward to trail kisses over her soft breasts.
His words enticed her as much as his kisses. She couldn’t possibly believe him, but his declarations still carried a thrill of pleasure.
“This has already been lonely and difficult in some ways, Sam,” she whispered. “I want your kisses tonight, your arms around me, your reassurances,” she admitted, knowing there would be some really tough decisions and moments ahead.
“You don’t have to be lonely and have a difficult time,” he whispered between showering kisses over her. He raised his head to look into her eyes. “Lila, that’s your own doing and your own choice. I will do anything for you, darlin’,” he promised softly. “I’ll guarantee you won’t be lonely and you won’t be alone having our baby.”
The thrill of his promise was as devastating as his kisses. His mouth was firm on hers. Kissing her passionately, he made her ache for him and moan in pleasure.
Tugging his shirt out of his slacks, her fingers twisted free his buttons until she could push his shirt off his shoulders to toss it away. Running her hands over his chest, feeling as if she couldn’t get enough of him this night, she kissed along his throat, moving down while he caressed her breasts.
Her need built, burning like flames licking over her. She stepped off him, standing beside the sofa to pull him to his feet. He stood, towering over her even though she was tall. Her heart pounded with fiery longing and another shock: that he was causing her to fall in love with him.
When he swept her into his arms to kiss her, she locked her arms around his neck. Carrying her through the room into the hall to a downstairs bedroom, he set her on her feet and held her away from him to push her dress over her hips and let it fall in a soft pile around her ankles. “Lila, you take my breath,” he whispered. “You’re beautiful, darlin’.”
Lila kicked off her shoes while he continued to look at her in a long, slow perusal that made her quiver and sent her temperature soaring.
“Sam,” she whispered, fumbling with his belt to unbuckle it and pull it off. Wanting him with all her being, she unfastened his slacks, pushing away his briefs to free him.
She stood gazing at him as thoroughly as he studied her and then she knelt to stroke and kiss him.
Threading his fingers in her hair, he groaned. Her fingers drifted down his muscled legs, feeling the crisp, short hairs. Suddenly he slipped his hands beneath her arms to pull her up, wrapping her in a tight embrace while he kissed her hard, his tongue going deep.
Her heart raced. Heat pooled low inside her, a yearning for him that filled her. Tomorrow ceased to exist and yesterday had already passed. There was only the present with his kisses and caresses and endearments. For now, that was what she craved and wanted to give to him in turn. Another night of love between them that might mean something in her memories when this was no longer possible.
He picked her up to place her on the bed and began to shower kisses lightly below her ear, along her throat, moving down over her, caressing her, as if every inch of her was important to him, whispering endearments between his kisses.
“Darlin’, you’re gorgeous. Ah, baby, you’re perfection, the most beautiful woman ever. Love, you can’t ever know what you do to me.”
His whispered words could make her feel as if she were the most desirable woman on earth, and how could she resist that? She knew he could not mean all of them, exaggerations in the throes of passion, but she liked having his hands and mouth on her, his words reflecting his desire.
“Sam, let’s make love. Come here,” she whispered, pulling him to her.
He moved between her legs, pausing to look at her. It gave her a chance to view him. He looked strong, virile, handsome. She caressed his muscled thighs and then tugged lightly on him.
“Come here,” she whispered.
As he lowered himself, he held his weight off her slightly while he entered her with deliberate slowness.
Gasping with need, she arched beneath him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Put your legs around me, darlin’,” he whispered.
She did as he wanted, holding him tightly, moving beneath him while he teased and increased the sweet torment until she was thrashing with need. “Love me,” she pleaded.
Finally, he thrust deeply and moved, rocking with her as desire built swiftly. He pumped faster and she cried out with pleasure.
“My darling,” she whispered, clinging tightly to him.
“Ah, love,” he ground out the words as they soared together and then she crashed.
“Lila, my love,” he gasped, thrusting deeply, shuddering with effort as he climaxed and finally lowered his weight and slowed. He gasped for breath as much as she. Blissfully, she ran her hands over him.
“Sam, that was perfect. Better than before. Everything was so wonderful tonight.”
“I want to make love all night. If I could do what I want, really, we would stay in this room for the next week, maybe longer.”
She scattered light kisses on his cheek and forehead until he rolled over, taking her with him. Their legs were entangled and he held her close against him as he brushed her long hair away from her face. She was damp, still breathing as hard as he.
“This is marvelous,” she whispered, half hoping he didn’t even hear her. She didn’t need to give him more encouragement, because difficulties lay ahead and their lovemaking would not do one thing to help avoid them.
He kissed her softly, trailing his fingers over her shoulder, along her throat and then combing them through her hair. “Darlin’, I want you in my arms.”
“As far as I’m concerned, tonight is a time to forget the difficulties and problems.”
“I’ll agree with that. Tonight is fabulous. It’s far from over.”
“Maybe,” she whispered, running her hand over his shoulder, feeling his muscles. While she snuggled against him, she ran her fingers over his shoulder again. “Where do we go from here, Sam?” she whispered, not really wanting an answer at this time. She was willing to give the night over to lovemaking and set their problems aside temporarily.
“We’ll go shower after a while. Right now, let me hold you close in my arms.”
“No argument here,” she said, rising on her elbow to kiss his jaw and throat. “You’re a handsome man and at the moment, we’re a mutual-admiration twosome.”
“Twosome sounds good, darlin’. Really good to me.” He pulled her closer against him. “Lila, it can be so fine between us. If we’ll each just give a little.”
“That’s a dream, but with all my heart I hope you’re right,” she said.
“Just try. If we both just try and aim for that as our goal, we should be able to achieve it,” he whispered. “We can compromise.”
“Are you going to take your own advice?”
He chuckled. “You’re a hard woman sometimes.”
“I believe being hard belongs to you,” she said, teasing him, and he smiled, kissing her forehead. She could feel his heartbeat against her. He was warm, solid muscle.
He held her close and they talked for a while before he carried her to his shower.
As she dressed, she turned to him. “Now, come put my beautiful new locket on me.”
“Sure thing,” he said, taking it from her and fastening it around her neck while she held her hair out of his way. He brushed light kisses on her nape and she turned to him.
“Thank you for the locket and for being so marvelous about everything.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’.”
“Sam, I should go home.”
“I guess you’re right. Go out with me again. The TCC has a singer tomorrow night and the chef will have a lobster special.”
“All right,” she said, knowing she was sinking deeper into later complications with him. “Actually, it’ll be our farewell, I imagine. I start back to work on Wednesday of next week and then I’ll be too busy for anything else.”
“That doesn’t sound good. You’re not overworked, are you?”
“I’m just busy. I’ll take care of myself.”
“Then we definitely go out tomorrow night. I have something special in mind.”
“Now I’m curious,” she said. “For now, though, I should get home.”
After the drive to the ranch, she faced Sam at her doorstep. He had his hands lightly on her waist. “Lila, this has been another one-of-the-best-nights-of-my-life evening. I can’t wait until tonight. It seems forever until I’ll see you again.”
She laughed. “Sam, you’ll get through the day without me.”
“Not easily. I’ll pick you up at six. I have something at the house, too, I want to show you, but tonight wasn’t the night. Tonight was purely celebration.”
“I’m getting really curious,” she said, wondering what he had planned and guessing she was in for another surprise with one of his gifts.
His arms circled her waist and he pulled her close and the kiss changed from casual to passionate.
When she stepped away, she tried to catch her breath. “I had a wonderful evening, as you know. Thank you for dinner, for my beautiful locket and thank you again for the flowers and for being so—” she paused, trying to think of something that would describe what he had done “—cooperative in your reactions.”
“I don’t think you really know me,” he said. His expression changed as he smiled. “But you will,” he said, and she had to smile in return.
“I can believe that one,” she said. “Good night, Sam.” She stepped inside and in minutes heard him drive away.
Switching off the lights left on for her, she tiptoed to her room. Instead of facing Sam and getting the arguments over and done, she had gone out and had a wonderful time and accomplished nothing as far as her future was concerned. Their next dinner she would talk to him about the future and their baby. Also, he had something to give her—some delightful, touching or sweet present that would make getting serious with him more difficult.
Just hours from now, she would be with Sam. Her heart beat faster in anticipation and she shook her head. She was already a little bit in love with him. She hoped it truly was a little bit, because none of their deepest feelings and individual beliefs would change. If he continued reacting as he had so far, she would fall more in love with him. Time would tell on that. Falling in love with Sam would be disastrous because somewhere inside that handsome, sexy, charming exterior was the male chauvinist, the take-charge character she had always known, and he would come out sooner or later.
In the meantime, excitement bubbled in her over the prospect of being with him tomorrow night.
It wasn’t even twenty-four hours until they would be together.
* * *
That night, she dressed in a sleeveless red dress that ended above her knees. She wore high-heeled red sandals. This would probably be the last evening she would spend with Sam, because she would be too busy once she started work. It was just as well. When her job here ended, she would return to California—maybe until after the baby was born.
Sam was in a navy cotton shirt and navy slacks, and as soon as he picked her up, they drove to his home in Pine Valley. “Let’s go have one of your delicious ginger ales. I want to talk to you and I have something for you. Then we have reservations at the club—the TCC has a great singer tonight and a chef’s special of lobster and steak. If that doesn’t appeal to you, we can eat at my place. I was going to do this the other way around, but I think we’ll stop here first.”
“Fine,” she answered as she stepped out of the car, curious about the surprise. “Thank you for the gorgeous flowers that arrived today,” she said, thinking of the latest bouquet, a far more traditional arrangement of mixed flowers with huge red, yellow and white roses mixed in with tall, colorful gladiolas, tiger lilies and other assorted flowers. “You’ve impressed my family. Even Hack didn’t have any of his usual smart remarks.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“I haven’t shown Dad or Hack my locket yet, because Dad will have a million questions and he’ll think we’re serious. I’ll show him after I tell him he is going to become a grandfather.”
“You know how to deal with your dad, darlin’. You and Hack both do.”
“In spite of my morning sickness and seeing each other every day and living in the same house, neither Dad nor Hack has caught on that I’m pregnant.”
“Hack doesn’t surprise me. You’re probably wallpaper to him and he doesn’t even see you. Hack’s got teenage-kid things on his mind. Your dad—that’s different. Sometimes we see what we want to see.”
Startled, she was surprised by Sam’s answer. “You might be right.”
“Let’s have a drink.” At the bar in a family room, Sam got two ginger ales. He motioned toward the sofa and followed her to sit close, facing her. “All I’ve been able to think about today is you.”
She had no intention of telling him she could say the same. “That will pass,” she replied, smiling at him.
He raised his ginger ale. “Another toast to making memories and having a baby. Or making a baby and having memories,” he said, smiling at her.
Laughing, she touched his glass with hers and sipped while watching him. He set his glass on a table and then took hers, and she wondered again what he had planned.
Taking her hand in his, he gazed at her with an earnest look on his face. “You’re special, Lila, and this baby of ours is incredibly special to me.”
“Sam, I’m touched.”
“I was going to do this another way,” he said, “take you somewhere fabulous, but at the last minute, I wanted to be just the two of us.”
Puzzled, she received another shock when, still holding her hand, he knelt on one knee in front of her.
“Lila, will you marry me?”