Runaway Bride (Across the Stars: Book 2) (22 page)

“Disappointed?”

“No.  It gives me more time to shop for baby things.  My mom will enjoy that.”

He chuckled and brushed her cheek.  “I think you’ll like that, too.”

There was no denying it, so she didn’t argue.  “Can you tell whether we’re having a boy or a girl?  I know it’s too early to tell with the technology we have.”

“Actually, there was a method men used to use on Pandoran, but it’s been so long since anyone’s used it that very few men know about it.  But I don’t know if it works.  It could be a myth.”

“Do you mind trying?”

“No, but it’s a little weird.”

She was ready to ask him what he meant by ‘weird’ when he pressed his ear to her heart.  He set one hand over her abdomen and the other over her forehead.  Since he was facing her abdomen, she couldn’t see his face, but she heard him inhale then hold his breath before he slowly released it.  She blinked in surprise when she saw a thread glowing around them.

“Uh, Mark?” she asked as it pulsed around them.

“That’s the bond connecting us,” he whispered.  “I saw it forming during the bonding ceremony.”

“You did?”

She hadn’t seen it.  But now as the thread twirled around her, she realized just how powerful the bond was and it created a pleasant warmth that embraced them.  She let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes.  She felt as if she was flying and falling at the same time, but through the whole thing, she was aware of the protective hold Mark had on her.  The thread circled around them then penetrated them and in that moment, she caught a glimpse of their unborn child.  She smiled.  A boy.  And he would be born in twenty-seven weeks.

The cord faded and the air around them cooled.  He released his hands from her and straightened up.  “Did you see it?” he asked.

“I did.” Tears filled her eyes and she laughed.  “A boy.”

“Yes.” He kissed her and brushed her tears away.  “I’m glad you saw it, too.”

“It was amazing.”

“I have a feeling we’ll have many more amazing things to experience together.”

Lowering his head, he kissed her again before he returned to his seat.  When the doctor came in, she confirmed that Lexie’s pregnancy was right on track for what Earth women experienced.  It was something Lexie already knew, thanks to Mark using their connection as life mates to find out, but it was still nice to hear it.

As they left the doctor’s office, Mark put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.  “Let’s take a long walk on the beach before we call everyone and tell them the good news.”

“I’d like that,” she replied.  “Can we go to the beach where we first walked along the shore?  You know, that day you told me how you created virtual reality scenarios where men could fall in love with women.  That walk is one of my favorite memories.”

“I wouldn’t dream of going to any other beach.” They reached his car, and he held her in his arms.  “I told you the truth about my past that day, even if I was vague about it.  I used to design virtual reality programs where men could live out their fantasy of being with a life mate.  I even beta tested the program.”

“And?”

“I fell in love with the simulation I created, and one day it occurred to me that she could never love me back.  I never felt so empty in my entire life.” He cupped her face in his hands.  “When I told you a fake woman couldn’t replace a real one, I meant it.  It’s why I came to Earth, and it’s why I’ll always be grateful you ran off with me instead of marrying Nick.” He kissed her.  “I love you, Lexie.”

“I love you, too,” she softly replied and returned his kiss.

He opened the car door for her.  She hopped into the seat, and after he got in next to her, he drove her to the beach.

Already Available

Across the Stars Series: Book 1

Suddenly a Bride

Rilo An comes from a world where there are no women, and what he longs for is a life mate: someone who will complete him, someone he can love who’ll love him back, someone who’ll ease the aching loneliness that haunts his life.

So he leaves his world, takes on the Earth name Chris West, and makes a payment to Star Systems Unlimited for a life mate. When he bonds with her, he thinks life can’t get any better.  Except she was married before, and memories of her deceased husband still linger around her home.  Will he find a place in her heart or will he have to become like her first husband in order to get her love?

Coming Mid-Summer 2013

Across the Stars Series: Book 3

His Abducted Bride

All Sandy Davis wants is to forget about romance.  Romance is for other people, not for her.  She’s been rejected too many times and doesn’t want anything else to do with it.  To escape, she writes an epic fantasy, picturing herself as the queen who rises against the threat of King Blackheart who is determined to conquer her kingdom.

On the eve where she’s going to write the ending where she kills him, he arranges it so that he takes her into the story.  But he doesn’t abduct her so she’ll be his prisoner.  His plan is to make her his wife and prove that he’s not the villain she’s made him out to be.

Complete List of Romances by Ruth Ann Nordin

(in chronological order)

Regency Collection

The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife

Her Counterfeit Husband

A Most Unsuitable Earl

Nebraska Historical Romance Collection

Her Heart’s Desire

A Bride for Tom

A Husband for Margaret

Eye of the Beholder

The Wrong Husband

Shotgun Groom

To Have and To Hold

His Redeeming Bride

Isaac’s Decision

South Dakota Historical Romances

Loving Eliza

Bid for a Bride

Bride of Second Chances

Montana Historical Romances

Mitch’s Win

Native American Romance Series (historical)

Restoring Hope

Brave Beginnings

Bound by Honor, Bound by Love

A Chance In Time (novella)

Virginia Brides Series (historical)

An Unlikely Place for Love

The Cold Wife

An Inconvenient Marriage

Romancing Adrienne

Other Historical Western Romances

Falling In Love With Her Husband

Meant To Be

Omaha Contemporary Romances

With This Ring, I Thee Dread

What Nathan Wants

Across the Stars Series (contemporary)

Suddenly a Bride

Runaway Bride

His Abducted Bride (coming soon)

Florida Contemporary Romances

Substitute Bride

For more information about these books, please go to www.ruthannnordin.com