TEXAS BORN (17 page)
“My God, Gen.” He said it softly, almost reverently. “How? We were careful.”
“Not careful enough, evidently—and if you want a paternity test, I’ll be happy to—”
“No test is necessary. I believe you.”
I believe you.
The soft-spoken, calm words echoed in her head.
And she knew relief, just a hint of it, like a slight breeze in a close room. So, then. She had told him at last. And he hadn’t denied her, hadn’t turned away from her. He was still standing there right in front of her, still watching her patiently without a hint of rancor or accusation.
Letting her head drop against the soft back of the white chair, she closed her eyes and released a long sigh. “Well. There. It’s out at last.”
“Are you well?” His voice came from down at her level again.
She opened her eyes to find he had dropped to his knees in front of her once more. “Perfectly,” she told him.
“Have you been to your doctor?”
“Not yet. But I took four home tests. They were all positive. And the instructions on the box promised that the test was completely dependable.”
“You should see a doctor.”
“I know. I’ll do that soon—but I’m perfectly healthy.” She frowned. “Or maybe you somehow think I’m not pregnant after all.”
“I told you, I believe you. But I think a visit to the doctor is in order.”
“I... Yes. Of course. All right.”
“I’ll take care of everything.” His gaze never wavered.
Her stomach lurched. “What does that mean?”
“We’ll be married.” He said it without a pause, without the slightest hesitation.
And she wanted to cry again—partly from another, stronger wave of relief. And partly because, really, it was all wrong.
Once she’d dreamed of marrying his brother. It had to be beyond inappropriate simply to switch brothers. And since those four magnificent days two months ago, Rafe had made something of an art form of avoiding her. A man you marry shouldn’t spend weeks dodging you—and then at the mention of a baby drop right to his knees and propose.
“Rafe. Honestly. I don’t know if...”
“Of course you know. It’s the right thing.”
She should be stronger. Prouder. And seriously. Nobody married just because there was a baby coming, not anymore—well, except maybe for her brother Alex. And possibly her sister Rhia.
And come to think of it, both of those marriages were turning out just fine.
And she had such a
thing
for him now. Plus, their baby had a right to be the Hartmore heir, and to be the heir required legitimacy—or at least, it would all go much more smoothly, if the baby was legitimate. There would be absolutely no question then of who should inherit.
And then there was Hartmore itself. Her beloved Hartmore...
Mistress of Hartmore,
temptation whispered in her ear. She could have her dream come true after all, though she’d been so certain it was lost to her forever with Edward’s death.
Edward.
Just thinking his name made her heart heavy with guilt and confusion. She really had thought that she loved him, that she was only waiting for him to make a move toward her so they could begin to forge the life they were born to have together.
Now, feeling as she did about Rafe, she wasn’t so sure about Edward, about all those plans she’d had to be Edward’s bride. She wasn’t sure about
anything
anymore.
“Say yes,” the giant, seductive stranger who was once her dear friend commanded in a tone both tender and merciless.
She stared at him, trembling. “Are you sure?”
“I am. Say yes.”
The word was there, inside her, waiting. She simply pushed her guilt and confusion aside and let that word get free. “Yes.”
Copyright © 2014 by Christine Rimmer
ISBN-13: 9781460340547
Texas Born
Copyright © 2014 by Diana Palmer
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