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  “What are you up to now?” She tried to sound suspicious, but somehow it came out all breathless and hopeful.

  “I’m off to work for the rest of the day. Any reason I shouldn’t kiss my wife goodbye?”

  “No reason at all.” She lifted her lips to him and he settled his wonderful mouth over hers.

  Time and reality faded off into nothing. There was only the two of them in that hazy, hot, beautiful place they went to whenever they touched.

  Oh, she had a mad and crazy crush on him. She kept trying to remember all the reasons they shouldn’t get too close, all the ways love and romance never had worked out for her.

  But somehow, when he touched her, when he kissed her, whenever he was near, she forgot her bad track record with the male gender, forgot how, after the last time two years ago with Donnie Jacobs, who had sworn that he loved her and wanted forever with her one night and then told her the next night that they were through, she’d finally accepted that romance was just a bad idea for her. She took love way too seriously and she always ended up with her heart cut to ribbons.

  She and James should probably talk about that, about how they had to watch themselves, not let things get too intense. They both needed to remember that this wasn’t forever.

  But then again, just because she kept forgetting that this wasn’t the real thing, that didn’t mean he was having any problem keeping his grip on reality.

  And please. Did they really need to go there, to talk about all the reasons they shouldn’t let themselves get carried away?

  Why make everything heavy and grim? Why not just enjoy themselves for the time they had together? Too soon, it would be over and she would be big as a house with the baby. And then she’d be a mom, with a newborn to care for. Beautiful, sexy nights like the ones she shared with James right now would be pretty hard to come by.

  Why shouldn’t they wring every drop of pleasure out of this marriage PawPaw had forced on them? Why not think of it as a fabulous, smokin’-hot fling, and leave it at that?

  “What is it with you two? Like a couple of newlyweds,” Carmen teased. Somehow she’d come all the way down the front steps and out to the quad cab without Addie noticing.

  James broke the kiss, but he didn’t let go of her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close to his side. “Don’t know what it is about this woman. Can’t seem to keep my hands off her.”

  “I noticed.” Carm held out her arms. “Gotta go.”

  Addie slipped free of James’s embrace to hug her sister goodbye. “I’m so sorry you had to stay so long, but I’m so glad you came. And Dev, too. Give him my love, and tell the kids that Auntie Addie will see them soon.”

  “I will.” Carm stepped back. “You need us, you call. Don’t you dare hesitate.”

  “I won’t.”

  Carm looked toward the ranch house. “I have a feeling PawPaw’s going to be okay now.”

  “Me, too.”

  “And I really like Lola. She’s smart and funny and she won’t take any crap off him.”

  Addie grinned at that. “I think you’re right.”

  Carm turned to James. “Ready?”

  He pulled open the front passenger door and Carmen got in. “I’ll be back by six or so,” he promised, those blue eyes warm as a summer sky. “You want me to bring takeout?”

  She shook her head. “I bought groceries Tuesday when I got Lola settled in. We’re having roast chicken, baked sweet potatoes and green salad, totally heart healthy for PawPaw’s sake.”

  He hooked his hand around her neck again and pulled her close for another kiss. “You are an ideal granddaughter.”

  “Tell PawPaw that.”

  “I have. And you just might be the perfect wife.”

  “Call me amazing. Go right ahead.”

  “Amazing.” He whispered it. The sound reached out and touched her in all her most hungry, sensitive places.

  She kissed him. It started out as a light, brushing caress. But it just felt so good. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the contact.

  Inside the quad cab, Carm tapped on the passenger window. Knock it off, she mouthed. Let’s go.

  James kissed her once more, quick and sweet, for good measure, then went around and climbed up behind the wheel.

  Addie stood waving, Moose at her side, until the pickup rounded the first curve on the way to the highway.

  Then she turned to her dog. “Lots to do.” Moose tipped his head to the side and whined in doggy understanding. “Come on. We’ll clear some dresser and closet space for James first. Then we’ll catch up with the horses until it’s time to get dinner going. If we’re lucky, we may even have a little time to get out to the shed and get going on the orders.” She needed to get to work on the garden, too. The window had arrived for planting broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers and tomatoes. She would start them in her little greenhouse out by her work shed. But that wouldn’t be happening today or tomorrow. Maybe next week, if she was lucky.

  Moose gazed up at her with those big brown eyes of his, listening intently, as though he couldn’t wait for the next pearl of wisdom to drop from her lips.

  She asked, “So, what do you think, Moosey?”

  He took his cue and gave her a bark of encouragement.

  She scratched his wide forehead. “Well, all right. Let’s get after it, then.”

  Panting happily, he followed her back into the house.

  * * *

  “I still haven’t seen the bill for the floor repair and the bath railings,” Addie complained that evening.

  James didn’t answer her. He didn’t plan to give her that bill.

  They were in her upstairs bedroom. He’d brought more clothes from the condo and he was putting them away.

  “James. Stop pretending you didn’t hear me.”

  Tucking a stack of T-shirts in next to his boxer briefs, he shut the drawer and returned to the suitcase spread open on the bed next to his adorable short-term wife.

  She caught his arm as he reached for a stack of sweaters. “I want that bill.”

  Grabbing her hand, he straightened and yanked her up into his waiting embrace.

  “Stop that.” She struggled, but not very hard.

  He held her lightly. “Don’t worry about that bill. I already paid for it and Garrett gave me a great deal.” He tried to kiss her.

  But she pressed her hands against his chest, craned back away from him and glared. “It is so wrong for you to pay to fix the hole that my grandfather made while he had you tied to a chair.”

  “It’s not wrong if I want to do it. And I do want to do it. I’m over all that with the chair and the shotgun.”

  “You shouldn’t be. I’m certainly not.”

  “Addie.” He said it softly, coaxing her.

  Stubborn as always, she looked away. But then she looked back. He could tell she was trying not to smile. “Oh, all right. What?”

  “Let it go.” He put on his most appealing expression. He hoped. “Please.”

  She kept trying to pretend she wasn’t looking at him—but then couldn’t seem to resist shooting him quick glances. “Let what go? The bill or what PawPaw did to you?”

  “Both—and while you’re at it, stop pushing me away.”

  She relaxed her arms, slid her hands up and clasped his shoulders. “Fine. I’m not pushing you away.”

  “Better. Let me pay for the repairs.”

  “It still seems—”

  “Shh. Don’t say anything more—except for yes.”

  “The insurance will pay for the grab bars if I can just send them the itemized bill.”

  “Well, all right, then. I’ll get a separate bill from Garrett for the railings, you send it in and then when they pay you, yo
u give me that check.”

  “But the floor... That had to be expensive.”

  “Let it go, Addie. Let me help a little. I’m living here with you rent free.”

  “Because I asked you to.”

  “I like it here.”

  “That’s right.” She widened her big eyes in pretend horror. “You poor man. As soon as you leave here you’ll be forced to go live in that big, beautiful new house of yours.”

  He didn’t want to think about leaving her yet. After all, he was just moving in. “You didn’t even let me help pay for the groceries.”

  “You’ll figure out a way to do that,” she grumbled. “I know how you are.”

  “Let it go. Accept a few good things when they come your way. Say thank you. And then move on.”

  Her mouth got softer. So did those big eyes. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “You are so good to me—and to PawPaw.”

  “Only because I like you.” He dared to reach out and trace the sweet curve of her cheek. She let him do it, a very good sign. He whispered, “Both of you. A lot.” He tugged on her earlobe. “Especially you...”

  She sighed then. And this time, when he bent to claim her lips, she didn’t back away.

  Eventually, with great reluctance, he let her go to finish putting his clothes away. She helped him hang his shirts, slacks and jackets in the closet.

  Once that was done, he took her hand and pulled her over to one of the dormers and then down with him onto the window seat. Outside, the sun had just set, leaving a last gleam of daylight along the rims of the mountains.

  She asked, “Did you see Elise when you stopped by to get your clothes?”

  “I did. She and Tracy have agreed to stay at the condo for a while. But already, they’re talking about finding new apartments. That’s Elise for you. Too damn independent.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with independence,” she informed him smartly.

  He grinned. “How did I know you were going to say that?”

  And then she grew thoughtful. “I’ve been trying to think of what I could do to help. They don’t by any chance need horses boarded, yummy fresh vegetables come summer or a free scarecrow?”

  He tugged on a silky strawberry curl. “I’ll tell Elise you offered—or you could tell her yourself. She’ll be at our party.”

  She was gazing out at the sunset—but at the words our party, she whipped her head around to pin him with a look. “What are you up to now and which party is that?”

  He caught her hand again. “It’s like this. My sister Clara came to my office today. She’s reserved the upstairs room at McKellan’s for a week from Saturday night.” Walker’s brother, Ryan, owned and ran the popular Irish-style bar. “They’re all a little annoyed with me for getting married out of the blue.”

  Shadows filled those golden eyes. “You know, they’re right. We should have told them.”

  “There wasn’t a lot of time to send out wedding announcements. And they’ll get over their annoyance. Especially if they can welcome you to the family with an after-the-fact wedding reception.”

  “Oh, James. What are they going to say when we suddenly separate in May?”

  He lifted her fingers and kissed them, one by one. “Let’s ford that river when we get to it.”

  “I feel guilty, you know? Like we’d be celebrating under false pretenses.”

  “Don’t.”

  “But, James, I—”

  “Just come to the party with me and have a good time. That’s all you have to do. Clara says it’ll be low-key. Nothing fancy or anything. They want to get together with you, welcome you to the family, celebrate a little, that’s all. They’re not going to judge us later because it didn’t work out.”

  “Is that what you’ll tell them? That it didn’t work out?”

  Now he was feeling a little annoyed. “I don’t really know yet what I’ll tell them. Do I need to know right this minute?”

  “Well, of course not. I just mean...”

  “What, Addie? What exactly do you mean?”

  She slanted him a sideways look. “Am I upsetting you?”

  “No,” he firmly lied.

  A big sigh escaped her. “It’s so nice of them to do this.” She sounded sincere—and also as though she might actually be about to say yes.

  He’d been dreading this conversation all afternoon, had just known it would be hell trying to convince her. But she seemed at least to be considering the idea. He breathed a cautious sigh of relief and pushed for an affirmative. “So that’s a yes? You’ll come?”

  A frown crinkled the space between her smooth eyebrows. “You would have to tell them no presents. You’d have to make it very clear. I can’t stand the thought of them giving us toasters and nice glassware and who knows what all, and then feeling like I should send it all back when we’re not together anymore.”

  He really wished she’d quit talking about when it was over. After all, it had barely begun. But he knew he had to let that go for now and concentrate on the goal of getting her to say yes to the party. “No presents. Not a single one. I’ll get Clara’s promise on that.” He mimed an X on his chest. “Cross my heart.”

  And that was when she leaned close and kissed him, sweet as you please. “All right. Yes, I would love it if your family gave us a party.”

  Chapter Nine

  The dress was cinnamon-colored, fitted close on top, gently skimming her hips and widening out to a flirty hem that came to just above her knees. Addie had sexy black heels to go with it and she felt like a million bucks as she turned to check out the back in the cheval mirror that had once been her grandmother’s.

  James, dressed in good jeans and a black dress shirt, whistled at her from the bedside chair. “Beautiful. Just beautiful.”

  She smoothed a hand down her still-flat belly. “I’m glad I get to wear it at least once before my stomach’s out to here.” She turned to him. “Thank you.” She’d been working like crazy, trying to catch up on her orders, take care of the horses and get the early vegetables started in the greenhouse. They’d argued when he insisted she take an afternoon off last week. But as usual, he kept after her until she agreed to go. She was glad that he’d talked her into it. They’d had a great time in Denver, where he bought her both the dress and the shoes and then taken her out for Italian food. “Seems like I’m always saying thank you to you.”

  He got up and came to her, causing her breath to catch and her tummy to fill with small winged creatures. “I like you smiling and grateful.” He tipped up her chin and looked at her as if he was considering eating her right up—something she really wouldn’t mind in the least. “Scratch that. I like you any way I can get you.”

  “You are so easy to please.”

  “I can see how you might think that, because everything you do pleases me.” He brushed his lips across hers. The man smelled like heaven—minty soap and a hint of aftershave. Too soon, he stepped back. “If I keep kissing you, I’ll only want to take that dress right off you again.”

  “And we’ll never make it to our party.”

  “Then my family will really be annoyed with me.”

  “Can’t have that.” She grabbed her clutch from the low bureau.

  Downstairs, they stopped in the master suite to say good-night to her grandfather.

  “Get over here, Addie Anne,” Levi demanded from his fancy recliner bed. She held back a snappy reply and went to him. “Give your old granddad a kiss.” Obediently, she bent down and kissed his cheek. When she straightened, he gave her a nod of approval. “You do look mighty fine.”

  “Thank you, PawPaw.” She said it sweetly, thinking how much she loved him—even if she was still angry with him for all the wrong things he’d done. Moose got up from
his bed by the bureau and came over to give her a sniff. She scratched his head. He licked her hand and then wandered over to get attention from James.

  “Lola should be here to see you,” Levi grumbled. The nurse had the weekend off—her first days off since she’d started taking care of Levi.

  “Lola has a right to days off now and then,” Addie chided.

  “I know. But I’ve gotten used to her and I don’t like it when she’s not here.” As a matter of fact, he already seemed to consider the nurse a part of the family.

  Daniel, the relief nurse, rose from the chair in the corner and suggested briskly, “You need to keep busy. Let’s take another walk around the house.” He meant that literally. Every couple of hours, her grandfather got up and made a circuit of the ground floor. Lola insisted he take those walks religiously. And Daniel did, too. Moose would trail after them, wagging his tail.

  Levi grunted. “The next torture session begins.” He waved a hand. “Go on, you two. Have fun. Stay out late. Addie, no drinking. You have my future great-grandson to consider, after all.”

  * * *

  McKellan’s, on Marmot Drive in the heart of Justice Creek, took up most of the block between West Central and Elk Street. It had lots of windows and blue awnings that shaded outdoor tables in the summer months.

  The pub was always busy. This Saturday night, it was packed downstairs, not a single seat available at the long mahogany bar, every table in use. A crowd waited near the hostess stand, everyone eager to get a seat.

  James waved at the hostess and they went on past, weaving their way through the crowd to the open stairway that led to the party room on the second floor.

  Clara, James’s sister, was waiting for them at the top. A pretty brunette in her early thirties, Clara grabbed her brother in a hug. “There you are. Congratulations, James.”

  He beamed. “I am one lucky man and that is no lie.” He said it as though he meant it. Addie tamped down the guilt that they weren’t what they seemed to be and focused on being grateful for all he’d given her, for every day and night they shared.

  Clara turned to her. “What a beautiful bride. Welcome to the family, Addie.” She held out her arms and Addie went into them. Clara said softly, for her ears alone, “Thank you for making my brother a happy man.”