The Md She Had To Marry Part 3

don't you go on back behind that curtain and lie down again?" She blew a tangled curl out of her eye. "No, thanks. I'm wide awake now." She marched to the sleeping nook, ducked inside and came out with her lace-up hiking boots.

His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What are you doing?"

She sat in the rocker and pulled on one of the boots. It wasn't easy, working around the bulge of her stomach, but she'd had a lot of practice in the past few weeks. Huffing and puffing, she tied the boot, pulled on the other one,tied it up, too.

"Lacey."

She stood, turned to the bureau, picked up the brush lying on top and went to work on her hair. Their eyes met in the mirror. "I'm going out behind the cabin a ways. There's a creek that runs by back there. Very picturesque. I've been doing a few sketches. Willows and cottonwoods, a few cows and their calves..." He was scowling again. She pretended not to notice. "I'll be back in an hour or so, in plenty of time for dinner with Zach and Tess and the family."

"Are you sure that you should-?"

She turned and pointed the brush at him. "Don't, all right? Just ... don't. Nothing's going to happen to me down by the creek. It's barely a hundred yards from the back door, for heaven's sake."

"What if some big bull comes at you?"

"It's not an issue."

"This is a cattle ranch, isn't it? If I'm not mistaken, bulls live on cattle ranches."

She struggled to contain her building exasperation. "There's a barbed-wire fence that runs between this particular spot on the creek and those cattle I mentioned. If there are any bulls nearby, they would most likely be on the other side of that fence."

"But-"

"Read my lips. I'll be fine."

"I'll come with-"

"Logan. Stop. If you insist on staying here, in a twenty-by-twenty-foot s.p.a.ce with me, we're going to have to give each other a little breathing room. I am going alone."

He shut his mouth, made another growling sound and then dropped to the side of the daybed. "Great. Fine. Do what you want to do. You never in your life did anything else." He braced his elbows on his spread knees and shook his head at his stocking feet.

Tenderness washed through her. She set down the brush. "You're the one who needs more rest. Come on. Stretch out and sleep for an hour. You'll have the cabin all to yourself. Forget all your cares and I'll wake you up when I get back."

He didn't say anything, just went on staring at his socks.

"Logan..."

"All right. I'll take a d.a.m.n nap." He lay down on his back with his feet over the edge, turned his face to the wall and shut his eyes.

Smiling to herself, Lacey collected her sketch pad and a couple of nice, soft pencils from the chair where she'd set them earlier. Before she went out, she couldn't resist whispering, "Sleep well."

"Thanks," he grumbled, neither turning his head nor opening his eyes. "Be careful, for G.o.d's sake."

"I will,Logan. I promise you."

He was sound asleep when she returned, lying in almost the same position she'd left him in, his hands folded on his chest. His head, however, was turned toward the room now.

Lacey stood over him, admiring the beauty of his body in repose, thinking that maybe she could do a few sketches of him sleeping-nothing too challenging right now. She wasn't up for it. But she could certainly line out a few ideas in pencil.

Then, later, after the baby came, she could go back to what she'd started, delve more deeply. She loved the softness of his face when he was sleeping. And something else. Some ... determined vulnerability. Some aspect of his will that came through even when he was unconscious, some sense that he distrusted the necessity of surrendering to sleep.

He had a wonderful face, handsome in a cla.s.sic way. And very masculine-she'd always thought so, even before she realized she was in love with him. A broad forehead, a strongly definedsupraorbital arch, so the eyes were set deep, shadowed in their sockets. Cheekbones and jawline were clean and clear-cut and his finely shaped mouth possessed just enough softness to betray the sensuality she'd discovered with such delight during their five incredible days together last fall.

Though he didn't know it, she had painted him. A number of nudes, from memory, in the first months after their affair. She believed they were her best work so far. And she had exercised great ingenuity, in all of them, so as not to reveal his face.

Had she been wrong to paint him without his knowledge? After all, Logan Severance was not the kind of man who posed for nude studies-let alone the kind who would allow them to be hung in an art gallery forall the world to see. Those paintings weren't in any gallery yet. But someday they would be. Lacey had told herself that she'd protected his privacy by obscuring his face. But sometimes she felt just a little bit guilty about them, wondered what his reaction would be if he ever saw them-which he would probably have to. Someday.

She wasn't particularly looking forward to that day.

"What are you staring at?"

Caught thoroughly off guard, Lacey gasped and stepped back. She could have sworn he was sound asleep just seconds ago. But those eyes looking into hers now were clear and alert.

"Well?"

The truth slipped out-or at least, some of it. "I was thinking that I'd like to sketch you while you're sleeping." "Why?" "Something in your face. Something ... unguarded, but unwillingly so. It's very appealing." He grinned. "You like me best unconscious, is that what you're telling me?" She'd regained her composure enough to reply smartly, "I wouldn't have put it that way, but now that you've done it yourself..." "Marry me. You can watch me sleep for the rest of our lives." She resolutely did not respond to that. "We should go. It's quarter of six."

* * * At the big side-gabled wood frame ranch house, Zach introduced his family toLogan. "This is Tess." He put his arm around his wife. "And our daughters, Starr andJobeth ." The older of the two girls, a beauty of about eighteen, with black hair and Elizabeth Taylor eyes, gave him a polite "h.e.l.lo." The younger one,Jobeth , who looked ten or eleven, smiled shyly and nodded. Next,Loganshook Edna h.e.l.ler's slim, fine-boned hand and learned that she had once been the ranch's housekeeper but now was one of thefamily ; her only daughter had married a Bravo cousin, Cash. She lived in the foreman's cottage, which was just across the drive from the main house.

"And this is Ethan John," Tess said. She held up a big, healthy blue-eyed baby. "Ethan is just six months

old today." The baby gurgled out something that sounded almost like a greeting.

They ate at the long table in the Bravos' formal dining room. Ethan John sat in his high chair and chewed on a teething ring and occasionally let out a happy, crowing laugh.

"Ethan's already had his dinner," Tess explained. "We enjoy having him with us during meals, but we

don't enjoy watching the food fly. So I feed him early and he sits with us and everybody's happy." Tessturned her smile onLogan. "Do you have children, Mr. Severance?" Logananswered that one carefully. "Not yet."

"You plan to, then?"

He sent a significant glance at Lacey, who was sitting directly to his left. She smiled at him, an innocent, what - are - you - looking -at - me - for?smile . Apparently, he was on his own here.

"Yes," he said. "I plan to have children ... very soon." Now it was Zach and Tess's turn to trade glances. And the two girls, as well. They looked at their parents first, then swapped a glance of their own. Edna h.e.l.ler somehow managed to make eye contact with all four of the others. She shared knowing looks with Zach and Tess, and right after that flashed a "mind your business, girls," expression at their daughters.

Lacey was grinning. Apparently she thought the whole exchange of meaningful looks rather amusing. Logandidn't. As far as he was concerned, those flying glances were just more proof that Lacey needed to come to her senses and marry him immediately. It was an embarra.s.sment to sit here with this nice family and have them all wonder what the h.e.l.l was going on between their unmarried pregnant cousin and the strange man who'd shown up out of nowhere this afternoon-and appeared to have set up housekeeping with her. He wanted to get the truth out in the open. He wanted to say bluntly,That's my baby Lacey's carrying and I've come to marry her and take her home with me where she belongs. But he couldn't do that. Not here at the Bravo dinner table, with a girl ofJobeth's age listening in. "How do you and Lacey know each other?" asked Edna h.e.l.ler. She was a small, slender woman, probably in her fifties, and very feminine-though in her eyesLogancould see a glint of steel. Not much would get by her. She was smiling at him in the most polite way and waiting for an answer. Unfortunately, the truth wouldn't sound good at all.I've been in love with Lacey's sister since I was eighteen years old. Jenna was going to marry me-until she decided to run off with MackMcGarrity instead.

Lacey came to his rescue on that one. "Logan and Jenna went to school together.Logan's been sort of a big brother figure to me over the years." Edna h.e.l.ler's eyebrows rose daintily toward her hairline. "Ah. A big brother figure." "He's always felt he has to take care of me. He still feels that way. Don't youLogan?" "That's right." "That's ... admirable of you, Mr. Severance."

"Thank you, Mrs. h.e.l.ler."

"You know, for years my son-in-law, Cash, imagined himself a big brother to my Abigail. But then he married her and found out he was deeply in love with her. Abigail, of course, always wors.h.i.+pped him."

"Oh, really?"Logansaid, for lack of something better to say.

Lacey couldn't let Edna's observation go unchallenged. "Are we supposed to be noting similarities between Cash and Abby-andLoganand me?"

"Well," said Edna airily. "Only if the shoe fits, as they say."

"The shoe does not fit. Logan and I are not getting married. And if you ask him, he'll tell you he never

got any wors.h.i.+p from me."

Edna might give the Bravo daughters stern looks admonis.h.i.+ng them to stay out of others' affairs, but she clearly thought of herself as someone who had a right to be in the know. She turned toLogan. "Well, Mr.

Severance?"

Lacey hasn't fully accepted the idea yet, but we are getting married, he thought. He said, "No. Wors.h.i.+p is not the word I would use to describe Lacey's feelings for me."

"What word would you use, then?"

He shrugged. "Let's just say it wouldn't be wors.h.i.+p and leave it at that."

There was a silence, which was quickly filled with nonsense syllables from the baby and the clink of silver against china plates.

Zach said, "More potatoes,Logan?"

"Yes, please. This is a terrific meal, Tess."

Tess colored prettily at the compliment. "Well, I must confess, Edna always does the potatoes around

here. I swear she has a way of making them light enough that they could get right up and float off your

plate." Edna smiled graciously-and went back to her velvet-gloved interrogation. "And how long will you be staying on the Rising Sun, Mr. Severance?"

He shot a look at Lacey. She'd had a lot to say a minute ago. Maybe she'd want to put her two cents in on this one. But not this time. She only looked back at him, thoroughly annoying in her pretended innocence. He shrugged. "I'll be here a week or two. At least until the baby's born." "You're a doctor, you said?" "That's right. I'm in family practice." "This is ... a vacation then?"

"Not really. I'm here to ... help Lacey out, in any way I can." Glances went flying again. He almost wished they would all just say what they were thinking. Then he could answer them. He could explain his position and enlist their aid in convincing Lacey to see things his way. "Well," said Tess, taking pains to remain neutral. "We hope you'll enjoy your stay." He was neutral right back at her. "I'm sure I will." The baby dropped his teething ring. Tess picked it up, wiped it off, and handed it to him, then suggested casually, "We've been trying to talk Lacey into moving to the house." Lacey reached down the table to brush Tess's arm. "Stop worrying. I told you, I'm just fine at the cabin for right now."

Tess sighed. "I disagree. And I wish Dr. Severance would help me to change your mind."

Fat chance,Loganthought. He said, "I've known Lacey for fifteen years. In all that time, I haven't changed her mind about a single thing." Lacey laughed. The musical sound tingled along his nerves and warmed something down inside him. "That can't be true,Logan. You must have changed my mind about something in a decade and a half. It's not as if you haven't tried."

He turned his head and looked right at her. The reaction was instantaneous-that chemical thing between them, which unscientific men called desire. It heated his blood, made him glad his lap was covered by Tess Bravo's lace tablecloth.

He should not allow her to do this to him. She was nine months' pregnant, for pity's sake. He ought to be ashamed of himself. He arched an eyebrow at her. "You're right." To his relief, his voice sounded fine, level and calm. It gave no inkling of what had just happened under the table. "It's incredible when you think about it. But it's true. I have never changed your mind about a single thing."

"Yes. Yes, you have."

"Oh, come on, Lacey."

"I remember distinctly-"

She didn't either, and they both knew she didn't. "What?" he demanded. "You remember what?"

The baby, in his highchair, chortled to himself as a slow smile curved Lacey's eminently kissable mouth.

For a moment,Loganthought she would actually say something about the two of them, about how she'd never in her life imagined him as a lover-but that was one thing he had definitely changed her mind about. He had to resist the urge to clap his hand over her mouth.

And then she said, "Broccoli." He didn't think he'd heard her correctly."Broccoli?" Laceynodded."You convinced me to give it a try. You said I would like it raw. With ranch dressing." He stared at her, thinking, Liar. You never ate any broccoli for me-raw or otherwise. "Yes." That smile of hers was too innocent by half. "Broccoli. Remember?" She was blatantly teasing him, pouring on the innuendo.

But it could be worse, he reminded himself. At least she hadn't said what he'd feared she might.

He forced a smile to answer hers and let her have her silly lie. "I don't know how I could have let myself

forget."

"More siring beans?" Tess asked him.

He thanked her and spooned a second helping onto his plate.

The talk turned to safer subjects. Zach askedJobeth about a calf she had chosen to raise herself as a 4-H project. Jobethexplained how she planned to experiment with different varieties of feed. Then Tess wanted to know how things were going for Starr. Evidently, the older girl had a job at a local shop calledCotes'sClothing and Gift. "A summer job is a summer job," Starr said. "It gets a little boring, but it's not that bad. Mr. Cotes offered me four more hours on Sat.u.r.days. I'm going to take them. Might as well make use of my free time this summer. When school starts, I want to keep my focus on studying, where it belongs." "Our Starr is a straight-A student," Edna declared with pride. A contrary glint came into the girl's impossibly beautiful violet eyes. "At least I am now." Zach frowned. "We are proud of you. Very, very proud." Starr lifted her lovely chin. "Thanks." Evidently, the girl had had some problems in the past.Logan wondered what, but the subject had already s.h.i.+fted again.

Zach was suggesting thatLoganmight want to saddle up and ride with him andJobeth and the men sometime in the next few days. He could see how things were done on a working cattle ranch. Loganconfessed, "I think I've been on a horse about three times in my life. And they weren't very lively horses, if you know what I mean." Zach chuckled. "We'll find you something sweet-natured and easy-going-or you can ride in one of the pickups. Your choice." "Then I'd enjoy a tour, Zach. Thanks." Beside him, Lacey slid back her chair and stood. "Excuse me." Apprehension pulling a thread of tightness across his chest,Loganlooked up over the ripe curve of her belly and into her eyes. "What is it? Are you feeling all right?"

She laughed and put her hand on his shoulder. It felt good there. d.a.m.n good. "Relax. I'm fine. I need to ... make use of the facilities, that's all." "You're sure? If something's-" She lifted her hand and stroked the hair at his temple. "Logan. Eat." Her hand was cool and her eyes were a summer sky-clear, stunningly blue. A smile quivered across that soft mouth of hers. He had to remind himself that they were not alone, or he would have laid his palm on her belly, a possessive touch, which would have felt totally appropriate then. At that moment, she was all softness, all openness. And all for him.