Page 8 of Bridles and Bribery

“I do,” she assured him in such a heartfelt voice that his shoulders relaxed. “Not because of your money, though. It’s because of how you make me feel and because of who you are. My husband, my dearest friend in the world, and soon to be the father of my child. There’s no price tag you can put on stuff like that.”

“I’m not trying to.” He held her gaze steadily. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a wealthy woman now. Before the end of the day, I’ll log on to my bank app and add you as a joint account holder. Then I’ll put a rush on an order for a debit card in your name. Aside from wars and natural disasters, they should have it mailed to us within three business days.”

“A debit card?” she gasped. “Are you sure you want to add me to?—?”

“Very sure.” He trusted her wholeheartedly with his finances. “Sometimes I have to work long hours, pull all-nighters, and put out fires on very short notice. Can’t have you and the baby stranded alone at home with no money.”

“I don’t know what to say.” She looked uncertain. “What you’re suggesting is so generous that I can’t even begin to?—”

“It’s not a suggestion. It’s happening.” He leaned her way to seal his mouth over hers. When he came up for air, he informed her huskily, “I’m really hoping you’ll put your new debit card to work soon, picking out furniture and decorating the house. Two things I’m not very good at. We’re also gonna need to set up a nursery.”

She chuckled breathlessly. “Can you give me an idea of what sort of budget we’re working with?”

“Get whatever you want, babe.” He ran his thumb over her lower lip. “We can afford it.”

“Dave,” she protested softly.

“I mean it, Jills.” He drank in her flustered expression, loving how easy it was to make her blush. “Since my mother’s arrival in town, she’s been complaining nonstop about my bare walls and half-empty rooms. I would be eternally grateful if you’d rectify the matter and get her off my back.”

“By buying a bunch of furniture,” she said slowly, as if seeking additional clarification.

“And paintings.” He winked at her. “Or whatever else you want on the walls.”

“Oh, wow!” She burst out laughing. “Being wealthy is going to take some getting used to. So, um…would you like me to run the purchases past you ahead of time?”

Not particularly.“Whatever makes you happy, babe.” Interior decorating was way outside of his expertise. He’d assumed she’d visited his place enough before they were married to figure that out for herself. “You’ll probably be better off running stuff past my mom. Better yet, take her shopping with you. She has great taste in furnishings.” Her villa in Italy was showroom worthy. Plus, she was highly skilled at haggling over prices. She was highly skilled at haggling. Period.

“Take her shopping with me?” Jillian looked surprised. “How long is she planning on staying in town?”

“No idea.” But he was starting to get the impression that his mother wasn’t in a terrible hurry to return overseas. “One thing’s for sure. She’s been hounding me for decades to give her a grandchild. Something else you should probably know…it’s her first trip back to Heart Lake since my high school graduation.”

Jillian searched his face, frowning. “Are you telling me she hasn’t paid you a single visit in over thirty years?”

“Not in Heart Lake. We met up at other places.” Not often, though. He’d spent the last thirty years pretending he didn’t care, but he did.

“Is it because of your dad?” Jillian ventured in a soft voice.

“That’s my theory.” Jillian and Gil were the only two people he ever let his guard down with this far. “Though she’s never come right out and said it, I think I remind her too much of him.”

Jillian sucked in a breath. “She must have really loved your dad.”

“She did.” The lack of judgment in Jillian’s voice was downright endearing. “Losing him during my teens pretty much wrecked her.”

She reached across the console for his hand, gripping it in both of hers this time. “I’ll ask her to go furniture shopping with me.”

He felt like his heart was melting straight out of his chest and pooling on the floorboard. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

“A few times.” She smiled dreamily at him.

He angled his head at the stairs leading up to the main level. “We should probably go inside.” Though he’d beengiven careful instructions to show up to their wedding reception fashionably late, he didn’t want to stay away too long and put her family in an even more sour mood than they’d been in earlier.

He pushed open his door and hurried around the car to assist Jillian to her feet.

She gazed around them, looking a little dazed. “Home sweet home,” she murmured with a catch in her voice. “I’m going to keep telling myself that until I wrap my brain around the fact that I actually live here now.”

You do that, babe.He bypassed the elevator and led her to the stairs, preferring to show off a little for her instead of taking the easy way out. At the base of the stairs, he reached down to hook an arm under her legs.

She squealed as he hauled her into his arms. Instead of fretting about her weight like she had the last time he’d carried her, she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him, giggling, as he carried her up the stairs.

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