Page 93 of Texas Glory
That I should have taken you someplace special.He had never stopped to consider exactly what a wedding meant to a woman, what the first night of her marriage should have heralded.
Certainly not her husband kicking in the door as she prepared herself to please him.
He couldn’t undo the mistakes he’d made in the past, but he could ensure he didn’t repeat them in the future.
She stood on the tips of her toes, her hands clasped tightly before her, waiting on his answer. He could do little more than share the truth with her.
“Think you might need more than one special room.”
She grabbed his hand. “Two rooms, then. Will you help me design and furnish them? I want a room where a cowboy would feel comfortable taking off his boots, and a woman could feel beautiful slipping out of her wedding dress.”
“Then you should definitely have a bootjack in the room.”
A faraway look crept into her eyes. “I should have a bootjack in every room.” She shook her head. “I’ve completely ignored the details.”
“I don’t think you’ve ignored anything. I’m the one who has overlooked things.” He brushed the errant strands of her hair back from her face. “I don’t think I ever bothered to tell you that you’re beautiful.”
A lovely blush rose high over her cheeks, her eyes warmed, and her lips parted.
He lifted her into his arms. “Slim, see after my wife’s horse.”
She snuggled against him as he carried her toward the house.
Life was a series of changes, and Cordelia knew that after tonight her life would forever be different. She could no longer put off the inevitable.
Joy and sorrow wove themselves around her heart as she read the final words of the story and closed the book.
“I liked that story,” Austin said. “What are you gonna read next?”
“I’ll find something,” she said quietly as she turned the ring on her finger. She could feel Dallas’s gaze boring into her, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him—not yet.
She would gain so much tonight … and lose even more.
Austin unfolded his body and stood. “Reckon I’ll head on to bed.”
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Dallas said.
She listened as Austin’s footsteps echoed through the room and the door closed.
“You haven’t looked at me all evening,” Dallas said.
“I know.” She set the book aside and lifted her gaze to his. “I went to see Dr. Freeman today.”
Deep furrows marring his brow, he came out of his chair. “Are you sick?”
She smiled uneasily. “No.”
He walked around his desk and knelt before her. “Then what’s wrong?”
I’ll be sleeping alone again when I’ve grown accustomed to sleeping with you.
“We finally got lucky. I’m carrying your child.”
He dropped his gaze to her stomach. “Are you sure?”
She splayed her fingers across her waist where their child was growing. She had suspected for two months, but she had wanted to be certain before she told him, before she gave him hope and took away his reason for coming to her bed. “Your son should be here in the spring.”
He intertwined his fingers with hers until their joined hands resembled a butterfly spreading its wings. “My son.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “Our son.” He touched his free hand to her cheek. “How are you feeling?”
