Page 38 of Fairy Tale Marriage

CHAPTERSIX

To My Long-Lost Bride,

I’ve made a decision. It’s a foolish one, Idon’t doubt that for a minute, but one I can’t seem to resist.

Another Cinderella Ball is coming up and I’ve decided to attend one last time. Ihad a friend apply, so Ella wouldn’t see my name on the guest list and warn your brother. But count on it. I’ll be there.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s so I can say goodbye. Or maybe I’m just kidding myself and I’m hoping to find you again. Part of me expects to find you there. Strange, isn’t it? After all these years?

I guess I need to know for sure. Ineed to be able to put you behind me once and for all and make a new start. Ikeep telling myself that even if you are there, we’re not the same people we once were. There’s a good chance that we’ll take one look and run the otherway.

But I have to know. Ihave to be certain that going forward in life without you at my side is the right thing to do. If you’re there, we’ll have another shot at it, won’t we, my Forever Love? And we’ll takeit.

If you’re not there, Iguess I’ll have my answer, won’tI?

Wait for me, wife. I’m coming.

Pregnant. Ripening with his child. The image was so strong, Chaz shook with it. “Why don’t we wait and see?”

“No. I’d like an answer now.” He could tell Shayne wasn’t going to let go of this one until he responded. He’d never met a woman so determined to get herself hurt. “If I’m not pregnant, what happens to our marriage?” she repeated.

“Hell, sweetheart. I’m not going to throw you out.”

“But you won’t need me. You won’t want me. Is that it?”

She had him good and cornered. “You’re asking for answers I don’t have.” Naturally, he’d said the wrong thing. He’d managed to wound her again. Damn. He did some fast backpedaling. “If you’re pregnant,” he persisted doggedly, “then, of course, you stay.”

It was still the wrong thing. “But only if I’m pregnant.” Her mouth quivered, begging for a kiss he knew she’d reject. “If I’m not, the marriage ends.”

“I didn’t say that!” He closed his eyes, wishing he were one of those silver-tongued charmers who could spill lies as fast as a wild bronco spilled riders. “Honey, I’m so tired, Idon’t know what I’m saying. It’s been at least two days since I got any shut-eye, and you have to agree, today’s been a bit of a trial.”

His efforts to soothe must have lacked something. She rolled onto her side, confronting him with her back. “I think I’ll go to sleep now. Maybe you should, too.”

“Good idea.” He stood and stripped off his clothes before joining her. He started to slip an arm beneath her shoulders, but she stoppedhim.

“We don't have to touch, do we? Idon't think I can—” Her voice broke, tearing him apart. “I think we'd sleep better if we didn't touch.”

She was hurting, he reminded himself. And she was exhausted. The last two days hadn’t been any easier on her than they’d been on him. “No. We don’t have to touch,” he assured gently.

“Okay. Good.”

But it wasn’t okay. He lay beside her and waited, waited until her hiccuped breath grew slow and steady and the tension fled her muscles. And then he rolled her over, easing her into his arms. Her hand slipped across his chest, settling close to his heart, and her head nestled into the crook of his shoulder. She curled up against him as though she’d done it a thousand times before, one leg thrown over the top of his, the soft probing of her knee giving him fits. He gritted his teeth, determined to endure.

But the final victory, the one that gave him peace enough to rest, came with the sleepy kiss she pressed against his jaw and the murmured words he shouldn’t want to hear. Only then did he allow sleep to claimhim.

Shayneawoke gradually, with the disconcerting realization that something wasn’t quite right. She’d been warm and comfortable and lost in the most delicious of dreams—one she seemed to have been chasing for a lifetime. But it had vanished with the coming of morning, along with her heat source.

The clanging of a loud, brassy bell trembled through the room and Shayne pried her eyelids open. Chaz stood at the end of the mattress by the bedpost. As she watched, he slapped his Stetson on top of his head and aimed his penetrating blue gaze in her direction.

“Mornin’,” he greeted warily.

He continued to stand there, rocking back on his heels as if he had all the time in the world. Apparently, he was waiting for her to respond. Considering the downhill slide their last conversation had taken, she wasn’t too eager to start another. Still, she supposed she shouldtry.

“Did I hear a bell?”

“Just Mojo letting us know breakfast is ready.” He hesitated, as though he had something more on his mind, but lacked the proper words to address it. “I’m sorry about last night,” he said at last. “It wasn’t quite the wedding night I’d planned for us. I’ll—I’ll try and do better.”

“Better?” she managed.

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