Page 34 of Pregnant by the Texan
“We’ll leave our things at my house. I’ve got the limo for you, and Sid will drive you to Fort Worth for lunch with your mother and next, to your interview at the Fort Worth TV station. After that he’ll drive you back to Dallas to a dress shop while I go to the office. If you’re having a makeover, you should have some new clothes. Get four or five dresses and a couple of suits.”
“Seriously?” she asked, laughing. “Have you lost it, Aaron? I don’t need one new thing, much less a bunch.”
“Yes, you do for the people I’ll introduce you to.”
“When you tell me things like that, I get butterflies again.”
“Ignore them and they’ll vanish. Buy some new duds and shoes—the whole thing. This is an investment in Royal. Get something elegant, Stella.”
She laughed again. “Aaron, you’re talking to me, Stella. I don’t need to look elegant to climb over debris in Royal.”
“You need to look elegant to raise money so we can get rid of the debris in Royal.”
She studied his profile, wondering what he was getting her into and if she could do what he wanted. Would it really help Royal? She thought about the money she had raised in Lubbock and took a deep breath. She would give it a try. “You’re changing me,” she said, thinking about how that was true in every way possible.
He picked up her hand to brush a kiss across her knuckles while he kept his attention on the highway. “Maybe you’re changing me, too,” he said.
Startled, she focused more intently on him. How had she made even the tiniest change in his life?
He remained focused on his driving, but he had sounded serious when he spoke. Was she really causing any changes in his life? Continually, ordinary things popped up that reminded her how little she really knew about him, and his last remark was just another one of them.
“Aaron, you and I don’t really know each other. You don’t talk about yourself much,” she said, wondering how many times she had told him the same thing before.
“I think you should be grateful for that one. Also, I think we’re getting to know each other rather well. We can work on that when we’re home alone tonight.”
“I didn’t mean physically.”
“Whoa—that’s a letdown. You got me all excited there,” he teased.
“Stop. Your imagination is running away with you,” she said, and he grinned.
They finally arrived at his neighborhood and went through the security gate. Tall oaks lined the curving drive and she glimpsed an occasional mansion set back on landscaped lawns through the trees.
“This isn’t where I pictured you living.”
“I’m not sure I want to ask what you pictured.”
“Just not this big.” She looked at the immaculate lawns with multicolored flowerbeds. In many ways Aaron’s everyday life was far removed from her own. Even so, he was doing so much for her, including all he had set up for today.
“Aaron, thanks for doing all this for me. The appointments, the opportunities to help Royal, the salon visit. I appreciate everything.”
With a quick glance, he smiled at her. “I’m happy to help because you’ve been doing a great job.”
“The mayor seemed happy with reports he’s had of what’s been happening and I’m glad. It would be terrible if he felt pressured to get out of the hospital and back to work.”
“I’m sure he’s getting good reports. I think he’ll get more good reports from what you do today.”
“You’re an optimist, Aaron.”
“It’s easy where you’re concerned,” he said, and she smiled at him. “Earlier, I talked to Cecelia at the dress shop and she’ll help you. We’re friends and I’ve known her a long time. Pick several things so you have a choice. It’ll go on my bill. You don’t even have to take my credit card. If you don’t choose something, I will, and I promise you, you won’t like that.”
She shook her head. “Very well, I won’t argue with you, because you won’t give up. Don’t forget, I’m meeting my mom at half past eleven. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, but I have a lot of catching up to do at the office and you and your mom will enjoy being by yourselves. What I will do, if you want me to be there, is meet you at the television station for the interview.”
“You don’t need to drive to Fort Worth to hold my hand through an interview,” she said, smiling. “I can do this one alone. Now tonight, you better join me.”
“I’ll be with you tonight.”
