LITMIR.BIZ

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about whether she was pregnant.

      * * *

      At six the next morning Aaron stood waiting. He saw her step off the elevator. She wore a gray coat and a knitted gray scarf around her neck. Her hair was back in a bun. She was plain—men didn’t turn to look at her as she walked past, yet she stirred desire in him. She was responsive, quick-witted, kind, helpful, reliable. She was bright and capable and—he knew from firsthand experience—sexy.

      He drew a deep breath and tried to focus on other things. But he was already thinking about how long she would be gone and when he would see her again. He hoped that would happen as soon as she returned to Royal. Maybe she would let him pick her up at the airport.

      He needed to step back and get a grip. If anyone would be serious in a relationship, it would be Stella. She would want wedding bells, which was reason enough that he should leave her alone. He didn’t want a long-term relationship. But she might be one of those women who couldn’t deal with a casual affair.

      “Good morning,” he said as she walked up.

      “I’m ready to catch a plane,” she said, smiling at him and looking fresh. Beneath the coat he saw a white tailored blouse, tan slacks and brown loafers. Always practical and neat, so what was it about her that made his pulse jump when he saw her?

      “You look as if you don’t have a care in the world and as if you had a good night’s sleep.”

      “Well, I’m glad I look that way. By the end of some of the days I’ve spent dealing with all the storm problems, I feel bedraggled.”

      “I think we can do something about that,” he said, flirting with her and wanting to touch her if only just to hold her hand.

      “I pass on hearing your suggestions. Let’s concentrate on getting to the plane.”

      “The car is waiting.”

      As soon as they were headed to the Royal airport, Aaron settled back to drive. “Cole left a list of what we’re working on and I have the list we made yesterday of more places where we can help. I’ll spend the day visiting the sites, including the Cattleman’s Club. When Cole gets back, I want to be able to talk to him about what I can do to help.”

      “If you have any questions, I’ll have my phone, although some of the time it may be turned off.”

      “I’ll manage,” he said.

      She chuckled. “I’m sure you will.”

      “You should be able to get away a day without a barrage of phone calls from Royal. Maybe we should think about a weekend away and really give you a break.”

      She laughed again. “No weekend getaways, Aaron. For more than one reason. You can forget that one. I’ll manage without a weekend break.”

      “Can’t blame me for trying,” he said, giving her a quick grin. “I’ll miss you today,” he said.

      “No, you won’t. You’ll be busy. Once people find out who you are and that you’re here in Royal, you’ll be busy all day long with questions and requests and just listening to problems. I can promise you—get ready to be in high demand.”

      “Is that the way it’s been for Cole? If it has, it probably is good for him because it takes his mind off his loss.”

      “I’m sure it’s what he deals with constantly. We’ve come a long way, but we still have so far to go to ever recover from all the devastation.”

      He turned into the small airport and let her out, then parked and came back to join her for breakfast. All too soon she was called to board. He stood watching until she disappeared from sight and then he headed back to town. At least she had agreed to let him pick her up when she returned later today. He was already looking forward to being with her again, something that surprised him. Since losing Paula and Blake, he hadn’t been this excited about any woman. Far from it. He felt better staying home by himself than trying to go out with someone and fake having a good time.

      That had all changed with Stella—which surprised and puzzled him, because she was so unlike anyone who had ever attracted him before.

Three

      Stella left the doctor’s office in a daze. The home pregnancy test had been accurate. She was carrying Aaron’s baby. Why, oh, why had she gotten into this predicament?

      She climbed inside her rental car and locked the doors, relieved to be shut away from everyone else while she tried to adjust to the news.

      To make matters worse, now Aaron was not only in Royal, but staying in the neighboring sixth floor suite at the Cozy Inn. He wanted to be with her, to dance with her. She did not want him to know yet. She wished he would go back to Dallas to R&N headquarters and give her time to think things through. She had to decide how much and when she would tell him.

      She groaned aloud and put her forehead against the steering wheel. Aaron was a good guy. He had military training, was caring and family oriented, from what little she knew. She could guess his reaction right now. He would instantly propose.

      She groaned again and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “Oh, my,” she whispered to the empty car.

      She couldn’t let Aaron know yet. She would have to get so busy she couldn’t go out with him. Her spirits sank lower. He had a suite next to hers—there wasn’t going to be any way to avoid him.

      He was a take-charge guy and he would definitely want to take charge of her situation.

      He would want to marry her. She was as certain of that as she was that she was breathing air and sitting in Austin.

      Glancing at her watch, she saw she would be late meeting her sister for lunch. Trying to focus, she started the car and drove to the restaurant they’d agreed on earlier.

      At the restaurant, she saw that her sister was already seated. When Stella sat down at the table, her sister’s smile faded. “You’ve had bad news.”

      “Linda, I just can’t believe the truth,” Stella said, tears threatening, which was totally unlike her. “I’m pregnant. The test was correct.”

      “Oh, my, of all people. Stella, I can’t believe it. I’ll tell you something right now. I know you—you’re a wonderful aunt to my children. You’re going to love this baby beyond your wildest imaginings. You’ll see. I know I’m right.”

      “That will come, but at the moment this is going to complicate my life. This shouldn’t have happened.”

      “Here comes the waiter.”

      “I’ve lost my appetite. There’s no way I can eat now.”

      “Eat something. You’ll be sorry later if you don’t.”

      Linda ordered a salad and Stella ordered chicken soup.

      As soon as they were alone, Linda turned to Stella. “Look, I’ll help any way I can, anytime. When the baby is due, you can stay here and I’ll be with you.”

      “Thank you,” Stella said, smiling at her sister. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

      “You’ve said the dad is a nice guy. Tell him.”

      “I’ll have to think about what I’m going to do first and make some decisions. I know I have to tell him eventually, but not yet. The minute he finds out, I’m sure he’ll propose.”

      “That may solve your problem. Marry him. Accept his proposal. You’ve already been attracted to each other or you wouldn’t be pregnant. There’s your solution.”

      “It’s not that simple. Aaron and I are not in love. Look at our parents. That’s marriage without love and it was horrible for them and for us. I don’t want that. And I feel like there are moments Aaron shuts himself off. He doesn’t share much of

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