The Texan Takes a Wife

by Charlene Sands

  The fire blazed and crackled, the only other sound heard above their gritted moans. Erin gave Dan her all, openly loving him with a freedom she’d once kept hidden and reserved. Her love for him was different than what she’d felt for Rex. Now she knew what real love felt like. Even though it wasn’t returned, it still hummed in her heart and gave her a tiny shred of hope. In the moment. While her rational side was put on hold.

  Don’t think, Erin. Just feel.

  And that’s what she did. She felt every tingle, every jolt, every earth-shattering second of his lovemaking. The threads of the rug tickled her back as he laid her down beside the hearth. He came over her, a tower of a man silhouetted in shadows, so handsome and powerful, and she watched as he sheathed himself. She kept her focus on him as he nudged her legs apart, caressing her core, making sure she was ready and she held her breath as he sank inside, joining their bodies.

  “Ah, sweetness,” Dan murmured reverently, as if it was the best feeling in the world.

  “Dan,” she whispered softly, reaching up to touch the gruff stubble on his face. Firelight reflected off his ocean-blue eyes, making them gleam and in the next moment, he was moving inside her, filling her up and touching the sensitive layers welcoming him deeper.

  Dan’s body encompassed her and she began touching him, grazing his shoulders, sinking her fingers into his back, roaming, seeking, owning. He was hers right now, fully and completely and she relished every second with him.

  And when they climaxed, reaching a solemn, soul-pounding peak, cries poured out of their mouths in unison, beautifully sweet, sensual sounds that echoed against the walls.

  “Erin,” he said, brushing hair from her cheeks and dotting her face with quick loving kisses. “You are incredible.”

  “Ditto,” she said and giggled at her use of that dated term.

  “Ditto?” He laughed too and grabbed her around the waist and rolled her on top of him. They lay there skin to skin, body to body, smiling and staring into each other’s eyes.

  She knew she was more to Dan than his bed buddy. She could see it in his eyes, but Dan had been wounded, maybe beyond repair, and that made her sad suddenly.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, picking up on her mood.

  I’m going to miss you. “Nothing.” She put on a smile. “Everything’s good.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded and just like that, the fire that had blazed so hot died out, the embers lending zero heat, and she trembled.

  “You’re cold. Let’s get you into bed.”

  Dan didn’t wait for her to answer, he simply picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

  * * *

  Dan woke before Erin, his eyes opening to a stream of new dawn light working its way through the shutters. She was cuddled up beside him, her citrus clean scent mingling with his body heat, creating a unique blend of sated sex and sweet woman. Her passion was addictive and something he never wanted to let go.

  He’d never craved a woman like this. Hell, he had to admit that being with Erin meant more than physical satisfaction. She was fun, and good and smart and all those traits made something as simple as a ride on horseback into a monumental memory.

  Watching her sleep, her breaths steady and slow and peaceful gave him a sense of belonging that he’d not experienced before. He wanted this woman in his life. He could deal with that, because she was leaving in a month’s time and though it would be hard, he would have let her go.

  Wanting was one thing.

  Needing was another.

  He didn’t do need. Not ever again.

  He closed his eyes to squeeze away the pain he’d felt after his mother left. She couldn’t cope with having kids and a family life. She needed something different and often Dan wondered if he was cut from the same cloth. Had he inherited her inability to commit or had her leaving molded him into that kind of man?

  Erin stirred, turning away from him, and he unlatched his arms from her waist. “Sleep, baby,” he whispered and rose quietly, tucking her in tight to keep her warm.

  He padded softly to the bathroom and closed the door. Without hesitation and trying to make as little noise as possible, Dan ran the water in the shower and stepped inside to a brisk morning wake up. He deliberately ran a lukewarm shower in the mornings to keep his wits sharp and focused at the start of the day.

  After he dried off, Dan wrapped the towel around his waist and went in search of a toothbrush Erin recently kept handy for him. He couldn’t find the dang thing, and as he shuffled things out of the way, he noticed a long rectangular box sticking out behind several bottles of lotion.

  Pregnancy test.

  He blinked several times and ten questions raced into his head. His chest pounded and his breaths became short labored bursts. What was going on? Was Erin hiding something from him? They’d been cautious, hadn’t they?

  He couldn’t let this go. This had a direct effect on both of them. As he exited the bathroom, he held the test in his hand, and then sat down on the bed beside her. The mattress dipped and she stirred again. She seemed to sense him sitting there and her eyes opened slowly. Adjusting to the light, she squinted a bit and as she focused on him, she gave him a sweet smile.

  “Morning.”

  “Mornin’, sweetness.”

  “You’re up early.”

  He nodded. “I am. Took a shower.”

  “Without me?”

  He let that comment go. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “I’m perfectly fine. What’s up?”

  “Uh, is there something else you want to tell me?”

  She blinked and stared at his somber face. “What do you mean?” She scooted up in the bed, rested her back to the headboard and covered her bare skin with the sheet.

  She was fully awake now, her eyes wide and questioning.

  He held up the pregnancy test. “I found this in the cabinet while I was looking for a toothbrush.”

  Her cheeks flamed, color rising rapidly on her face. “Oh, Dan.”

  “What’s going on? Do you think you’re pregnant?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?”

  She ran her hands down her face, pulling at the skin, and began shaking her head. “The truth is, I’m late. And I bought that as a precaution, but I’ve been waiting for the right time to take the test. I, uh... Oh, Dan. I wasn’t hiding anything from you. I’m just not sure. My life has been kind of crazy lately, you know?”

  “I do know,” he said, sympathizing with her. “I get that you’ve been in turmoil, but don’t you want to find out, and erase one more unknown in your life?”

  “You want me to take the test now?”

  “We need to know, Erin, but I won’t pressure you. Too much,” he said, unbelievably calm considering his gut was churning at breakneck speed. He could become a father. He could have a child. Something he’d never considered for himself. Something that should scare him silly, but Erin was the one who needed comfort, not him, so he kept his cool and became the voice of reason. “Whatever the outcome, you’re not in this alone.”

  “Thank you for that. I think you’re right. We should find out.”

  “Together?”

  “Yeah, together.” She sighed and gave her head a nod, a sudden determined look beaming in her eyes. She offered up her palm and he laid the box in her hand. “Give me a few minutes.”

  Minutes, which seemed like hours later, the bathroom door opened and Erin walked out, holding the pregnancy stick. He stared at her, her face giving nothing away. “Take a look,” she said. “I think you’ll be relieved.”

  He gave it a glance. “It’s a negative reading.”

  “I’m not pregnant.”

  There was no such relief in her voice. Instead
she’d spoken softly, her tone resigned.

  He had to tread lightly here, her emotions were important to him, and hurting her was never something he wanted to do. He wasn’t about to jump for joy. It surprised him how the relief he felt mingled with a measure of disappointment. How, if he had been the right kind of man for her, he would’ve been happy to have a baby. Erin’s baby. It would mean that she’d stay, that they’d build a life together for the sake of the child. But now, they could go on the way they’d been going, enjoying their time together until she had to leave.

  He wasn’t heartless. He’d miss her terribly, but now he knew what his future held, and that was something he needed to know at all times. “At least we know now.”

  She nodded. “Yes, at least we know.”

  There was a touch of sorrow in her voice, and Dan realized something. Erin loved children. He knew how much she’d loved being nanny to little Faye Brady. She was a natural, and she would’ve made an amazing mother to their child. But she’d be a mom one day, he was sure, and she’d be happy in the role of wife and mother.

  That disappointment he experienced a moment ago came rushing back stronger now. How had he gotten in so deep so fast? “Come back to bed. Let me hold you.”

  “You want to cuddle?”

  A damn chuckle escaped, not that any of this was funny. “Don’t sound so surprised. We’ve cuddled before.”

  “True, and I think you’re an expert at it. But I think I need some time alone right now.”

  “Are you sure, sweetness?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. I’ll take a rain check on that cuddling.”

  “Anytime.”

  Dan dressed quietly, gave Erin a long reassuring kiss and walked out the door, a hollow feeling eating at his gut as he started his car and drove away.

  Eight

  “Just break off little chunks of butter, and squeeze the flour and butter between your fingers. It’s a trick I learned from the Baking Channel and it works every time,” Chelsea said to Erin as they stood next to each other in Chelsea’s kitchen. It was the day before Thanksgiving and Erin was here to help bake the pies for the Cattleman’s Club dinner. “The pie crust always comes out really tender that way.”

  “For you, maybe,” Erin said. “I’ve never baked a pie from scratch before. My expertise is sticking a frozen pie in the oven and hoping the crust doesn’t burn.”

  Chelsea laughed. “You’re doing great, Erin. And I’ll show you a trick later and you’ll never burn another crust.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears.”

  “I’m glad you decided to come over this morning and help me make these pies. It’s more fun doing this with a friend.”

  Erin blew a wayward strand of hair off her face. “Just how many are we making?”

  “Six.”

  “Six? Oh my goodness. That’s enough to feed the entire town.”

  “Yeah, something like that. I was elected to bake the pies for TCC’s Thanksgiving dinner. And we’re making cookies too. I hope you didn’t have hot and heavy plans with my brother today.”

  “Nope. Not a one. Today is a good day to wrangle me into baking with you.”

  “Is that so? So what’s my brother up to today?”

  “He texted he had a pile of work to catch up on today. I probably won’t be seeing him.”

  “Really? Hmm.”

  “What?”

  “It’s just that you two are sorta perfect together.”

  “Sorta perfect? What does that mean, Chelsea?”

  “It’s just that Dan’s been happy lately. Happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. He doesn’t tell me much, but I can hear it in his voice. And when he mentions your name, his voice goes gooey soft.”

  “Nothing on Dan is gooey soft,” she blurted, then slapped her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t mean...”

  Chelsea threw her head back and laughed. “TMI, Erin.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. I keep forgetting he’s your brother.”

  “But you do like him?”

  “Yeah, I do. He’s an amazing man. But—”

  “I know. He can be attentive and aloof all at the same time.”

  “You got that right, sister.” Erin put both hands into the bowl and squeezed and molded the pie dough. “So what kind of pies are we making?”

  “Cherry, apple, pumpkin, of course. And pecan. It isn’t Texas if we don’t have pecan pie. It’s Dan’s favorite.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “We grew up on pecan pie. Of course, ours were store-bought. We didn’t have a mother around to do any baking for us. But Dad tried his best. And we managed okay.”

  “So now you’re making up for it, right, Chels?”

  “Yep, six pies for our TCC family. But you’re gonna make Dan his favorite.”

  “No way. What if I screw it up?”

  “You won’t. I’ll be instructing you all the way. And Dan will enjoy it all the more knowing you made it for him.”

  She didn’t have the heart to refuse Chelsea. She’d been such a good friend to her and she loved being included in the Thanksgiving festivities.

  “Trust me, you’ll do fine,” Chelsea added. “Look at that dough you just made. It’s perfect. Now gather it all up and roll it out.”

  Erin wielded the rolling pin, getting better and better at smoothing out the dough to an eighth of an inch thickness, all the while copying what Chelsea was doing beside her. They made a good team, cutting up apples, making cherry filling, opening a can of pumpkin and finally lightly roasting pecans. When they were through, hours had passed and both of them were dotted in flour and slightly exhausted.

  “That’s hard work,” Erin said, slashing her arm across her brow.

  “Yes, but look at the gorgeousness of our pies.”

  “I have to admit, they are pretty, all golden brown and sweet smelling.”

  “We done good.”

  “Yes, and it was fun,” Erin admitted.

  “It’s past time for lunch. I’m starving,” Chelsea said.

  “I wish I was. I taste-tested all the pie fillings.”

  “You need to eat, my friend. Don’t forget, we have cookies to bake this afternoon.”

  “Okay, nourish me,” she said. “I should eat something that’s not full of sugar.”

  “I’ve got chicken salad in the fridge.”

  “Sounds good to me. So what kind of cookies are we baking later?”

  “Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and snickerdoodles.”

  “Is that all? Piece of cake,” Erin said.

  Chelsea grinned at her snarky comment. “Oh, and I almost forgot, chocolate fudge macadamia nut.”

  “I know, Dan’s favorite, right?”

  “Well, honestly that guy can pack it in. He loves them all.”

  “Well, at least he loves something,” Erin muttered under her breath and slanted Chelsea a look, hoping she hadn’t heard her comment.

  “I hear you. Dan’s a bit of a hard case. But I know he cares deeply for you.”

  Erin dropped the pretense. Chelsea was fast becoming one of her best friends and she couldn’t stand not being open with her. “Sure, he cares for me, Chels, but that doesn’t make my world go round.”

  “What would?” she asked, softness entering her eyes.

  “I’ve fallen for him.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize it’s gone that far.”

  “He pretty much told me from the beginning he’s not into permanent relationships. So doesn’t that make me a dope for not listening to him?”

  “No, it makes you human.” Chelsea took her hand and squeezed gently. “Dan’s a great guy and I love my brother dearly, but he has hang-ups. Rightfully so, since after my mom left and Dad died, Da
n took the reins and practically raised us. It was a lot for him, and he never faltered on his duties at Hunt and Company, either.”

  “He’s got all he needs,” Erin said, wistfully.

  “I don’t think so. He needs more in his life. Like I told you earlier, you two are perfect together.”

  Chelsea gave her a hug she sorely needed. Chelsea didn’t know about the non-pregnancy, but Erin was still smarting about it. A part of her would’ve loved having Dan’s child. The realization of how disappointed she was had dawned on her the second Dan walked out her door yesterday. She’d shed tears, her heart breaking at what could have been. An unwanted pregnancy wasn’t ideal in any case, but that was the thing. She would’ve welcomed the news, had she been carrying his child. “Obviously we’re not.”

  “Obviously, my brother needs a swift kick in the ass. As do others.”

  “You’re talking about Maverick.”

  Chelsea nodded, a somber look on her face. “Yeah, him.”

  “A kick in the ass is way too easy for him,” Erin said.

  “I’d like to see him with a permanent place in prison.”

  “It’s hard to get over, isn’t it, Chels?” Erin asked. Though she’d been violated too, by a man who lied and betrayed her, Chelsea’s ordeal seemed more painful. To have her privacy invaded like that for all the world to see?

  “I can’t even begin to tell you what goes through my mind sometimes. I feel like I’ve been personally assaulted. It’s almost physical. Even though I put up a brave front, it still hurts. But you know, it’s Thanksgiving and I don’t want to let him ruin my holiday.”

  “You’re absolutely right. Let’s not give him another thought. Besides, you mentioned you were going to feed me.”

  “I most certainly am. I need to fuel you up for cookie making.” Chelsea opened the fridge and pulled out a bowl of chicken salad, her mood lightening up a bit.

  “I’m only slightly better at baking cookies, than making pies. Fair warning.”

  “I’m so not worried.” Chelsea filled two plates with chicken salad and sourdough rolls and brought them over to the table. “You’re good at everything you do.”