One Bride Delivered
Page 18
He pushed open the door to the bedroom. “Not in the last ten minutes. Tell me again.” She looked fresh and cool in her silky, flowery dress. Thomas could hardly wait to remove it. Lying her on the bed, he bent over her, one hand resting on her warm thigh as she smiled up at him. Love spilled from her eyes. He still had trouble believing this incredible woman loved him. “It’s been a long day of travel. I think we ought to rest up before we meet everyone for dinner.”
Reaching for the ends of his iridescent teal silk tie, she pulled him down to her side. “We should call the ranch and tell Davy we’re back.”
Thomas unbuckled her sandals and threw them on the floor beside his shoes. “You’re probably right.” He slid her dress inch by inch up her leg.
Cheyenne tossed his unknotted tie on the floor. “I know I’m right.” She started on his buttons.
His shirt joined the tie and he unzipped her dress. “When I called from Charleston, I told Davy we’d see him at dinner.” He slipped the dress down over her shoulders to her waist and pressed a kiss against her warm, silken back.
She made a sound deep in her throat and reached for his belt. “He’s probably helping Worth shovel out the barn and won’t want to be bothered.”
“I wouldn’t want to take him away from his favorite activity.” Propping his upper body on an elbow, Thomas ran his other hand through the fragrant hair cascading over the pillow. His entire body tightened in anticipation.
Her eyes danced with laughter. “You mean you don’t want to be taken away from your favorite activity.”
“That, too,” he agreed. If he’d wanted her before, he craved her now, this kind, generous, beautiful, exciting, stubborn, exasperating, meddlesome woman.
He wouldn’t change a thing about her. His wife. His life’s companion.
Cheyenne lay on her back, her eyes closed. The September sun found its way between the window’s metal mullions to warm her bare breasts and legs. Her crumpled dress ringed her waist They’d been too impatient to love each other to remove it. Cheyenne didn’t have the energy now.
She didn’t have the energy to phone Allie, either. Guilt stole over her. She should have called her sister the minute they arrived.
The breathing at her side changed and a warm hand slid across her stomach. “You’re worrying about Allie again.”
Opening her eyes, Cheyenne turned her head to scowl at Thomas. “It’s creepy the way you read my mind.”
Smiling, he pulled her skirt down over her legs. “Not your mind. Your face.”
“Well, stop it.” After a minute she added crossly, “You might as well go ahead and say it. We both know it’s my fault. If I hadn’t had the stupid idea of inviting Zane Peters to our wedding, Allie wouldn’t be in this awful situation.”
“Wait until you talk to Allie before you decide whether it’s awful. Maybe they discovered they still love each other.” He trailed his fingers across her bare chest.
Cheyenne refused to be diverted. “I told you what Greeley said. Allie wore blue jeans. Blue jeans! That doesn’t sound like love to me.”
“Listen up, Mrs. Steele.” Thomas leaned over and grasped her chin, giving it a gentle shake. “Yes, you invited this Peters to our wedding, but Allie got herself into this situation, and if she wants out, she’s perfectly capable of handling things on her own. You, Mrs. Steele, are to mind your own business.”
She gave her dictator of a husband a smoldering look. “I have no intention of interfering in Allie’s business,” she said haughtily, ignoring the fact that as soon as she’d heard about Allie, Cheyenne had persuaded Thomas to cut their honeymoon short to rush back to Aspen.
“Liar,” Thomas said in a loving voice. “Just remember you have a husband and a son to take care of now.”
Cheyenne couldn’t help smiling. “A son.” Knowing how important having a mom could be to a child, she’d told Davy his mother would always be his mother, but he could call Cheyenne “Mom” if he wanted. That he wanted to filled her with joy.
Shifting so she half lay on Thomas, she hugged his middle. “I’m glad you decided you’d like Davy to call you Dad. He’s going to be m seventh heaven.”
“Dad.” Thomas wore a silly grin on his face. “It has a good sound, doesn’t it?” The grin slipped. “Davy might not think so.”
That Thomas could show such unexpected vulnerability endeared him to Cheyenne. Foolish man. He’d make Davy and their babies a wonderful father. “If Davy doesn’t want you as his dad, refuse to let him play with your train,” she teased.
“How many times do I have to tell you, I bought the train for Davy?”
“I love you when you get all huffy and defensive.” Her mouth closed over his nipple.
Thomas inhaled sharply. “I don’t get huffy and defensive,” he said in a ragged voice.
She walked her fingers down his stomach, thrilling at her power as his muscles tightened and clenched at her touch. His gold watch winked as a ray of sunlight hit it. “How long until dinner?”
Warm hands cradled her hips. “Long enough.”
Look for Allie Lassiter’s story.
Coming soon from
Jeanne Allan.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-5282-0
ONE BRIDE DELIVERED
First North American Publication 1999
Copyright © 1999 by Barbara Blackman
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