When she returned with the bottle, he was rocking her. She’d quieted down.
“Give me the bottle. I’ll give it to her. Sit down and rest.”
Chelsea grabbed his seat and turned on her favorite television show. She leaned back in the lounger and closed her eyes for a moment. Forty-five minutes later she awoke to hear Ty’s voice.
“Man, you’re good. You put them both to sleep.”
Lily had rushed across the room and was taking Diana out of Dirk’s arms. “You are going to be the perfect daddy. I know you’ve had plenty of experience with your brothers and sister.”
Chelsea stood and stretched. “Don’t leave me out. I helped. I changed her and rocked her, too.” She pretended to pout.
“Of course you did,” Lily said. “I taught you well. You two are definitely ready for kids.”
“Wait a minute. That’s jumping ahead a bit,” Chelsea said.
She noticed Dirk didn’t respond at all. He gave her a long, serious look.
“We’re getting out of here. It’s bedtime for us all,” Ty said. He ushered Lily with the baby out to the car.
Chelsea and Dirk watched until the headlights went out of sight. Dirk held her close. She turned in his arms.
“What are you thinking?”
“That you’d better decide fairly soon if you are ready to be a wife and mother. Or we’d best end this relationship before one of us gets hurt. I plan to propose one more time. It will be the last one.”
His blue eyes had darkened. There wasn’t a hint of a smile on his face. She saw a man who’d made up his mind, and she’d better make up hers.
Dirk walked her into the bedroom and slowly removed her clothes. He undressed and put on a condom before joining her on the bed.
His kisses were softer tonight. His touch gentle, but sensuous. Desire was a river of liquid heat flowing in her veins.
They didn’t speak except in touches, kisses, and nibbles here and there. Their movements like the rhythm of a love melody. When his hard cock slid into her pussy, his eyes held her gaze. He filled her. Her inner pussy walls clenched him tight. A fire flickered in her deepest spot and smoldered. She wanted more. She tried to speed up his movements.
But Dirk’s pace stayed slow and steady. She kissed his neck and along his shoulder. When he moved in and out, she matched his timing, meeting him, then retreating. When he leaned forward and suckled her taut nipple, the orgasm rolled over her in a gentle swell of release and pleasure. Dirk held his cock against her womb, and she felt him shudder with his release.
“That is how much I love you.” Dirk rolled and pulled her back into his arms. He held her snug as she slid into sleep.
* * * *
Watching Chelsea tonight had made him realize how much he wanted to marry her, to have a baby with her, to create their home. The past few weeks he’d been the happiest he could remember, except for the fear she might not reciprocate his feelings. He had to know. One way or the other he wanted an answer. He’d pushed her tonight. It was time.
Their slow, easy loving had filled his heart with desire and love. He still had the ring. Tomorrow, he’d ask her.
* * * *
Dirk got a call from his brother, Rand, early the next day. “Hi, what’s up? I don’t usually hear from you.” Dirk slowed his horse and rode under a shady tree.
“I’m in the area. Is it all right if I stop by? I need to discuss something with you.”
“Sure. Where are you?”
“About a mile from the ranch. Nothing like calling at the last minute.”
“I’ll meet you at the gate. We’ll get some beers from Ty’s refrigerator. His house is closest. Then we’ll take a walk and talk.”
“Sounds good.” He clicked off.
Hmmm, very interesting and not at my best time. My mind’s on Chelsea and what she’ll say tonight. Well, I’d best clear my thoughts. Rand wouldn’t ask for advice unless it was serious. Dirk headed to the ranch house to get the two beers.
He’d just come out of the kitchen with two tall ones when Rand ambled toward him. “You look good, little brother,” Dirk said.
Rand shrugged. “That beer is what looks good. It’s a warm day.” He took the bottle Dirk handed him and twisted the top off. Then he took a long drink.
“You are either very thirsty or worried.” Dirk strode out toward the barn. “It’ll be cool inside the barn office.” They walked into the dim light and turned left away from the horses’ stalls.
Dirk opened the door to the small room. A blast of cool air greeted them. He took the old chair by the desk and leaned back. Rand sat on the straight chair and stretched his legs out.
Dirk waited for Rand to start the conversation.
After another drink and a glance around the room, Rand looked at Dirk. “You know I’ve been engaged the past year.”
“To one of the doctors you met in your class, Eleanor.”
“Yes. Our plan has been for her to work in a dermatology clinic in the city, and I’d open an internist office.”
“I thought you were about ready to do that?”
“We were until my last visit home a month or so ago. I came alone and stopped in town to talk with Dr. Neels. He was in, and we had a long discussion. Then I went out on rounds with him.”
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of being a country doctor.”
“I am.”
Dirk was stunned. He sat his chair up straight. “You are serious?”
“I love medicine Dirk. I’m not particularly fond of living in a big city the rest of my life. I think I’d like to join Dr. Neels and later take over his practice. He’s happy with the idea.”
“What does Eleanor say?”
“That’s the problem. She doesn’t know yet.”
“Wow. When are you going to tell her?”
“What if I bring her here first, let her see the place, and then talk about the idea?”
“You want an honest answer?”
Rand glanced away. Dirk studied his brother. He’d dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt. His dark-brown hair was cut short, and although he put his legs out to look relaxed, Dirk saw the tension in his muscles.
“Yeah,” he finally answered Dirk. “Give it to me.”
“Eleanor isn’t going to like the idea no matter how you sugarcoat it. Whatever you decide, it’s either or. Your choice, either Eleanor or country medicine.”
His brother took a deep breath. “I knew the answer. Just wanted to run it by you.”
“Have you made a decision?”
“No. I need to give it some more thought.” Rand handed him the empty beer bottle. “Thanks. I’m headed back to the city after I stop and see Mom and Sis.” He turned and walked to the door. When he took hold of the door knob, he glanced back. “I’ll be in touch.”
Dirk sat for a while after Rand left. He and Rand were both at a crossroads in their life. He wasn’t going to wait until this evening. He needed to talk with Chelsea now.
* * * *
It was the middle of the afternoon, Dirk called Ty on his cell and told him he could reach him at home.
“Is everything all right?” Ty asked.
“I hope so. I’ll let you know later.” He snapped his phone shut and rode toward his house. It was time to know the answer to his question.
He mulled over what Rand had said. Rand’s fiancée was unlikely to turn into a country doctor or agree with Rand’s idea for him to be one. Dirk was so caught up in his thoughts, he went through the kitchen and straight to the great room. He heard Chelsea’s voice above him.
“How are things, Bruce?”
There was silence. Apparently Bruce was talking. Dirk thought about walking back out and not listening, but his feet wouldn’t move.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready to talk with anyone, not even my boss”
Another long silence. Dirk’s heart beat double time. And then Chelsea spoke again.
“You mean talking about what happened? I can only give limite
d information to protect the ones who rescued me and took care of me afterward.”
Good. Dirk was relieved to hear her comment. He hadn’t doubted she’d protect the guys who took a chance to get her out.
“But I do have a private life.”
Ah the guy was pressuring her. Dirk started to take a step forward and stopped himself.
“How are things, Bruce?”
She’d changed the subject and was sticking to her guns. Although his heart ached, he was proud of her.
“I appreciate the offers. Let me get back with you. I need to give the two some thought. I’ll call you.”
Dirk’s heart sank. She was going back to her work. But he’d make his offer and see what happened. He took the steps slowly. His body felt weighted down.
Chelsea had a startled look on her face when she saw him. “You overheard my conversation?”
“I hadn’t planned to. I was on my way to talk with you. It sounded like your boss did most of the talking. He made you two offers.”
“You must have heard me tell him I’d have to get back with him.”
“But you didn’t say no.”
Chelsea looked off in the distance. She wet her lips, and fire sparked inside his body.
Dirk took out the ring he’d put in his pocket this morning. Light from the window shone off the large diamond. Chelsea looked from him to the ring.
“This look familiar? I’ve kept it all this time. As I said, I’d ask you one more time to be my wife.” He twirled the ring around the end of his finger. “I planned to have a romantic evening, get on my knee and ask you to marry me, to make a home with me, and have my children. I love you.”
“Is it wife or reporter?”
“For me it is. Some men might not mind their wife flying off to foreign places. Or accepting the other offer which my guess is to be a famous reporter in the big city.” Her expression told him his guess was right.
“No one has the right to take your dream from you, or mine from me. We didn’t fit the first time I proposed. But you seemed to really be happy and settling in. I’d hoped it might be different.”
“I haven’t answered him. Give me time. Whatever I decide, it’s not going to be an easy decision.” She stood and walked into his space. She went up on her toes and brushed her mouth across his. “I love you, too. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Dirk took hold of her shoulders and sat her back from him. “We made no promises to each other. You don’t have to feel guilty. Go with your heart.” He turned to go downstairs.
“What will you do?”
“I’ll take my time and look for someone who wants my dream. Love doesn’t last when the two people are wanting separate futures.” He hurried down the steps and out of the house. He swung onto his horse and galloped off. Right this minute, he needed privacy. And he wanted the rush of the wind, and the pounding of a good horse under him. He pushed the emotions trying to strangle him and the thoughts he couldn’t deal with deep inside him. The north fence needed some repair. Hard work would keep both away.
* * * *
Chelsea sat back in her chair. Damn, she’d hoped to have time to think about how to approach him regarding her call. Things had certainly come to a head. He’d laid the ring on the side of the desk. She picked it up and slipped it on her finger. The fit was perfect. But she had no right to wear it. Not until she knew she could say yes to him.
She’d made up her mind to notify the outside world she was truly alive and had gone to the loft to call her boss. The whole conversation ran back through her head.
“Hello, Bruce, this is Chelsea.”
“Where in the hell have you been? I’ve been worried, and so have others.”
“I’m sorry, but I wasn’t ready to talk with anyone, not even my boss.”
“And you are now?”
“You mean talking about what happened? I can only give limited information to protect the ones who rescued me and took care of me afterward.”
“Humph. You’re a reporter.”
“But I do have a private life.”
“How are things, Bruce?” she had asked, hoping to get him on another subject.
“No one has a private life anymore. You know that. We’re doing all right. But we miss having you out in the field. You have a special way of getting the gritty stories and delivering them.”
A compliment from Bruce was rare. Chelsea had been surprised at the quick change in his tone.
“I want you to meet with me here in New York,” Bruce had said, continuing with his conversation. “I have two offers for you. One is of course to go back overseas. I realize you might not favor that idea. The other is to be in charge of our overseas department here stateside. You’d do some stories on the evening news, check others, set up for reports. You know the game.”
“I appreciate the offers. Let me get back with you. I need to give the two some thought. I’ll call you.”
“If you’re interested, be in my office by tomorrow afternoon at three. You’ve been gone long enough.” As usual, he had abruptly hung up.
And then Dirk had come up the stairs. He’d heard enough to know she’d been offered a good job. Her dream job. She had no desire to go back to where the battle raged. But to be in New York and in charge of the foreign news department had been another dream of hers. She’d be on the news occasionally and be in contact with her friends and colleagues still working in the fray. But had her dreams changed?
Dirk was right. She’d enjoyed these past weeks. They’d been happy, and she did love him. Was her love strong enough to turn down the New York job? She wouldn’t know until she went there and talked with Bruce. She’d get a feel for the job and see how she felt about Dirk when they weren’t living and sleeping in the same bed.
Chelsea called the nearest airport and made a reservation. She’d ask Lily to drive her. She’d leave a note for Dirk. She wasn’t ready to give him an answer. Not yet.
Chapter Fourteen
Dirk had expected to find the house empty. The silence echoed in his ears. He’d deliberately worked late. Taking the stairs two at a time, he went to the loft. Her scent still lingered in the air. Moonlight shone through the window. He flipped on a light, and a sparkle on the desk took his breath away.
He had to sit. Under the ring was a note.
My darling Dirk, I wish I could make this decision instantly, but it wouldn’t be fair to you or me. You deserve a woman who can give you her total commitment and love in being a wife and mother. Funny, a few weeks ago this would not have been a hard choice to make. I was still determined that the country life was not for me.
You showed me how it could be so much better than what I’d had as a child. I have been happy. I like your family, and Lily and Ty have become friends. But I must go and talk with my boss. I must see what this job involves, and then I’ll know what to do. I’ll understand if you show me to the door should I return. Please don’t hate me. Love, Chelsea.
Dirk hadn’t cried in years. He blinked his eyes and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Flipping off the light, he sat in the darkness.
“Hello, anyone home?” Ty called out from below.
“I’m here. I’ll be right down.” Dirk took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. He forced himself to stroll down the steps and into the kitchen. When he saw Ty, he tried to smile.
Ty held up a six-pack. “Lily took Diana and is visiting a friend. I thought we’d have a cold one.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“Yep, I always was.” He handed a beer to Dirk. “Want to talk?”
“Not unless it’s about the ranch.” Dirk opened his bottle and took a deep swallow.
“We can do that, and maybe you can tell me about Rand’s visit.”
“What, did you have someone tracking me today?”
“You can’t keep secrets from me, your buddy.”
“Apparently, I can’t.”
Ty talked about the ranch, and he asked Dirk questions, forci
ng him to be involved in the conversation. Six beers later, Ty stopped talking.
“I never knew I could talk that much.”
“I didn’t know you could, either. Don’t do it again. You wore my ears off.”
Ty got up and started to the door. “I’ve got to get home.”
“Ty.”
He turned around and looked at Dirk.
“Thanks.”
“What, for chewing your ear off? You’ve got to be kidding.” He grinned and waved, then strode to his truck.
Dirk locked the door, went to his bedroom, and stared at the bed. Maybe the buzz from the beer would help relax him and he’d sleep. He wondered if she’d gotten to New York all right. She was a big girl. He had to learn to stop worrying about her. Right. Maybe sometime in the next fifty years.
* * * *
Chelsea had arrived late, got a hotel room near the office, and fell into bed. Several times she was tempted to call Dirk. But what could she say? No. She’d wait until she knew her mind.
She’d hoped to sleep late and be fresh when she saw Bruce, but she’d tossed and turned most of the night. When she did dream, the dreams matched her confused thoughts. At six she gave up and showered and dressed. It was a good time of the morning to walk the streets. She’d worn jeans and a light sweater.
The city was already noisy and getting crowded. Horns honked, taxi drivers yelled at each other, and people’s feet clacked on the sidewalks. The level of noise after the ranch was earsplitting. Chelsea had always loved the city, the busy bustle, the quick rhythm.
Unsettled, she slipped into a coffee shop and bought a sweet roll and a fancy coffee. Neither were something she usually indulged in.
A woman sitting two tables down kept staring at her. When she got up to leave, she came by Chelsea’s table.
“You’re Miss Pearce, aren’t you?”
Chelsea shrugged. “I am. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bring anyone else’s attention to me.”
The woman had dark hair with streaks of gray, and kind, blue eyes. “Don’t worry. I won’t. I love your reports from overseas. Most of the time you included stories that touched my heart and made me realize what was really going on. I’m sorry about what you must have gone through, but I hope we’ll see you on the news again soon.” She smiled and walked out.
Cameron, Paige - A Fling with the Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 12