Strangers When We Meet
Page 23
Heat swept up her body. “What else is he saying?”
“He’s afraid we’ve both suffered cardiac arrest from too much excitement. He wants permission to enter.” Nick kissed her in a very sensitive spot. “Sometimes he worries about me. Do you mind?”
“No, of course not. I know exactly how he feels.”
For that she was given another passionate kiss. “Put on the robe I gave you.”
“I didn’t bring it—or a nightgown.”
“Did I ever tell you you’re every husband’s fantasy?”
“Yes. Last night. You told me over and over again.”
“No nightmares?”
“Not one.”
“Tell you what. You snuggle down in the covers and I’ll get the door.”
“Okay.”
She heard a few grunts and groans as Nick felt his way around in the dark. Suddenly the room filled with dazzling light, outlining his lean physique, which had started gaining mass and muscle. But even thin and haggard, he’d been a beautiful man to Rosie; he always would be.
She watched him pull on jeans and T-shirt. He darted her a quick glance. “Ready?”
She nodded.
He opened the door. “Come on in, R.T.”
“Is it all right?”
“Is it all right, Rosie?”
“R.T., you’re welcome anytime.”
He entered the cabin hesitantly. “I’m sorry to disturb you. Cyn and I were wondering…if you don’t have anything else to do, you might like to come horseback riding with us.”
Rosie decided to say nothing and let her husband answer for them.
“We have something else to do, R.T. Trust me.”
“That’s what I figured. I was just checking.”
“Go on and find your wife. I’m sure she wants you to herself for a while. We’ll see you at the lodge for dinner.”
His face lit up. “Thanks, Sarge. See you later.”
Nick shut the door.
“It’s time for a shower, Scarlett.” He tossed the covers aside with his good hand.
Rosie didn’t move a muscle. She bestowed a bewitching smile on him, instead. In her phony Southern accent she drawled, “I declare, Rhett Butler, you are no gentleman, sir. Why, I just go pink all over when I think what you were doing to me all nigh—”
“Hey, Mom? Dad? R.T. says you’re up. Can I come in?”
“Quick, darling. Hand me the comforter.”
Nick let out an expletive and threw the quilt over her.
She heard the door creak open.
“Hi!”
“Hi, bud. Where’s Jeff?”
“He’s over at the corral.”
Rosie sat a little straighter in the bed, the covers up to her chin. “Hi, honey! How are you?”
Cody finished hugging his father and ran to the side of the bed to hug her.
“Hey, Mom? How come you’re still in bed? Are you sick?”
Over Cody’s shoulder she eyed her husband, who was smiling with unholy delight. The wretch isn’t going to help me out of this one.
“I feel fine. Your dad and I are just taking it easy, but I love you for caring.”
If anything, Nick’s smile had broadened.
“Are you and Dad…well, you know, are you happy and everything?”
She swallowed hard, realizing how important this was to their son. “We’re divinely happy, Cody. Aren’t we, darling?” she said to Nick who’d come to sit on the bed next to her.
He pulled Cody onto his lap and gave him a hug. “We didn’t know we could be this happy.”
“I didn’t know I could be this happy, either,” Cody confessed. “Are we all going to live on the ranch then?”
“Yes.”
“What about Mom’s job?”
“She’s going to commute from Heber to Salt Lake when she starts teaching again in the fall. That way she can drive you down to school every day so you won’t have to be separated from your friends.”
“That’s great, Dad! I want—”
“Yoo-hoo! Knock, knock!”
Rosie heard Nick’s frustrated sigh of resignation, then felt his hand slide around her waist and give it a squeeze.
“Hi, Mom and Dad. Come on in and join the crowd.”
“We just wanted to know how the lovebirds were doing today.”
“They’re doing great, Grandma,” Cody answered. “Mom’s just relaxing.”
“That’s good, dear. You need it, Rosie.”
George chuckled, then winked at Nick, who’d started laughing. Rosie joined him.
“What’s so funny, Dad?”
“I thought they taught you everything there was to know on Channel One.”
“I’m going to go ask R.T. He’ll tell me.”
“You do that, son.”
“Come on, Cody,” his grandfather urged. “Let’s leave your poor mom and dad alone. Come on, Janet. Give them some privacy.”
Nick closed the door behind them.
“It’s almost three o’clock.” Janet’s voice carried all too easily. “I mean, there is such a thing as…”
Rosie held out her arms to her husband. When he was back in bed with her, she nestled close to his heart. “There’s a lot of love in this family.”
“Amen.”
“I love you, Nick Armstrong. More than you’ll ever know.”
He gave her another possessive kiss. “Most men get one shot at life. I was given two, and both times I ended up with you. That’s my blessing and my joy.”
“Oh, Nick…”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6094-2
STRANGERS WHEN WE MEET
Copyright © 1997 by Rebecca Winters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at Customer_eCare@Harlequin.ca.
® and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Books S.A., used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com