Her playful tone and manner reminded him of how they’d been before they found out about the baby, as if the past few stress-filled weeks hadn’t happened. Aaron struggled to hold back, determined not to climb all over her like some inexperienced teenager. No matter what, they were going slow—until going slow was no longer possible.
He kicked off his boots, which hit the floor with a thud, landing in the vicinity of her bra. Next, he stood and divested himself of his shirt, jeans and the remainder of his clothes. Mel watched, her eyes never straying. He, in turn, watched her. By the time he removed his underwear, he was hard and ready.
Rather than fall onto the bed beside her, he reached for her sandals and slipped them off. Her toes were painted with a bright blue polish. Cute. When she ran her toes in a swirly pattern down the length of his chest to his stomach, then lower, he was thinking blue was his new favorite color.
Her shorts were next. The sound of fabric against skin when they glided over her hips nearly did him in. Finally, Mel lay naked in front of him, the dainty scrap of fabric she dared to call her panties dangling from his fingers.
Lying there, completely unabashed, she took his breath away. And his ability to move. The panties, as light as a feather, drifted to the floor.
Curling onto her side, she drew circles on the hideous floral bedspread. “You’re wasting time, cowboy.”
Nothing sexier than a direct woman.
Aaron lay down beside her and scooped her into his arms. When she made a small sound of protest, he froze. “You all right?”
“I’m a little tender.” She indicated her breasts.
Concerned, he drew back. “We should stop.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You’re in pain.”
She pushed him down onto his back and swung a leg over his middle. “I won’t be if I’m on top.”
Before he could answer, she straddled him and braced her arms on each side of his head. Those magnificent, if tender, breasts were within kissing distance. On her face, she wore a wicked smile.
“See? I knew we could find a solution.”
No reason for him to worry. She seemed completely recovered from her fainting spell.
“Make love to me, Aaron.”
Make love. Not have sex. Not hook up. Not fool around. Had either of them ever said “made love” before? Aaron didn’t think so.
“I have every intention of doing that and more.” He skimmed his palms down her back, over her smooth, rounded hips and along her thighs.
“More? I’m intrigued. Describe this more to me.” She rocked back and forth. Side to side.
He sucked in a sharp breath. “I’d rather show you.”
Grabbing the backs of her knees, he moved her legs until she was poised in the perfect position. When she reached for him, he told her to wait.
“There’s more. Remember?”
She pressed her forehead to his and murmured, “Quit teasing me.”
Aaron proceeded to make good on his promise. Dragging her mouth down for a kiss, he slipped his hand between her legs, excited as always to find her ready for him.
He’d made a point from the very beginning to learn what she liked. Which way, how much pressure to apply, where her most sensitive spots were, when to go faster, when to let her take the lead. That last one was the most important for it almost always guaranteed her satisfaction.
He had no problem giving up control. His satisfaction was also something Mel liked, and she had a talent for finding new and different ways to excite him. And herself.
“Like that,” she whispered when he entered her. “Don’t stop.”
Aaron didn’t. Not until they were both covered in sweat and completely sated.
She fell forward and buried her head in his neck, a low moan escaping. He kissed her cheek and temple and that place behind her ear, noticing the faint flowery scent of her shampoo.
“Aaron?”
“Mmm?”
“That was...” She moaned again.
“I’ll say.”
Eventually, when their strength returned, she rolled off him and onto the mattress. He groaned, from the rush of cool air and the abrupt loss of contact, not his aching muscles.
“I’ve missed you.”
She propped herself up on an elbow and peered at him. “Me, or the sex? Because we just saw each other yesterday.”
“I’ve missed the closeness.”
“We were pretty close in your SUV yesterday, as I recall.”
“I’m not good at expressing myself.” He chuckled and tweaked her cheek. “And you don’t make it any easier.”
She rolled over onto her back, her smile flatlining.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“If I ask you a question, will you answer honestly?”
He levered himself up, to look at her and also to assure her he was taking this conversation seriously. “Absolutely.”
“You said you liked the idea of spending the next twenty years with me raising our child.”
“I did. I can’t wait.”
“How do you want to spend those twenty years? Have you given it any thought?”
“Actually, I have.” He spoke slowly, fearing he might say the wrong thing or that he hadn’t understood her question. Was she referring to the sex? To them and the baby? Maybe he shouldn’t have said twenty years.
She stared at the ceiling as if avoiding him. This was going from bad to worse.
“Look at me, Mel.”
She faced him, her eyes filled with sadness. When had her mood changed and why?
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?”
“I put you on the spot again. That wasn’t fair.”
“After what just happened between us, which, let’s admit was mind-blowing, it’s more than fair. We deserve to know where we stand with each other.”
“I agree. So, tell me, where do I stand?”
Shit. This wasn’t going the way Aaron had planned. But it would have to do.
Pointing a finger at her, he said, “Hold that thought.”
“You’re kidding.” She didn’t sound amused.
Aaron sat up and reached for his jeans on the floor. From the front pocket, he pulled out a small velvet jewelry box.
This morning, he’d gone into Scottsdale and made a purchase. Taking Kaylee with him, he’d let her help pick out the ring, though he hadn’t told her who it was for and why. A stop for ice-cream cones had secured a promise from her not to tell her grandmother or anyone else.
Straightening, he held out the box to Mel, opening the lid to display the object inside. “I was saving this for later. Thought I might get down on one knee. The whole nine yards.” He grinned, more than a little pleased with himself. “Mel, will you—”
“No.” She snatched the bedsheet with one hand and covered herself. She held up her other hand as if to ward him off. “Don’t.”
“I’m asking you to—”
“I know what you’re asking. What I want to know is why?”
He frowned. “Why I want to marry you?”
“It’s a reasonable question, Aaron.”
He supposed it was. He hadn’t made any flowery speeches or broken down with unrestrained emotion. Hadn’t given her reason to believe no one in the world mattered more to him than she did and that he couldn’t spend another day without her by his side. He hadn’t said he loved her.
When he tried, the words stuck in his throat. Not just because of Robin or any sense of loyalty to her. And not because Mel wasn’t someone he could love. Eventually. She’d be a wonderful wife and partner, and a great stepmom to Kaylee.
But that wasn’t what she’d want to hear, either.
Aaron closed his eyes. He took admissions of love very seriously and believed Mel did,
too. She’d instantly dismiss empty platitudes or insincere declarations, rightfully tossing them back in his face.
“I like the idea of us marrying and raising our family together. You’re someone I want to be with. Someone I clearly care for. I think I can make you happy. I know you’ll make me happy.”
She shook her head, and when she spoke, tears clogged her voice.
“Not good enough.”
“Mel. Please.”
She climbed out of bed and went straight for her clothes. Shoving her arms into the sleeves of her shirt, she quickly dressed.
“Mel. Hang on.” Aaron found his underwear among the remaining scattered clothes and stepped into them. “Where are you going?”
“Home. To check on the foal. Frankie’s. I’m not sure.”
“Wait.” Pocketing the ring box, he finished dressing. “We’re not done talking.”
“I think we are.” She began gathering her things. Purse. Cell phone. Sandals.
Aaron realized he had less than twenty seconds to change Mel’s mind and stop her from leaving. Whatever he said next, it had to be good.
Chapter Twelve
I love you. You are every woman I’ve ever desired rolled into one. Marry me and make me the happiest man alive.
Or, words to that effect. Mel wasn’t particular. As long as Aaron mentioned love and looked at her with a besotted expression on his face.
The same besotted expression he wore when he talked about his late wife.
Mel refused to be an afterthought or a consequence of duty or a means of avoiding a messy custody battle. She’d rather raise her child alone and without a red cent from him.
“I botched the proposal.” Aaron reached around and prevented her hand from opening the door.
She didn’t think he’d forcibly detain her. He wasn’t the type.
“I could have done a better job.”
“You think?” Okay, she was being snippy. But when did proposing become a job?
Mel frowned. Why was she not hightailing it to her truck? She supposed some part of her wanted to hear what Aaron had to say. Feel that he recognized and understood how much he’d hurt her.
“Let me try again,” he said.
She turned, thinking he couldn’t be serious. “You’re asking for a do over?”
He continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “I want to give you and our child the best home possible. Is that wrong?”
“Being married is no guarantee.”
“Call me old-fashioned. I like the idea of a traditional family.”
Kudos to Frankie, she’d pegged Aaron 100 percent.
Something her father had said the night Samantha showed up suddenly came to Mel. He’d proposed to Carrie Anne out of duty. Not love. Aaron’s reasons for proposing to Mel were too similar, wounding her even greater.
She stole her sister’s favorite quote, more resolved than ever to stand her ground. “One happy parent is better than two miserable parents.”
“What if we aren’t miserable?”
“Marriage is hard. Even for couples in love.” More wise words from Frankie.
“Kaylee likes you,” Aaron said, trying a different tactic.
“And I like her,” Mel said. “But what about Nancy? Would she be part of our traditional family?”
“I doubt she’d stay with us. She’ll probably get a place of her own nearby.”
“You doubt it? Does that mean you won’t ask her to leave?”
He waited a fraction too long before answering. “I will.”
“If it comes to that. But you’d rather not. Which makes me out to be a bitch. Nicely done, Aaron.”
It was silly for them to continue standing at the door. Mel, however, wasn’t budging. Aaron needed to think she might flee any second.
“You’re right,” he admitted. “Nancy would be crushed, and I’d hate hurting her.”
“But not me?”
“Yes, you.” Everything about him screamed defeat. From his untucked shirt to his shoeless feet and mussed hair. “I didn’t think this through before I went and bought the ring.”
She didn’t tell him the ring and his spontaneous purchase of it was the only romantic part in all this wretchedness. The solitaire diamond nestled in a circle of smaller diamonds was beautiful and exactly the kind of ring Mel would have picked out herself.
“I really do understand your loyalty to Nancy,” she said. “She’s an important part of Kaylee’s life. Of your life. I would have always respected that and accommodated her.”
“Would have?”
A sharp pain speared Mel’s chest. The effect of having her heart broken.
How could she have not realized the enormity of her feelings for Aaron? Fear of rejection, most likely. So what did she do? She walked the wobbly limb of baring souls all by her lonesome. Gee, and look where it got her.
“I’ll accept child support,” she said. “Only because I won’t deprive our child. And you can see him or her as much as you want. We’ll come up with a reasonable schedule that works for both of us.”
“Dammit, Mel.”
“I think I’m being very accommodating.”
“Except now I’m feeling cornered.”
Was he not listening to a thing she said? “None of this is my fault.”
“That’s not entirely true.”
She stiffened. “If you’re feeling cornered, it’s because you painted yourself into one by proposing.”
“You’re the one who insisted on dissecting my remark about twenty years.”
“Dissecting? Dissecting? Excuse me for trying to understand your intentions.”
“Are you sure you weren’t trying to force me to—”
“That’s it. This discussion is officially over.”
He struggled for composure. “Sorry. Wrong word choice.”
Not that excuse again. “Goodbye, Aaron.”
“I’m upset. You’re upset.” He put a hand on her arm. “Let’s meet tomorrow, after we’ve both had a chance to cool off.”
If not for the fact he didn’t seem to realize how much he’d hurt her, she’d agree. “I can’t. I’m busy.”
“Then when are you free?”
She took a breath and reached for the doorknob. “I’ll let you know.”
“I hate that things have come to this point.” Regret filled his eyes.
“It was bound to happen. We made a mistake. We thought we could sleep together, no strings attached. Without falling for each other. Then, despite developing feelings anyway, despite this baby being a very big string attaching us, we kept trying to play by the old rules.”
“Have you fallen for me?”
How like a guy to hear only one thing.
“That doesn’t matter now. We got in over our heads. Way over.” She had to hurry before her worst nightmare came true, and she started crying. She was already on the verge. “You want to do right by me and the baby. I want a man who loves me the way you loved Robin.” There, she’d said it.
“Give me time.”
“Time? This isn’t some TV sitcom where the star finally falls for the quirky neighbor after three seasons. You either love somebody or you don’t.”
Their conversation had circled an empty track for the last time. Even if Aaron dropped to his knees and begged her, she wouldn’t marry him.
She wrenched opened the door.
He must’ve decided any further pleas would fall on deaf ears because he didn’t stop her.
As she crossed the threshold, she felt the faintest of brushes on her arm. It might have been Aaron’s hand. Or, the air conditioning turning on.
She half walked, half ran down the path. Her blinking truck lights, normally welcoming, seemed to mock her.
Mel swore when the key wouldn’t fit in the ignition
. After several frustrating failed attempts, she stopped, inhaled and tried again, willing her fingers to cease their trembling. If she didn’t get out of here soon, Aaron would come walking around the corner.
Finally, thank God, the key went in, and she started for home. At the last minute, Mel changed her mind and headed to Frankie’s house. She needed to talk to someone, and she’d rather that someone already know about Aaron and the baby.
She must’ve looked terrible for Frankie uttered, “Are you okay?” the moment she opened the door.
The emotion Mel had been holding in for the last twenty minutes burst free. Sobbing, she threw herself at her sister.
Frankie gasped. “Is the baby all right?”
“Aaron and I broke up.”
“I thought you weren’t dating.”
“Not funny.”
“Who’s joking?”
Patting Mel’s back, she maneuvered them to the couch. At this hour, the girls were fast asleep. Mel and Frankie could talk privately.
“Sit. I’ll make us some hot tea.”
How like her older sister, convinced tea was the universal cure for whatever ailed a person.
“I don’t want any.”
“All right.” She reclined against the cushions. “Tell me what happened.”
“He proposed.”
“I thought you said you broke up.”
“We did. He had a ring. I told him no before he could finish. And to answer the question I see burning in your eyes, he doesn’t love me.”
“Are you sure? He did propose.”
Mel recalled Aaron’s expression when he’d produced the ring box. He’d been wearing a goofy, didn’t-I-do-good grin like her nieces did when they made a macaroni-and-construction-paper Christmas ornaments.
“I’m sure,” Mel said.
“He was willing to do the right thing. That counts for a lot. It shows he’s a decent guy.”
“He is a decent guy. But me being pregnant isn’t reason enough to get married.”
“You have to consider your child.”
“I am. Lots of single parents raise happy and healthy kids. Look at you.”
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