by Sara Orwig
“Sam—”
“Look, we need to celebrate. A baby is wonderful. Let’s set the future, all these worries, aside and just celebrate the little person who will come into our world.”
Suddenly, she wanted to step into his arms, hold him and have him hold her. She wanted this baby to be loved and come into a family with love. Sam’s words about celebration made a knot in her throat and she was torn more than ever, discovering facets to him tonight she would have never guessed he had.
“Don’t make me fall in love with you,” she whispered.
“Why would that be so bad?”
“We’re not alike and we’ll never be able to get along.”
“That’s not so, Lila. We can get to know each other, darlin’. In the meantime we have tomorrow night. Let’s celebrate our baby.”
His words twisted her heart. She nodded, feeling the threat of tears. He made her want the celebration for the reasons he had stated and he made her want to be a couple to bring this baby into a loving family.
“Yes,” she replied. Either way she answered, she would have regrets. He had just given her positive reasons to want to be with him. A celebration—never in her wildest wishes had she even considered the possibility of Sam reacting to her news in the manner he was. She wanted to be with him. At the same time, she was positive if she encouraged him, he would step into her life and take charge.
He pulled her into his arms to kiss her and, temporarily, she let go of worries about the differences. He leaned down to kiss her briefly and then just held her.
“You are fighting yourself,” he whispered. “I can see it, Lila. We have a baby between us now. You can’t shove that situation aside and go your damned independent way. Love between a man and woman, I think, is a foundation for a family filled with love. We have something wonderful looming in our lives if you’ll just recognize and cherish it,” he said.
Her heart thudded. Torn between longing for the paradise she’d had with him that one night and the realities of life with all of Sam’s beliefs, she shook her head even though she wanted to hug him and forget everything else.
“Sam, let’s look at this house of yours,” she whispered, turning to walk away, heading blindly down the hall when she didn’t know where she was going.
Catching up with her, he draped his arm across her shoulders to walk close beside her. “All right, we’ll look at rooms.”
His arguments tugged at her emotions. His comments carried more power to move her than she had ever expected. Sam was already formidable to deal with.
She noticed that the upstairs hall was a repeat of the downstairs in the basic decor—tall palms, framed traditional Western art on the walls. Silk-covered settees, benches, interspersed with more plants of different varieties. His house was a sales pitch for his construction business. It was beautifully furnished and he had already told her the names of the interior-decorating firms that had worked with him.
They reached the end of the hall and as he started to go through a door, she paused. “Sam, this is your room. I’ve seen it and you’re not renovating your suite to build the nursery in with you, so there’s no point in us being here.”
“I thought you might want to start there and see my room again. We have memories there.”
“Nice try, but no thanks. Now, where from here would you want a nursery?”
“Darlin’, you’re just way too much all business. Let’s look at the suite closest to mine.”
He led her to another suite of rooms furnished in antique George II furniture with deep blue upholstery, a thick oriental rug centered in the room on a polished oak floor.
“This is a beautiful room that’s close to you.”
“Close is good,” he said.
“I really think you’ll have to make these decisions yourself. You know how close you want a nursery.”
“I want you to be happy about it and approve of it. If you lived here, where would you put the nursery and playroom?”
“You do surprise me,” she admitted.
“See, there are depths to me you didn’t know about,” he said lightly, but his voice and his expression were serious.
“I’d say this is the perfect room.”
“Then this will be the nursery.” He linked her arm in his. “Let’s go get some dinner and talk about some harmless, less volatile subjects and just relax a little. This has been a surprise for both of us and a shock to you tonight to realize that I’ve guessed the truth.”
“Yes, it has,” she admitted, walking beside him.
“Do you own a home in California?”
“No, a condo,” she replied while they headed downstairs and outside, where he’d had a new outdoor kitchen installed. He was cheerful, keeping on harmless topics, making her laugh and relax around him as he broiled steaks and served dinner.
She could eat little, but she was having a good time with him while they avoided the topic she was certain he was thinking about as much as she.
“See, I have eight bedrooms in this place. We’ve already selected one for the nursery and it was quick and easy. We can agree on some things. Also, I wish you would get the decorator you want, make the decisions about the decor and all that. I don’t know one thing about kids. You’ve already had practice with the children’s center, although don’t copy what you did at the club, because I don’t want to feel like I’m at the club when I’m home.”
“All right, I’ll look into it, Sam,” she said, making a commitment that would throw them together. She suspected Sam would have all sorts of requests to come that would keep them together. “We have time to plan.”
He changed the subject and talked about events in Royal, harmless topics that made her laugh. Even so, she couldn’t stop thinking about the baby, her pregnancy, their future and the different man she had seen in Sam earlier tonight.
It was past eleven when she stood. “Sam, I should go home now. I do get tired. It’s been a fun evening, but we’re both avoiding talking about the baby. I assume you plan to talk about it tomorrow night.”
“I’d like to. I’ve made arrangements about a nursery, verified that you’re pregnant. That’s progress. We’ll take this a bit at a time. If you have anything you feel is urgent to discuss, don’t hesitate.”
“I won’t,” she said, feeling only a degree of relief that he wasn’t causing a huge problem about her pregnancy, because she was certain the issues were yet to come.
Still keeping the conversation light, flirting with her, he drove her to the Double H. As they went up the walk to the porch, he glanced at the house.
“There are lights on—are your folks waiting up?”
“Heavens, no. They both probably went to sleep an hour or so ago. They just leave lights on for me. Maybe for Hack, although heaven knows where he is. He’s probably staying with a friend in Royal.”
At the door, Sam turned to place his hands on her waist. “Lila, I’m thrilled beyond anything I can say.”
“You astound me with your reaction when this is an unplanned baby.”
“As far as I’m concerned, babies are a gift. I think it’s wonderful and tomorrow night will be purely a celebration. We can shove the worries and disputes to a later date.”
“I can’t argue that one,” she said. “Actually, I’m stunned.”
“If so, maybe there’s more to me than you thought. I imagine there’s a lot we can discover about each other. And some things we already know are fabulous,” he drawled, looking at her mouth.
She drew a deep breath and then closed her eyes as he leaned closer to kiss her, a tender kiss that lasted seconds and then transformed, becoming passionate, steamy and stirring desire.
He set her on fire with longing to make love. She clung to him, still divided emotionally by desire, shock over his responses and the wisdo
m to know that she couldn’t live with him or accept a long-term commitment.
When she stepped away, she gasped for breath. “Thanks for taking the news in the manner you did, because it made tonight much easier for me. Thanks, too, for dinner.”
He smiled and caressed her cheek. “Ah, Lila, you can’t imagine how I want you. I’m glad tonight was easier for you. When we go out tomorrow, I hope to have an awesome celebration.”
She smiled. “I’m still in shock over that. I don’t know how I’ll get one hour of sleep tonight.”
“I can definitely do something about that,” he drawled, lowering his voice and making her toes curl. “Come back home with me and I promise you hours of sleep—maybe a few hours from now.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You’re temptation, Sam Gordon. Go home. I’ll see you, all too soon.”
“Won’t be all too soon for me, Lila. I can’t wait.”
“Good night, Sam.” She went inside and looked out the window to see him standing by the driver’s side of his car. He waved to her and she smiled again as she returned the wave.
* * *
The following day, Lila spent the morning talking to one of the men whose ranch she planned on using in the movie. It was after one o’clock when she returned to the Double H and she was tired, wanting a nap, something she had not needed in the afternoon since too far back to remember.
When she got home, everyone was away except Agnes, the cook who had worked for them since Lila was three years old. Lila sat in the kitchen eating some of Agnes’s chicken salad and sliced tomatoes, talking while the older woman snapped green beans.
The doorbell chimed and Agnes dried her hands, telling Lila she would get the door. Agnes smoothed gray hair away from her face as she left the kitchen, while Lila continued eating, hearing Agnes talking to someone but giving little thought to who it could be until the cook reappeared, hidden behind a huge bouquet of mixed flowers of all various shades of blue and pink. Lila hurried to help take the giant bouquet in its beautiful crystal vase, but Agnes set it down quickly.
“For you, Miss Lila,” Agnes said, smiling broadly, her blue eyes twinkling as her gaze roamed over Lila.
“Agnes, you know I’m pregnant, don’t you?” Lila asked.
“I thought so.” They looked at each other another moment and then Lila hugged Agnes. “Mom knows, but Dad and Hack don’t.”
Agnes chuckled. “I know.”
“Was it that obvious?” Lila asked.
“I wondered. You’ve had some morning sickness and you’re beginning to show just a little.”
“If you’re observant,” Lila remarked. “Not like Dad and Hack, which is just as well. Although I’ll announce it before I go back to California.”
“Your mom is happy and worried. I can tell that, too.” Agnes turned toward the bouquet. “They are lovely flowers. My goodness. Aren’t they pretty?”
“Yes, they are,” Lila said, looking at a miniature teddy bear and a dainty, tiny doll tied in the center of a beautiful big bow of pink and blue ribbon.
She had to smile as she picked up the card and withdrew it. “I am so excited. Love, Sam.”
She looked at the word love and shook her head. He had used the endearment as casually as calling her sugar and with the same depth of meaning, yet the flowers were gorgeous and the card was sweet, the whole thought very nice. Never once had she anticipated the enthusiasm that he expressed over her unplanned pregnancy. She was also thankful her dad wasn’t home. She would get rid of the doll and the tiny bear, which, with blue and pink flowers, would give away that a baby was expected.
In spite of her feelings about Sam’s chauvinistic views, she was as pleased by his flowers as she had been by his dinner invitation.
“Those are beautiful. So very nice,” Agnes said, still admiring her flowers. “Someone is happy with you and wants to impress you.”
“They’re very pretty and it’s sweet of him. They’re from Sam Gordon.”
“Ah, Mr. Gordon is a nice man. He’s a very sweet man,” Agnes said, her voice full of approval. “One of the best guests your dad has. And a good friend of the family.”
“He is that, all right,” she said, thinking about how much like her dad Sam had always seemed.
“Your brother or your dad can put the flowers where you want them. That is a heavy bouquet.”
“I can lift it,” Lila said, amused and sure it wouldn’t harm her to carry a bouquet of flowers from one room to another. “I’ll wait and see where Mom would most like to have them.”
“You don’t carry those flowers. You want them moved, please tell me,” Agnes said firmly, giving Lila such a look that Lila nodded.
“Yes, I’ll tell you, Agnes. Thank you.”
Smiling, Agnes returned to snapping beans while Lila continued to admire her bouquet.
* * *
In the late afternoon she showered to get ready for her dinner date. After drying her hair, she dressed in a sleeveless fitted black cotton dress that had a straight skirt. Although her waist had thickened, she was relieved to get out of the tops that covered it and to shed the sweaters she had been wearing. As she had the night before, her mother appeared before it was time for Sam.
“Lila, I saw your gorgeous bouquet and the lovely crystal vase from Sam. That was incredibly sweet of him to send those flowers. That’s a magnificent bouquet and vase.”
“It’s sort of overwhelming, but you’re right—it is thoughtful.”
“The flowers are pink and blue. I’m also glad you decided to tell him.”
“I didn’t tell him. He guessed.”
“Then Sam is an observant man. That’s one place you misjudged him. Your father still doesn’t have any idea about you.”
“Mom, I can’t deal with Dad, too, right now. I can’t have both of them pressuring me to marry.”
“There’s no need to say anything to the rest of the family yet. You and Sam come to some decisions first.”
“We’re going out tonight to celebrate the news.”
“That’s wonderful. I hope you appreciate it and I hope you both have a wonderful evening.”
“Sam has surprised me, but don’t get your hopes up that we’ll get together. Sam is like a protégé of Dad’s. He has the same old-fashioned view of women and the world and I can’t live with that. I know you have and you’ve been happy, but I’m different.”
“Maybe so. The main thing is, just give Sam a chance. You keep an open mind. Remember, you’re responsible not just for you but for your baby, too. I think it’s wonderful that Sam wants to take you out to celebrate tonight.”
“I’ll admit, I’m happy about that, too. I’m really pleased he feels that way. When confronted with an unexpected pregnancy, not all bachelors would want to celebrate. Sam hasn’t proposed, but I expect him to do so. It would go against all his beliefs to not propose,” Lila said as she brushed her hair.
“Just be tolerant and think over a proposal before you turn him down.”
“All right,” she said, smiling, knowing she would do what she wanted and there was no way she would marry Sam and settle in Royal.
“I’ll go wait,” Barbara said, glancing at herself in the mirror. “I enjoy talking to him. How I wish your brother would pay attention and try to emulate Sam.” Barbara sighed and got up to leave the room.
“Thanks, Mom,” Lila said, grateful for her mother and the close bond they shared. She turned to her mirror to study her image. She had her hair up on her head in a fancy sterling clip.
Her black dress was longer than usual, the hem midcalf, but with a slit on one side that revealed her leg up to midthigh when she walked.
She didn’t hear the chimes, but her mother informed her of Sam’s approach. With one last look in the mirror, Lila left to greet Sam.
<
br /> Seven
When Lila walked into the living room, both Sam and her dad stood until she was seated. Smiling at her, Sam’s gaze swept over her. Nearby on the back of the grand piano was the bouquet of flowers, looking as gorgeous as ever.
“Hi, Sam,” she said, smiling at him with her heartbeat pounding faster. “My flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like them,” he replied.
“Flowers are nice,” Beau said. “In August in the West Texas heat, it takes an ocean of water to keep any flowers alive. Is there an occasion for these flowers?”
“Yes,” Sam replied, and Lila held her breath. “I asked Lila to dinner tonight and she accepted so I thought flowers might be nice for the fancy Hollywood lady.”
She smiled at him in relief. “They’re very nice wherever I’m from.”
“You’re a Texan, honey, now and forever,” Beau said. “I’ve been thinking about calling you, Sam. I thought I’d run into you at the club, but then each time I forgot to talk to you. I want to build another house for a new hand. I want you to do the building.”
“Sure. We can talk about it anytime. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Sam said.
Lila listened to their conversation, participating when they changed the topic, thinking how formal and polite they were, yet the sight of Sam in a charcoal suit with a snowy shirt, his navy tie, set her pulse racing. In spite of her worries, anticipation was paramount. A celebration with Sam was too appealing for her to be filled with dread over arguments to come.
When they were in his car, he turned to her. “I have an airplane waiting. How’s Dallas? I considered Claire’s but thought you might prefer Dallas since maybe you’d rather keep talk down in Royal about us being a couple.”
“Frankly, I would,” she said, thinking about Royal’s elegant restaurant but preferring the anonymity of Dallas.
“Whatever you want, darlin’,” he replied. Sam drove them to the small airport where a pilot waited with Sam’s private plane.