The Rancher's Christmas Baby. Cathy Thacker Gillen

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СКАЧАТЬ ten years Teddy had resided in the 1980s home, he had slowly but surely redone it, ripping out carpet and putting wide-plank oak flooring throughout. The main area of the house was completely open, revealing a state-of-the-art kitchen with a six-burner stove and double ovens, microwave and sub-zero refrigerator. Cushiony leather stools lined the long granite counter. A long wooden table with Windsor chairs sat next to the bay window overlooking the back patio.

      Toward the front of the house, a great room with cathedral ceiling sported a huge beige stone fireplace and mantel. A comfortable sectional sofa that seated seven fronted a big wooden coffee table. An entertainment center featuring a digital stereo and large-screen plasma TV was flanked by book-filled shelves on either side.

      To the rear of the house, there was a master bedroom, complete with king-size bed. He had knocked out one of the bedrooms in order to expand the master bath into a beautiful, luxurious retreat, complete with marble counters and double sinks, glass-walled shower and whirlpool soaking tub.

      An office and another half bath completed the abode.

      The house was decorated primarily in the same beige and brown of the outside of the ranch house. It was definitely a bachelor’s lair. In many ways as unsuited for a family as her own tiny one-person trailer, a fact that weighed heavily on her as she rummaged through his kitchen, looking for everything she needed.

      Yet they had to live somewhere, until they figured out how—and where—they were going to expand their living quarters into something suitable for the both of them and any children they had.

      That being the case, if she were smart, Amy thought as she slid the butter into the microwave to soften, she would simply move her things over here and be done with it. Make life simpler for both of them.

      So why couldn’t she do that?

      What really had her keeping one foot out the door?

      “SMELLS GREAT IN HERE,” Teddy said, two hours later. He walked in, take-out pizza and a big bottle of Amy’s favorite diet cola in hand.

      Pleased his earlier irritation with her had faded as surely as hers with him, she smiled. “It’s the gingerbread cookies.”

      He set their dinner down and closed the distance between them, the familiar kindness in his green eyes. Relief filtered through her, as intense and all-consuming as her earlier anger.

      “About earlier—” he said in a deeply apologetic voice that sent shivers over her skin.

      Amy swallowed. It was ridiculous, how happy and relieved she was to see him, to realize their “marriage” wasn’t over before it had even begun.

      Aware her pulse was jumping, she looked into his eyes. “I’m really sorry, Teddy. I don’t know what got into me. All I know is I overreacted.”

      “Not really.” He took both her hands in his and squeezed them, in the familiar way of an old friend. “I made one heck of a mess in your kitchen. And I installed a satellite dish without your permission—which I’ll take out tomorrow if you want.”

      Amy’d had enough time to think while she worked in his kitchen. If this was going to work, she realized that she had to be willing to give some ground, too. She couldn’t expect Teddy to make all the sacrifices and adjustments while she kept her life exactly the same.

      “No.” She tilted her face up to his and looked into his eyes. “You’re right. If you’re going to be spending time there, too, you need to be comfortable, Teddy.”

      She could live with televised sports if it meant she could have the family and children she had always wanted.

      She just wasn’t quite sure how she was going to live with him.

      Before they’d said their I do’s, when they had just been friends, sex—or the possibility of it—had never been an issue with them. Now it seemed to hang in the air at every turn.

      Making her realize what a “catch” he was.

      Handsome, athletic, kind and generous to a fault. It didn’t take much imagination to realize he would be a handful in bed.

      If they ever got to bed…

      Oblivious to the amorous nature of her thoughts, he let go of her hands, and went to the cupboard to get two plates. “You’ll be happy to know the oven and kitchen at your place are spic and span, the burnt smell is gone, and the smoke alarm is back in working order.”

      “Thanks.” Aware how small even his spacious kitchen seemed with the two of them in it, Amy flushed self-consciously. “I should have warned you about the oven.” She filled two glasses with ice, grabbed the soda and met him at the table.

      He reached out to help her with her chair. “You would’ve had you known I was planning to cook.”

      They exchanged awkward smiles and sat down opposite each other. Amy couldn’t help but feel the tension reverberating between them. Taking in the way his gaze drifted, however briefly, to her breasts, before moving back to her face, it dawned on her that she was not the only one thinking about sex.

      “Things have to get better,” Amy said hopefully.

      He agreed with an amused lift of his brow. “Can’t get much worse than they’ve been thus far,” he drawled.

      More silence fell, slightly more comfortable this time.

      Amy studied his face. “What’s happening to us?” she whispered, resting her chin on her upturned palm. “We’ve been friends forever and it’s never been this…”

      “Awkward?” Teddy opened the pizza box, handed her a slice.

      “And awful.” She paused. Figuring the more they talked about it, got everything out in the open, the better their chances for a more harmonious existence, she said, “We’re fighting like cats and dogs.”

      Teddy kicked back in his chair, his expression pensive. He tilted his head to one side. “Can’t be the wedding rings. Can it?”

      “I don’t know.” She studied the plain gold band on her left hand, then returned his searching glance, happy their old camaraderie was returning. She didn’t mind facing problems, as long as they faced them together. She picked a slice of pepperoni off the top of the pizza and bit her lip. “What do you think?”

      He looked down at the gold band on his left hand. “A case of post-wedding jitters?” he proposed.

      Amy brightened. “Due to poor pre-ceremony planning?” she mused.

      “And familial disapproval,” he added.

      “No kidding!” Amy heaved a heartfelt sigh. There had been an uncommon amount of stress in the past thirty-six hours. Clearly, she and Teddy were just reacting to that. Once things settled down…

      “It’ll pass,” Teddy predicted.

      It was going to have to, Amy thought, picking up her pizza and taking a satisfying bite. She couldn’t live with this much tension and anxiety. Not and be happy or anywhere even close to it.

      Chapter Four

      “I’m СКАЧАТЬ