can’t close my shop,” Darla said.
“We have to talk.”
“Not while I’m working.”
“The brides of Diablo will just have to wait while you take a fruit and juice break.” He handed her a small bag. “Organic. Every bite.”
She began to seethe. “I eat healthy, Judah. You don’t need to concern yourself with my diet.”
He nodded. “A husband takes care of his wife.”
“Not to point out the obvious—”
He handed her a box. “Darla, you have to quit being so stubborn.”
“What’s this?” She eyed the small dark box as if it were a bomb.
“What a man gives a woman he wants to marry.” He grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
She handed it back. “I’ll keep the organic breakfast. You can keep your Pandora’s box.”
He put it on the counter. “If you don’t want me to romance you, I’ll stop.”
“Thank you.” She folded her arms.
He shrugged. “If that’s the way you want it.”
She didn’t say anything to confirm his statement because it really wasn’t the way she wanted it. But under the circumstances, “no” was the only option. Judah was a conqueror. He wanted to bulldoze her ivory tower and take her prisoner—but letting him do so would be a mistake.
“Why aren’t you at the rodeo?”
“I can’t ride when I’m all torn up like this.”
That stopped her. She checked his eyes for signs of amusement, found none. Surely he was jesting, though. Judah wasn’t a man whose emotions ruled his life. He was all action, sometimes even brave, fearless action. She again checked his expression for teasing, but he looked just as deadly serious as he had a moment ago. It was like gazing into the eyes of an Old West gunslinger in a classic movie: resolute, determined, honest.
She caught her breath. “We don’t know each other at all.”
He looked at her. “We know each other well enough to be parents.”
“It’s not enough, Judah. Marriage between two people who don’t love each other is a mistake.”
“So marrying Sidney would be just as big a mistake,” he pointed out.
She took a step back. “I meant that marrying you when you never loved me would be a mistake. And you can’t say that you do, Judah.”
He remained silent, and she felt he’d conceded her point.
“If you’re worried about having access to the children, you’ll always have that.”
“That can be taken care of legally,” Judah growled. “I don’t waste any energy worrying about that.”
She blinked. “Legally?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “I could have Sam draw up custodial papers tonight if I was worried about you keeping me from my children. That’s the least of my concerns.”
“It’s very nice to know that you’ve considered all your options, even as you bring me a token of your questionable affection.”
His lips thinned. “That’s not what I meant.”
She turned away. “It doesn’t matter, Judah. I don’t want to marry you.”
“Guess I’ll have to take the good doc out and ask him what his secret is.”
She whirled around to face him. “There isn’t a secret. We have a lot in common. I like the security of knowing that I’m marrying someone a lot like me.”
“Sounds boring.” Judah leaned against the counter, giving her a lazy smile. “You’re too sexy to be boring.”
“Sexy?” She looked at him, startled.
“I think so.” He shrugged. “Does Sidney?”
“I don’t … I don’t know,” Darla said, confused. “I don’t believe so. I mean, why would he?”
Judah grinned at her, and suddenly Darla felt like a mouse in the paws of a playful lion.
“I don’t know why he wouldn’t,” Judah said. “Maybe you should ask ol’ Sid.” He pushed himself away from the counter, approaching her too quickly for her to step away, even if she’d wanted to, which she didn’t. Not really. She was kind of curious to see what new trick he had up his sleeve.
And she wanted him to kiss her. Just once more, to see if it was as good as she remembered.
He stopped in front of her, towering like a strong redwood tree. “I’m sure almost anyone would say that the good doctor is the better man. I know you’ll rest comfortably with your very prudent decision.”
“Quit being a rat,” Darla snapped, and Judah kissed her—on the forehead.
The jerk. She wanted his lips on hers, and she had a feeling he knew it.
“I know when I’m beat.” Judah strode to the door, tipped his hat, then placed it over his heart. “Congratulations. And I’ll let ol’ Sidney know that I have stood aside, his bride having made her choice.”
Darla stared as he flipped the closed sign to Open, and loped down the main street of Diablo. Judah Callahan was the most maddening man she’d ever met. Why she’d ever slept with him, she didn’t know.
Passion. She’d wanted one night of passion, which she knew Judah would give her, before she did the practical thing and married Dr. Sidney Tunstall. She’d wanted a lusty bedding before her marriage of convenience shut her up in a gilded prison of diligent routine for the rest of her life.
“I have no regrets,” she murmured, and then her gaze fell on the small jeweler’s box Judah had left on the wrap stand, next to the healthy snack he’d brought her.
She glanced once at the door to make certain he wasn’t outside spying in on her, ready to tease her if she gave in to temptation. But Judah was long gone. There was a crowd on the sidewalk, so she knew that several women had run to chat with him, Judah being a female magnet like all the Callahan men.
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