a good reason to marry someone? Much better than passion and love. Ever since her rape, she didn’t see her life filled with either of those emotions. When the man she had been dating had forced himself on her, he had taken not only her virginity but her trust in her judgment in men. Slade made her realize not all men were like Brandon Clayton.
Her mother sighed. “I won’t lie to you. I’ve been worried about you ever since—” Her mother couldn’t voice aloud what had happened to Tory. She never had. Eleanor pinched her lips together, her frown deepening.
Tory laid her hand over her mother’s. “I know. But I’m getting better with each day.” Some days I don’t even think about what happened four years ago. For all her declarations to Slade and Judy about putting the past behind her, she knew in her heart it was always there, just waiting for when she let down her guard. It would have been so much easier if she had lost her memory of the rape. Then she wouldn’t wonder if her life would ever be normal again.
“I’m glad, dear. I think this marriage is a good step in the right direction. I like your young man and Mindy is adorable. A ready-made family. I know how important a family is to you.”
And her time for starting her own was running out. Tory had never told her mother that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis. Her mother had been upset enough about the rape. Tory hadn’t wanted to add to her mother’s worries. She knew how much her mother wanted lots of grandchildren. She’d gotten her love for a large family from her mother.
“Mindy is fitting right in with Ashley and Jamie.”
Tory looked toward Mindy playing with her new cousins. “Yes, they hit it off right away. It’s nice they are all about the same age.”
“Has Judy told you the good news yet?”
“No.”
“Oh, dear. I thought she would have told you the first night.”
“Told me what, Mom?”
“She’s going to have another baby in seven months. But don’t say anything. She hasn’t told the kids yet. She just found out the day she came up here.”
Tory knew the reason her big sister hadn’t said anything. She hadn’t wanted to put a damper on the festivities. She was happy for Judy and she would let her know as soon as possible. Her sister needed to stop trying to protect her. She’d learned to deal with disappointments, and never having her own children was a very real possibility. “That’s great, Mom. Judy probably didn’t want to take away from my day.”
“Knowing your sister, you’re probably right.” Her mother peered over Tory’s shoulder. “I think Maude is trying to get your attention.”
Tory shifted in the chair and found her aunt standing by the long table laden with food. Aunt Maude waved to Tory to come cut the cake she’d baked the happy couple.
Her mother’s color still hadn’t returned. Her eyes dull, she attempted a smile. “I think it’s time to cut the cake, dear. I’ll watch from here.”
“Mom, maybe you should go into the house and lie down.”
“No—” she fluttered her hand in the air “—I’m fine, dear.”
“Mother?”
“Go. I see your young man has already been roped by Maude into participating. The groom has to have a bride by his side when he’s cutting the cake.”
Tory pushed to her feet, her legs suddenly weak. Her gaze linked with Slade’s. For a few seconds the rest of the people faded, and she and Slade were the only two who existed. Earlier that day in her church she’d married him for better or worse, forever. She was now part of Slade and Mindy’s family. The implication of what had transpired made her falter as she walked toward her husband. Doubts took hold of her heart and squeezed. Had she done the right thing for everyone?
Slade took her trembling hand and clasped it, conveying his support in his gaze and touch. “Is your mother all right?”
“She says yes, but I think she’s overdone it. She’ll be the last person to complain if she isn’t feeling well.”
“Are you two ready to cut the cake?” Aunt Maude asked, snatching the knife off the table and presenting it to Tory.
She grasped it with Slade’s hand over hers. The warmth in his palm seared into her. For a second she felt branded, panic swimming toward the surface. She shoved it back down and smiled for the photographer.
Slicing the knife into the bottom layer of the two-tiered carrot cake, her favorite, she prepared the first piece to feed Slade. Her fingers quivered as she lifted the cake to his mouth. His lips closed over the dessert, nipping the tips of her fingers. A tingling awareness chilled her. Dropping her hand away, she entwined her fingers, trying not to shake.
Slade’s eyes sparkled like blue fire as he brought her morsel toward her. When she opened her mouth, his finger grazed her bottom lip, again sending a current of sensations zipping through her. She swallowed too soon and nearly choked. Coughing, tears springing to her eyes, she desperately tried to draw air into her lungs and couldn’t quite succeed.
Slade patted her on her back. “Tory, are you okay?”
Finally taking a shallow breath, she nodded, unable to speak.
Slade gave her a glass of water that Aunt Maude handed him. Concern etched his features and gave him an endearing appeal.
“It—went down—the wrong way,” Tory said.
“When you told me your favorite cake was carrot, I didn’t realize you would try to inhale your piece. There will be plenty left for you, I promise.”
Tory laughed, all tension fleeing. Slade made her laugh. Slade cared about her. Slade was a loving father. Those were three things she needed to remember as they learned to live together.
“Toast. Toast,” Brad, her brother-in-law, called out.
Aunt Maude thrust a glass of lemonade into each of their hands.
Slade faced Tory and lifted his high, his gaze connected to hers. “To a wonderful woman who has opened her home and heart to my family.”
The sweet words washed over her in warming waves. Her mind went blank as she took a sip of her drink. Then it was her turn and still she didn’t know how to express her churning emotions. The crowd fell silent, every pair of eyes on her.
She ran her tongue over her dry lips and said, “To a man any woman would be lucky to have as a husband.”
“Hear, hear,” someone shouted from the back.
Heat flamed her cheeks as she sipped some more of her lemonade, soothing her parched throat. Tory moved away from the table to allow Aunt Maude and Judy to cut the rest of the cake and pass it out to the guests.
“How are you holding up?” Slade asked, leaning close to her ear.
His whispered words feathered the nape of her neck and sent a cascade of goose bumps down her spine. She shivered, again a mass of jittery nerves. “Fine. I will say the past few weeks have been a whirlwind, but the ranch looks nice. And
