She just didn’t know how he was going to take the news she was going to lay on him tonight. Every day, every situation with Dev was like sailing uncharted waters. Anxiety tied her stomach in a knot.
Headlights swept across the picture window in the living room, indicating Dev’s pickup had turned into the driveway. Relief washed over her at the same time as anxiety pricked at her nerves. Brynna placed a hand over her chest and took a deep breath to calm herself.
Quickly, she lit the candles and turned off the overhead light.
The front door opened, and her tall handsome husband entered the living room, tossing his hat on a nearby bench and immediately looking for her. A warm rush of affection flooded over her as it always did when she saw him—when he made her feel so special. “Hey, sweet thing,” he greeted her.
She headed toward him with a smile. “You’re on time.”
He met her in the doorway to the dining room and, taking her elbows in his warm hands, gazed down at her with tenderness. “This is our only evening together this week. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Remember Friday evening is Tuck’s birthday party at Melanie’s place,” she said, touching a finger to his chin. “Don’t miss that, either. I’ll be on call, but I should get to spend part of the evening there.”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her soundly. “I’ll be there.”
When he loosened the embrace and lowered his mouth to hers, Brynna met his lips and kissed him, amazed that she still felt such excitement every time she saw him. In eight months, the blush of first love had not waned. She never ceased being grateful that she’d found him, but a wariness always accompanied her joy. How long would a free spirit like Dev be happy with her and with this life?
“You cooked,” he said, releasing her and glancing over her shoulder with appreciation.
“I did.”
“I’ll pour the wine.”
She moved toward the kitchen to get the food. “None for me, thanks.”
He glanced at her. “Well, then, I’ll decline, too. No sense opening a bottle just for me. Can I help?” He moved into the kitchen and washed his hands at the sink.
“When have I ever turned down help?”
He grinned and kissed the back of her neck before moving on to his task. Dev was a toucher, spontaneously caressing her or laying a hand on the small of her back in passing. He had a natural way of making her feel loved and important. Some days she’d felt so lucky, she’d wondered when it would all come crashing down. And she prayed this wasn’t the day.
Once the food was on the table, they sat. She passed the dishes and they ate.
“Someone offered to buy Sky Spirit today,” he said, slathering butter and sour cream on his potato.
“Again?” He was referring to his pride and joy, the ultralight plane he’d built.
“A guy I met in Denver.”
“You were in Denver today?”
“This morning.” He tasted the steak she’d grilled to perfection. “Mmm, this is delicious.”
Brynna could barely keep track of his activities. Some days he worked at the Holmes Ranch, but others he spent flying. She hadn’t known much at all about Dev when she’d married him, nothing save the fact that he set her on fire and she couldn’t take another breath without him in her life, but she’d quickly learned that he didn’t work at his cousin’s ranch for the money.
Dev was the second son of a well-to-do family, college-educated. He assisted with the family business when duty forced him to do so, and, having tried his hand at ranching and finding he enjoyed it, Dev now preferred to work for his cousin for a mere pittance.
His main activity was flying the ultralights he built and sold for a nice profit. The only one he hadn’t sold was his favorite, Sky Spirit. He also owned and flew a Cessna 206 as well as a Piper Seneca that he kept in hangars at Lee Henderson’s airfield north of Rumor. His inability to stay in one place very long kept him on the go.
“It was awesome flying weather today,” he told her. “You would have loved the sky over Colorado.”
She smiled indulgently. “I’ll bet I would have.”
His aviation ability had come in handy the night he’d flown them to Las Vegas to get married. Brynna had refused to go that first night—the night after they’d made love for the first time and he’d proposed. They’d both had too much to drink. She hadn’t wanted to make decisions, and she hadn’t wanted him piloting a plane until they were both stone-cold sober.
Three days later, just as crazy for him and without a single drink, she’d agreed to fly to Nevada and be married. Since then he’d made several international trips and numerous flights in the States, but her job always prevented her from joining him. The next flight he had planned for them was a honeymoon on an African safari in the fall. Brynna had already planned for the time off between internships. “I wonder what the sky looks like over Nairobi,” she said teasingly.
Dev laid down his fork and took a drink of his water. “I don’t know, but we’ll find out.”
Her thoughts reverted immediately to what she had learned that day and how it would affect their trip. They finished their meal, and Dev carried the dishes to the kitchen. He opened the dishwasher, but she stopped him with a touch on his arm. “Leave them.”
He took her hand with a grin. “You have plans that can’t wait?”
She nodded, turned and took a glass bowl from the refrigerator.
Dev cocked a brow at the chocolate confection she held. His green eyes flashed intrigue and desire, and a slow grin carved a sexy dimple in his lean cheek. “For here or in the bedroom?”
Brynna blushed. The man was infinitely creative and ever so willing to please. “At the table, Dev.”
He shrugged. “Okay.”
She spooned a dollop of mousse into each of their dishes and they sat.
Dev leaned forward and touched her forehead with one finger, as if to smooth out a worry line. “Something wrong, sweet thing?”
Brynna folded her hands in her lap, then thought better of looking too nervous and brought them up to twist her napkin. “I have something to tell you.”
“Okay.” He laid down his spoon and waited, an inquisitive smile on his lips.
Her heart thudded erratically, and she swallowed. Fear of not knowing his reaction paralyzed her.
“Brynn, what is it? Is something wrong?” Immediately sensing her distress, he got up from his seat and moved to crouch on one knee at her side. He cradled her cold hand with his strong warm fingers.
Gathering courage from the love and concern in his green eyes, she took a breath. “Dev, I’m pregnant.”
Chapter
