on my career. What about you?”
“No, there’s nobody,” he replied. Unless he counted the ghost of a woman who haunted him, a ghost he just couldn’t let go of because the pain of loss, of utter emptiness, would be too great for him to endure.
“When do you leave to go back to where you’re stationed?” she asked.
“I don’t. I’m now former Army Sergeant Dallas Colton. I finalized my discharge three months ago and I’m here in Whisperwood to stay.”
“Oh, I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other before now,” she replied.
“I’m living in an old foreman’s cabin out on the ranch, and for the last couple of months I’ve been doing what I can to help with the cleanup after the hurricane. I don’t get into town much.” His gaze once again took in the sight of her stomach. “Should you still be working?”
“Actually, this was my last case. Once the jury comes back I am officially on maternity leave. It’s time for me to nest.”
“Nest?”
She smiled. She had a beautiful smile that lit up her features and warmed whoever it was directed at. It had been her smile that had initially grabbed his attention in the bar that night, and that warmth now swept over him.
“You know, I’ll make sure I have everything ready for the babies when they arrive. I’ll get a manicure and a pedicure and make sure I get extra sleep and relax before they get here.”
“Do you have everything you need for when they do get here?” he asked.
“Yes. My coworkers gave me a big baby shower last month and they were all very generous. I told you I didn’t need anything from you, Dallas, and I meant it. There’s only one person here in town who knows you are the father and that’s my closest friend. She would never tell anyone. I would love for you to be a part of their lives. I certainly believe it’s important for children to have both parents involved, but I understand if you just want to walk away.”
“What would make you think I’m the kind of man who would just walk away from this?”
She tilted her head and gazed at him intently. “Dallas, I really don’t know what kind of a man you are.”
And he didn’t know what kind of woman she was. Oh, he knew how hot her kisses were and how her bare skin felt against his. He knew how her sweet moans had sounded against the side of his neck. But, that was really all he knew about her.
“I think it would be nice if we got to know each other better,” he said. Actually, he thought it was a necessity in this crazy circumstance.
“And how do we do that?” she asked.
“Why don’t we start with me taking you out to dinner at the Bluebell Diner tomorrow night?” he replied.
She looked at him in surprise. “Uh...okay, that would be nice.” Her cell phone rang. “Excuse me,” she murmured, and took the call. It lasted only a minute and then she hung up and gathered her purse and briefcase.
“I’m sorry. The jury has returned and I’ve got to get back to the courthouse.”
He stood as she did. “That was fast.”
She flashed him that beautiful smile again. “And hopefully a good sign.”
“Shall we say six tomorrow evening?” he asked.
“That sounds perfect. I’ll text you my address and I’ll see you then.”
He watched as she headed toward the door and then he sank back down into his chair. Twins. Jeez, this was the very last thing he’d expected when he’d driven into town this morning to be a support to his brother. Heck, in a million years he couldn’t have expected to suddenly discover he was about to become the father of twins.
He took a sip of his now cold coffee and leaned back in the chair. Two babies. A little boy and a little girl. He was going to be a father, and fairly quickly. With the initial shock slowly wearing off came a sense of anticipation...a sense of unexpected joy.
He hadn’t expected to ever feel that again, not after losing his wife. When he’d buried Ivy, he’d believed he’d also buried his heart and soul with her. Any hope for future happiness, for joy or laughter, had gone into that grave with her.
But this...this sudden surprise, this miracle of two little souls who would be forever connected to him brought with it a glimmer of hope. They were a promise of a happiness he’d never dreamed of and had never thought possible before.
He had no idea if he even liked Avery. There was a possibility that once they spent a little time together she might not like him.
But like it or not, somehow, some way they needed to figure things out, because for the next eighteen years or so they would be in each other’s lives due to their mutual love of a baby boy and a baby girl.
With a groan, Avery pulled the black-and-white-checkered maternity blouse over her head and threw it on the bed to join the others she’d tried on and then rejected.
Clad in just her black maternity slacks and a bra, she went back to her closet to make yet another selection. She knew she was being utterly ridiculous. It was just dinner at the Bluebell Diner. Any one of the blouses on the bed would have been just fine to wear for the meal out.
Still, she was ridiculously nervous and determined to look her very best. It wasn’t just a meal out, it was the first time she would spend real time with a man who would be in her life in one way or another for a very long time to come. Unless he chose not to be.
“Somehow, some way, everything is going to be okay, right, Lulu?”
The black toy poodle sitting in the doorway of her room barked happily at the sound of her name. At the same time the babies kicked, and it felt as if they turned somersaults in her belly. She had yet to pick out names for them, which was probably a good thing, since now Dallas might want to be a part of that process.
Aware of time ticking by, she focused on the clothes in her closet once again. Her gaze landed on a pink-and-black-striped blouse. The last time she’d worn it she had gotten several compliments. She yanked it from the hanger and then pulled it on over her head. She closed her closet door to insure she wouldn’t change her mind yet again.
As she went into the adjoining bathroom to put on her makeup, she fought against a new flurry of nerves. Despite the fact that she and Dallas had been intimate with each other, he was a virtual stranger to her.
What if they really didn’t like each other? What if their views of life were completely different? What if they clashed in every area that was important? After having time to digest the news of her pregnancy, would he resent her for getting pregnant? Would he feel like she was somehow trying to trap him?
It wasn’t like she was asking him to marry her. In fact, that was the very last thing she wanted. Losing Zeke had changed her, made her reluctant to ever care deeply about anyone ever again. She had no desire
