Pregnant by the Texan(17)

                He turned into the small airport and let her out, then parked and came back to join her for breakfast. All too soon she was called to board. He stood watching until she disappeared from sight and then he headed back to town. At least she had agreed to let him pick her up when she returned later today. He was already looking forward to being with her again, something that surprised him. Since losing Paula and Blake, he hadn’t been this excited about any woman. Far from it. He felt better staying home by himself than trying to go out with someone and fake having a good time.

                That had all changed with Stella—which surprised and puzzled him, because she was so unlike anyone who had ever attracted him before.





                                      Three

                Stella left the doctor’s office in a daze. The home pregnancy test had been accurate. She was carrying Aaron’s baby. Why, oh, why had she gotten into this predicament?

                She climbed inside her rental car and locked the doors, relieved to be shut away from everyone else while she tried to adjust to the news.

                To make matters worse, now Aaron was not only in Royal, but staying in the neighboring sixth floor suite at the Cozy Inn. He wanted to be with her, to dance with her. She did not want him to know yet. She wished he would go back to Dallas to R&N headquarters and give her time to think things through. She had to decide how much and when she would tell him.

                She groaned aloud and put her forehead against the steering wheel. Aaron was a good guy. He had military training, was caring and family oriented, from what little she knew. She could guess his reaction right now. He would instantly propose.

                She groaned again and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “Oh, my,” she whispered to the empty car.

                She couldn’t let Aaron know yet. She would have to get so busy she couldn’t go out with him. Her spirits sank lower. He had a suite next to hers—there wasn’t going to be any way to avoid him.

                He was a take-charge guy and he would definitely want to take charge of her situation.

                He would want to marry her. She was as certain of that as she was that she was breathing air and sitting in Austin.

                Glancing at her watch, she saw she would be late meeting her sister for lunch. Trying to focus, she started the car and drove to the restaurant they’d agreed on earlier.

                At the restaurant, she saw that her sister was already seated. When Stella sat down at the table, her sister’s smile faded. “You’ve had bad news.”

                “Linda, I just can’t believe the truth,” Stella said, tears threatening, which was totally unlike her. “I’m pregnant. The test was correct.”

                “Oh, my, of all people. Stella, I can’t believe it. I’ll tell you something right now. I know you—you’re a wonderful aunt to my children. You’re going to love this baby beyond your wildest imaginings. You’ll see. I know I’m right.”

                “That will come, but at the moment this is going to complicate my life. This shouldn’t have happened.”

                “Here comes the waiter.”

                “I’ve lost my appetite. There’s no way I can eat now.”

                “Eat something. You’ll be sorry later if you don’t.”

                Linda ordered a salad and Stella ordered chicken soup.