Pregnant by the Texan(4)

                He smiled at her. “Maybe, sometime, you need a night out to forget about Royal for a few minutes.”

                “Frankly, that sounds like paradise, but I don’t have time right now. Someone texts or calls every other minute. This has been one of the quietest afternoons, but this morning was a stream of calls.”

                “Royal could manage without you for a couple of hours.”

                “Don’t tempt me, Aaron,” she said, smiling at him. “And I won’t be here tomorrow.”

                “I have the feeling that you’re working late into the night, too.”

                “You’re right, but every once in a while now, there’ll be a lull in the calls or appointments or hospital visits. Lately, I’ve had some nights to myself. While you’re here, let me show you which projects Cole has finished and where we need the work crews next.”

                She spread a map on the table and he pulled his chair closer to her. Aware of her only inches away now, he once again inhaled a faint scent of her rose perfume. He helped her smooth the map out and leaned close, trying to focus on what she told him but finding it difficult to keep his attention from wandering to her so close beside him.

                She showed him where they had repaired houses and finished building a new house. Stella told him about different areas on the west side of town, which had taken the brunt of the storm, the problems, the shortages of supplies, the people in the hospital. The problems seemed staggering, yet she was quietly helping, as were so many others she told him about.

                He wondered if she had suffered some deep loss herself and understood their pain. He wouldn’t ask, because she probably wouldn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want anyone to ask him about his loss and he hadn’t reached a point where he could talk about it with others. He didn’t think he ever would. The hurt was deep and personal.

                “Aaron?”

                Startled, he looked at her. “Sorry, I was thinking about some of these people and their terrible losses. Some things you can’t ever get back.”

                “No,” she answered, studying him with a solemn expression. “Houses can be rebuilt, but lives lost are gone. Even some material possessions that hold sentimental value or are antiques—there’s no replacing them. You can’t replace sixty-year-old or older trees—not until you’ve planted new ones and let them grow sixty or seventy years. It tears you up sometimes.” She smiled at him. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here.”

                “We’ll just help where we can. To have a bed and a roof over your head is good and we need to work toward that for everyone.”

                “Very good. You and Cole are a godsend,” she said, smiling at him and patting his hand.

                He placed his hand on hers. Her hand was soft, warm, smooth. He longed to draw her into his arms and his gaze lowered to her mouth as he remembered kissing her before.

                She slipped her hand out from under his. “I think they’re beginning to set up the dining room for tonight. I wonder if they want us to leave,” she said. Her words were slightly breathless and her reaction to him reinforced his determination to spend time with her again.

                “We’re not in anyone’s way and I doubt they want us to leave.”

                “I didn’t realize how long we’ve talked,” she said.

                “Have dinner with me. Then I’ll give you a ride home tonight.”