Pregnant by the Texan(62)
“You’ve given me a beautiful present. You didn’t need to do this.” Her blue eyes were wide as she studied him and then accepted the box. She untied the ribbon and opened the velvet box and gasped. “Aaron. Oh, my heavens. This is beautiful. It’s magnificent.”
He picked up a diamond necklace that sparkled in the light. “Turn around and I’ll put it on,” he said.
“I’ve never had anything like this. I feel as if I need a bodyguard to wear it.” She turned and he fastened it around her slender throat, brushing a kiss on her nape, catching a scent that was exotic and new for Stella.
“You’ve got one—me. There,” he said after a moment, turning her to face him, his gaze going over her features. Her blue eyes looked bigger than ever with thick lashes framing them. She didn’t have on heavy makeup, just enough to alter her looks, but her hair was what had thrown him off.
And now her figure showed in the red dress, which fit a waistline that still was tiny. The diamonds glittered on her slender throat.
“You’re beautiful, and that’s an inadequate description. Stunning is more like it.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you’re pleased and thank you for doing this for me.”
“Do you like the change?”
“After your reaction, yes, I do. It takes some getting used to. I sort of don’t recognize myself, either.”
They looked at each other and smiled. “I’d kiss you, but it would mess up that makeup.”
“Wait until later.”
“We better give the guy back his office. I just wanted a private moment to give the necklace to you.”
“It’s dazzling. I’ve never had anything like it.”
He took her arm and they stepped out. “Thanks,” Aaron said, slipping some folded bills to the maître d’. Then he turned to Stella and said, “Let’s go meet your public. You’ll wow them and get a bundle for Royal.”
“Don’t make me jittery,” she said, but she sounded far more sure of herself than she had on that first drive to Lubbock.
“Also, I didn’t tell you. I got a text from the guys last night. They’re sending a check to the Royal storm recovery fund for $20,000.”
She turned to gaze at him with wide eyes. “Mercy, Aaron. That’s a big amount.”
“You just wait and see what you can do for your hometown.” He glanced at the maître d’. “We’re ready for our table now and you can show the others in when they arrive.”
* * *
Aaron introduced her to two men and a woman, all executives of a television station. Through salads and dinner Stella told them stories of people affected by the storm. Over dessert, and after-dinner drinks for everyone except Stella, she showed them her presentation on her iPad.
“Stella has suggested a Christmas drive,” Aaron said, “to get presents for those who lost everything, for families with children and people still in the hospital.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” the woman, Molly Vandergrift, said. “I think that would be a great general-interest story. Would you like to appear on our news show and talk about this?”