Pregnant by the Texan(88)
“Probably a small wedding and maybe a large reception. After tonight, I feel I have to invite the entire town of Royal to the reception.”
“I agree. That was nice of everyone. All the people I talked to were enthused, everybody wanted you to be acting mayor. Stella, I didn’t find anyone who didn’t want you. Mayor Vance definitely wanted you.”
“That makes me feel so good. I can’t tell you. In high school I was sort of left out of things socially. I guess I always have been.”
“Not now. You’ll never be left out of anything with me.”
“I think you’re speeding. I’d hate for the new acting mayor to get pulled over the first few hours I have the job.”
“I want to get home to be alone with you,” he said as he slowed.
In minutes they reached her town house. “My trunk is filled with Christmas gifts. I’m not carrying them in tonight. I’ll get them in the morning,” he said.
“I have to go shopping tomorrow. I’ve been so busy I haven’t gotten all my presents and I don’t have any for you yet. I really didn’t expect to be with you Christmas.”
“But now you will be if I can talk you into it. How disappointed will your sister be if you don’t come this year and we spend Christmas here, just the two of us?”
“With three kids, she won’t care. We can go sometime during the holidays. We can call her.”
“We sure can, but later. I have other plans when I close the door.”
“Do you really?” she teased.
He parked where she directed him to and came around to open her door. As soon as they stepped into her entryway, Aaron closed the door behind him and turned to pull her into his embrace, giving a kiss that was filled with love and longing.
* * *
Later Stella lay in his arms while he toyed with her hair. The covers were pulled up under her arms.
Aaron stretched out his arm to pick up his phone and get a calendar. “Let’s set a date now.”
“Aaron,” she said, trailing her fingers along his jaw, “since I just accepted the job of acting mayor, I feel a responsibility for Royal. I’ll have to live here until I’m no longer acting mayor.”
“I’m here all the time anyway. I’ll work from here and go to Dallas when I feel I need to. We can build a house here if you want. Remember, that is my business.”
“Whatever you’d like. When my job ends, I don’t mind moving to Dallas.”
“We’ll work it all out. I just want to be with you.”
“Our honeymoon may have to come after baby is here,” she said.
“Baby is here,” he echoed. “Stella, I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again—I’m overjoyed about the baby. I lost Blake and he was one of the big loves of my life. I have a second chance here to be a dad. I’m thrilled and I hope you are.”
“I am. Do you particularly want another little boy?”
“No, I don’t care,” he said, and she smiled, relieved and happy that he didn’t have his heart set on having a boy.