Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(102)

“I know how sensitive he is—I’ll treat that carefully. But I think maybe I’ll put off worry until it’s necessary.”

Shelby had known him a few months, a couple of months she’d known him intimately, and for her it had been thrilling. The way they came together was so amazing to her; just thinking about him filled her with shivering anticipation. She had no regrets about waiting so long to find out what this was about because she was certain it could never have been like this with any other man.

To her it was a miracle. Fate, putting her with the one man perfect for her. When he touched her, she believed he felt the same way. But he gave no other sign.

After the lovemaking, he held her close to him. He could never stop kissing her, touching her, stroking her. It mystified her that he could be like this—so tender, so involved in her, so loving—and yet not in love at all. She wondered how he did that. She thought if she understood it, maybe she could walk away without being torn to pieces over him.

She rolled over and wriggled on top of him, lying prone, lifted up, braced on his chest, looking into his eyes. “There’s a new doctor in town and Mel won’t need me so much anymore. I’ve been here since August. There’s less and less on my schedule every day.”

He ran a big hand down her spine, over her smooth bottom. He gave her a lusty squeeze. “I’ll keep you busy some of that time,” he said with a laugh.

She gazed down into his eyes, so filled up with love for him. How could he not know? She wouldn’t tell him she loved him first. She couldn’t ask him; her pride wouldn’t allow it. But she wasn’t too proud to give him a chance. “All my applications to nursing programs have been sent out—now I’m just waiting to hear. And remember, I even shot one in to Humboldt State U, in case you come to your senses and decide you can’t live without me. They have an excellent program.”

He pushed her hair back over her shoulder. “I bet there are lots of excellent programs out there, aren’t there?”

She nodded and tried to send him a mental message. Say it, she thought. Tell me you love me; tell me you wish I could stay right here. With you. “And the one right here is as good as any of them.”

Instead of talking, he tightened his arms around her and rolled with her until she was beneath him. Then he covered her mouth in a deep, hot kiss. And his hands began to move in long, slow, thrilling caresses, his fingers gently probing her again.

With a sigh of disappointment, she yielded to him, filling up on sensation, knowing in her heart this might be all she ever had of him.



Abby had called Vanessa from her parents’ house in Seattle on New Year’s Day. “What are the chances you’re up for a little visit?” she asked.

“Perfect,” Vanessa said. “Your timing is great! We just moved into our new house before Christmas and there’s still lots of stuff to do around here. Between trips to the coast to shop and putting things right around here, you can help me.”

“I’d love to help,” Abby said. “How soon can I come?”

“As soon as you like,” Vanni said.

“Then get the sheets on the guest bed, I’ll be on my way in a few days.”

On her travel day, Abby kissed her parents goodbye in the driveway at dawn and headed south. The second she got into the car, her tummy muscles relaxed and she felt herself expand into the pants with the elastic waistband. She had a cooler packed with food and drinks and only stopped for gas and more potty breaks than seemed fair. By early evening, she was driving past the general’s house, around the curve past the stable and down the road to a brand-new house. She gave her horn a toot and got out of the car. Vanessa came out to greet her, her smile bright and happy. As Abby walked toward Vanni, the latter stopped suddenly, eyes wide. Abby hadn’t put her coat on and stood before her friend, running a smooth hand over a very slightly rounded belly.

Vanni recovered herself and wrapped Abby in her embrace. “You didn’t say you were bringing company,” she said with a soft smile.

“Vanni, I’m in a terrible mess,” Abby said.

“You’d better come in, honey. I get the sense you want to talk about some things.”

Vanni had something that smelled delicious in the oven, Matt was crawling around the living-room floor and pulling himself up on the furniture, and Paul, Abby learned, was not yet home, very likely having stopped off at the bar in town for a beer with his friends.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vanni asked.

“I’m pretty embarrassed for one thing,” she said. “I’m in some trouble, for another. The only people who know about the pregnancy are my parents and my doctor. And now you.”

“You know I’d do anything to help you, but not talking about it isn’t going to work much longer.”

Abby shook her head. “At Nikki and Joe’s wedding, you all knew divorce was in the wind. I couldn’t stand to talk about it—but the marriage to Ross was long over by that time. If you keep up with any tabloid news, you know he had been living with another woman for more than six months by the time our divorce was final.”

“Sorry, honey—I just don’t see any tabloids.”

“Well, I should have dispensed with that divorce immediately. The day he asked me, I should have signed the papers.” She laughed suddenly. “Did I say he asked me? His lawyer asked me. A threatening and hostile man, he called weekly. I let the machine pick it up. I haven’t heard from Ross in forever. More than a year by now. Don’t ask me why I waited—I didn’t want him back in my life. I think I was just stunned senseless and couldn’t move. Plus, I felt like such a fool for marrying him in the first place, thinking I knew him when clearly I didn’t. It just ripped me up. As soon as I got back to Los Angeles after the wedding, I signed. A little over a month later, I was a free woman.”