The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(16)

“Look, I want you and Fisher to stay, at least for now. I want to get to know you before we commit to a marriage. It’s the only way I can live with the deception and not hurt you in the process. I’m sorry, that’s how I feel right now.”

Inwardly she breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t perfect but a pretty decent start. One she could run with for now. Still annoyed that she had to shoulder all the blame, she bit her tongue, knowing that to do otherwise would end up landing her in trouble.

“When my wife died, I didn’t intend to get married again. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing anyone like I lost her. Being alone was much easier than going through that again. But, seeing my brother happy with Callie made me rethink my feelings. I just didn’t expect to get more than I bargained for.”

So I have to help you get over your dead wife before you can fall in love with me. Is that even fair? I’d almost say that makes us even then, but I can hardly tell you that. I have to bite my tongue and work this out. Gina smiled. “I understand and I’m sorry to have done that to you. I really didn’t have any choice if I wanted to keep my baby with me.” May as well tell him the whole truth.

“It was that bad for you?” The sadness on his face made her gut ache for his loss.

“Yes, it was that bad. I was at my wits end as to how I was going to feed him and pay the rent. Giving him up seemed like the only logical, if not painful, option left to me because I knew I had to do what was best for Fisher, regardless of how it would kill me. Then I saw your ad. It was a godsend that I couldn’t turn down.”





Chapter Six





“I’m sorry. Come here.” His heart missed a beat and Rory kicked himself for trying to be the tough guy he knew he wasn’t. She deserved better than he was giving her. There was no way he could send her back to where she’d come from if the conditions were as bad as she said. He held out his arms and waited for Gina to make the step toward him. When she launched herself around the counter, he wasn’t ready for the tears that flowed as he held her. To be in that kind of position where you almost had to give up your child was too much to deal with. He would do his best to make sure this worked; first he had to get over the niggling in his mind about trust or he would be forever looking over his shoulder wondering if he’d done the right thing.

The smell of strawberries rose from her hair and Rory held her close, enjoying the feel of a woman in his arms again. She stifled her sobs, trying to compose herself and he stood with his arms around her, feeling the frailness of her under his hands. She needed some more meat on her bones in his opinion, and he promised himself she would want for nothing while they tried to work out their future. If they had one.

Gina pulled away and wiped her fingers over his chest. “I’ve made your shirt all wet.” She sniffed and dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand, a shaky laugh escaping her lips.

“I’m the deputy, I think I can take it.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and looked into her warm hazel eyes. “I don’t want you to think things are going to turn out bad between us. No matter the outcome, I’ll make sure you and Fisher are looked after, okay?” That little boy had already gotten under his skin.

She glanced up at him with soulful eyes. The specks of gold were dull and he wished he could bring back the shine to her life. He just had to get over his own insecurities and learn to live life to the fullest. “Okay.”

Rory hugged her to his chest again, deciding the feel of a warm body against his was something he’d missed more than he would like to admit. There’d been nobody since Cindy died. He hadn’t even thought of dating until he caught up with Chance and saw how happy he was with Callie.

“I’d better go and see if Fisher is asleep and then get on with dinner.” Her voice was slightly muffled by his chest but he understood every word. Reluctantly, he loosened his arms around her and she stepped back.

“Thanks. I needed that hug.” She blushed, the color tinting her cheeks delicately and Rory was transported to another time and place. His body reacted with a need that surprised him. “One thing I must insist on though, Rory. I need to be able to pull my weight here until you decide what you want to do. If you point me in the right direction to a tool shed, I can go and do some more work on the cottage tomorrow. It’ll keep me busy and make me feel better about what I’ve done to you.”

Before he could say anything, Gina hurried into the lounge to check on her son and Rory stood there wondering what the hell had happened. He was still standing in the middle of the kitchen when Chance walked in.

“Gonna share why you have such a goofy look on your face and Gina was red eyed from crying?”

“What?”

“Oh man, you have it bad and you don’t even know it.” Chance walked past him and thumped him on the shoulder. “So I guess this means you’re not putting her on the first bus out of town then.”

“I wouldn’t do that to her. Don’t know why you thought I would.” He walked over and got a glass from the cupboard, pouring himself a large drink of water. Rory downed it all while trying to figure out why he reacted to her so readily. He hadn’t had sex in over three years, unless you counted taking himself in hand in the shower and feeling guilty about it afterwards. Rory couldn’t get over the feeling he was being disloyal to Cindy when it came to sex even though he knew it was wrong of him. So it stood to reason a good looking woman in his arms was bound to have an impact on his libido. For just a fleeting moment, he thought it was more than that. He pushed it down, not ready to take the thought any further with the image of his dead wife still firmly in his mind.