Carmen patted the mare on the neck. “They’re both beautiful. Thank you.” She hugged Alex again. “I didn’t notice she was a female, today. I thought it was Ed. And when he came out of those trees without you . . . “ her voice broke. “I thought the worst.”

He stroked Carmen’s hair. “And when I came out of those trees, I thought the worst too . . . when I saw you and Josh together.”

Carmen gazed up at him. “I’m sorry. He was only comforting me, though.” She leaned back and met his somber gaze. “I don’t understand. If you were courting me from day one, as you said at the restaurant, then why were you so reluctant to get married?”

He squeezed her shoulders. “I wasn’t reluctant to get married. I was concerned about marrying a woman who was obviously still interested in another man. Every time I set the scene to ask you, his name would crop up . . . or he would. And then when you said you didn’t want to adopt children, I thought I didn’t have a right to ask you.”

She touched his lips with her fingers. “You were afraid I would drop you and marry Josh. Because he could give me what I wanted - just like that Nashville agent could give Tessa what she wanted.” She shook her head. “I’m not Tessa, Alex.”

“I know. You’re everything to me. She was using me to get everything she needed.” He smiled tenderly. “And you wouldn’t take anything from me.”

“Does my independent nature trouble you?”

He laughed. “No, I love it. Sometimes it’s kind of hard to figure you out, though. You have a habit of trying to hide your feelings - or disguise them. And then you’re such a strange combination of the past and present. You want the man to wear the pants, but you’re determined to do everything yourself.”

She gazed up at him. “Oh Alex, I can’t help but wonder if some day when I’m bloated and cranky, you’ll wish you hadn’t given up your freedom.”




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