Love in Bloom (34 page)

That's where Clay came in.  He was teaching farmers newer methods of farming and expertise with repairing machinery--old  machinery and also new equipment that he'd ordered from generous private donations.  Clay had learned a handful of Spanish before their first trip six months after they were married.  Now, two years later, he could speak it almost as fluently as she could.

While Clay worked with the farmers, she healed, for six weeks every six months.  That might have to stop now.

Her senses picked up someone approaching and she swung around.  Clay was walking up the hillside, his shirt tied around his waist.  His bronze skin shimmered in the last rays of afternoon light.

She ran to meet him, her heart racing, because just the sight of him thrilled her as it had from the day they'd met.

He caught her against him and kissed her soundly.  Her pulse raced, desire sped through her, and she reveled in their physical and emotional closeness and the life they shared.  But that life was about to change.

Clay ended the kiss and laughed.  "I have to wash up before we continue this."

She ran her hands over his shoulders, inhaling his masculine scent, work and man and sun.  "You're fine as you are."

"Keep touching me like that and I'll be even finer."  He studied her face.  "I can tell you've been thinking.  What's going on?"

He could read her as easily as she could read him.  Yet she'd been hiding something the past few weeks.  Their hopes had been dashed a couple of times over the last two years and this time she'd wanted to be sure.

"I got an e-mail from Doc today.  He wants to take an extended vacation with Faye to make sure they're 'right' for each other."

Clay chuckled.  "They've been dating a year.  You think he'd know by now."

Paige smiled.  "It's hard for him to put his confirmed-bachelor days aside.  Anyway, instead of his working with me part-time and covering when I'm here, he wants me to think about taking on a partner."

"How do you feel about that?"

"I'll miss Doc terribly.  But it would give me more time to work at the women's clinic and..."

"And?"

"And hopefully I'd have someone to cover for me if I want to spend a few weeks or a month or so off."

"Off?  Are you thinking about doing more than two of these stints a year?"

"Mother would love that.  But, no.  I think this is enough to handle."

Love for Paige welled up and overflowed in Clay.  He remembered the first time she'd come to him with the idea of working in the field for six weeks.  She'd been concerned about his reaction, but he'd witnessed her excitement.  The more he questioned her about it, the more he'd realized he could make a contribution, too.  They could do it together.  It had been good for both of them, good for their marriage, good for their souls.  He hadn't had a nightmare since the first time he and Paige made love.  Maybe because he'd shared his secret, maybe because of the trust they'd given to each other, maybe because of their commitment.

Paige had found her boundaries.  Although Monica Conrad hadn't understood Paige's decision to stay in Langley, she hadn't been a barrier either once she'd realized she and her daughter were different.  She'd helped Paige find her niche.  For that Clay was grateful.

But now Paige was talking about a month or so off and he didn't understand why.  "Do you feel you need more of a break than you get when we return home?"  He smiled.  "Or are we planning a second honeymoon?  Shep loves staying with Doc and taking his runs in the woods while we're gone."

"I think we've lost our chance for a second honeymoon for a while.  I'm pregnant, Clay."

The news sped to his head like a jigger of aged whiskey.  After a stunned moment, he grabbed her by the arms.  "Are you okay?  Should we be here?  Maybe we should go home."

She stroked her fingers across his cheekbone.  "I'm fine.  Every day I teach women how to take care of themselves and their unborn children."

"This isn't just a missed period?"  Their traveling had thrown Paige's cycle off more than once, and they'd been disappointed when she wasn't pregnant.

Her voice now was certain, her blue eyes sure.  "No.  I tested myself this morning.  I'm pregnant, Clay.  We're going to have a baby."

He gathered her into his arms and held her for a long time.  His throat constricted.  He'd never realize he could love another person this much.

He remembered something he'd seen when he'd climbed the hillside.  Kissing her temple, he found his voice and said gently, "Don't move.  I'll be right back."

An inner whisper told Paige she'd heard those words before.  She smiled.  She'd discovered Clay was a gift giver.  Before they were married, she'd told him she wanted a simple gold band.  He'd given her that, plus an elegant pearl and diamond ring to wear when she wasn't working.  He often brought her surprises, a special blend of tea, a silk scarf that he said matched her eyes, a sweater she'd admired in a shop window.  But she appreciated one gift most of all.  She suspected Clay knew that.

He'd disappeared over the crest of the hill and reappeared a few minutes later.  In his hand, he held a bouquet of wild flowers--stems of tiny white petals, pink lacy fronds, cornflower-blue cups.

He offered them to her and she took them reverently into her hands, appreciating the delicate petals, the colors, the lingering scent.  Appreciating Clay.  "Do you know how much I love you?"

He smiled.  "If I counted each and every wild flower on the earth, would I get the idea?"

"You'd get the idea."

With the bouquet of wild flowers in one hand, the other one free to play in Clay's hair, she kissed him and felt the depth and breadth and magnitude of her love returned.  Their love would bloom and grow in the years to come.  She thought about holding their child in her arms, and then she let herself drown in their passion and love.

Clay lifted Paige into his arms, gazed into her eyes, carried her into the adobe house.  And then he kissed her again.

****

From the Author:

Love In Bloom, first published with Meteor/Kismet, was my fourth contemporary romance. Throughout all my books, I attempt to keep the emotion of my characters as the focus. My intention is always to touch my readers' hearts and urge them to believe in happily-ever-after. Since Love In Bloom, I've gone on to write over seventy novels, making both the USA Today List and the Borders Group Bestseller List. Living in Pennsylvania with my college sweetheart and two cats, I spend most days writing, editing, cooking and gardening. I draw inspiration from music, the farm in my back yard, and the frilly irises in my garden. Relationships have always fascinated me and I look forward to writing about them for a long time to come. For more about me and my latest releases, including excerpts, photos and short stories, please visit my website listed below.  To keep in touch day to day, follow me at Facebook and on Twitter. Look for more of my books on Kindle soon.

My website: 
http://www.karenrosesmith.com

Twitter: 
http://www.twitter.com/karenrosesmith

Facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1707769293

OTHER KAREN ROSE SMITH BOOKS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE:

Always Devoted

A Man Worth Loving

Because of Francie

Everyday Cinderellas

Everyday Prince Charming

Forever After

Garden
of Fantasy

Jake's Bride

Kit and Kisses

Mom Meets Dad

Nathan's Vow

Ribbons and Rainbows

Toys and Wishes

Wish on the Moon

Excerpt from ALWAYS DEVOTED:

Chapter One

"What do you believe happened to your sister?"

Emma Henderson felt her throat tighten and she found swallowing difficult.  She hated the glare of the television lights and found her gaze swinging away from the camera to offstage where Linc Granger stood.  The successful TV producer, who garnered high ratings with his specials, had convinced her this interview might help find Paige.  That was the only reason she'd agreed to do it.

"I don't know what happened to Paige, Ms. Kahill.  She left one afternoon to drive to San Francisco for the weekend and I haven't seen her since."  Emma's voice cracked.

She almost felt Linc Granger take a step forward.  To do what?  Stop the interview with journalist, Tessa Kahill?  To comfort her?  To tell her everything was going to be okay when she knew it wasn't?

"Her car was found on the shoulder of the highway and she was missing.  Can you tell me what your thoughts were when you found out?" the world-renown journalist asked.

"I was stunned.  I couldn't believe it.  At first we all thought she might have been kidnapped.  But there was no call...no note for ransom...nothing."

"You were on the police list of persons of interest for a while, weren't you?"

"Tessa!"  Linc Granger's deep voice rent the air with authority.  He told the technicians to cut and take five.  Then he strode up beside the interviewer.

His gaze connected to Emma's for a heart-stopping moment.

She tore her eyes from his and took a deep breath.  She shouldn't have this reaction to him.  He'd been compassionate toward her, protective even, and she was grateful.  That's all there was to it.

But as Linc and the beautiful, curly-haired interviewer argued over the questions for the remainder of the interview to be aired later in the week, Emma knew she felt a spark of something with Linc Granger she'd never felt with her late husband Barrett.

After another minute or two of discussion, Linc crossed over to her chair and towered over her.  He raked his hand through his dark brown hair, his green eyes turbulent.  "Tessa insists she has to go this route.  She thinks it's better if everything is out there in the public's face.  I don't necessarily agree.  I know you lost your husband a year ago and this is hard.  If you'd rather Tessa go in a different direction—"

As Emma shook her head, her honey-blond hair fell over her shoulder.  "The family is always questioned.  The family is always of interest.  It's okay, Mr. Granger."

"It's Linc," he said gently.  As cutting as his voice had been a few moments before, it was so different now. 

Ever since their first meeting, she'd felt strangely out of breath.  She was a mother with a four-year-old, and her sister was missing.  She couldn't think about anything else.