savored each piece of steak. He was dying to ask about the pregnancy. He knew she had some news—he could tell by the set of her shoulders and the tension in her jaw when he hinted. If he wasn’t such a coward, he’d just come out and ask.
He was afraid he wouldn’t prevent his face from falling in time if she wasn’t pregnant. In his mind he’d worked out all the next steps in their life thanks to that wonderful accident. If she wasn’t, it would be completely fine, but now he had gotten the idea of a family with her in his head. The thought had stuck.
“So, Romeo, what’s next?” Sara asked, reaching for her water.
She hadn’t accepted wine throughout dinner. Wanted hot tea, instead. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but…
“Well, we can hit the bar for a drink…” he said.
A vein pulsed on her jaw. “How about a movie and some cuddling?”
“Men don’t cuddle.”
“Snuggle, then. Or canoodle.” She gave him a mischievous grin.
He nodded to the waiter, bartender, owner, and server, all in one man, stationed near the bar with a watchful eye. Immediately, but in no hurry, the man turned toward his adding machine and a scrap of paper.
With a smile, Mike turned back to Sara. “While there is a movie theatre, there is only one screen. We can try, but ready yourself for disappointment.”
“Well, then…” She unconsciously rolled her shoulders a fraction. “Um, what about going to that place where we first caught up? Overlooking the valley.”
“I thought you wanted a bed for our… cuddling.”
“Oh, I see.” She laughed. “You only use the word cuddling when you get a happy ending.”
He couldn’t help his grin as the bill came, slowly but surely. Mike slapped down a credit card before the ticket even hit the table. With a near silent grunt, the waiter about-faced on old bones and headed back to the till.
“That would be a perfect place to end the night. What time do you have to be at the ranch tomorrow?” Mike asked, his palms starting to sweat.
“Not until nine thirty or so, though I would like to take a look around the ranch hands’ quarters and see how their supply system is set up.”
“Won’t stop until you have everything organized within an inch of its life, huh?” Mike laughed, reaching for the slip as Gus returned.
“Wouldn’t you prefer never to run out of stuff?”
Mike stood, and then held the chair for Sara. “I would, yes. Toilet paper shouldn’t be a luxury.”
“So gross.”
As they walked out to the car, Sara held out her hand, but not to hold. Palm up, fingers wiggling, a grin took up her face. “Looks like it drives really nice-like.”
“Nice-like?” Mike said, fishing out the keys. “I thought you wanted to be chauffeured on dates.” He dropped the keys into her palm. “Thought you said I should give the car back…”
“And I thought you said it lost a bunch of value. Or something or other.” She clicked the unlock button and headed to the driver’s-side door. “It seems wrong to waste it.”
Laughing, Mike followed her and opened the car door. To her questioning gaze, he said, “I’m all for women’s lib, but in compromise, you have to let me continue to be a gentleman.”
She tilted her head up, and he complied, bending down for a light kiss. His body got a zing and his hard-on returned. He tried to ignore it. He sensed the final reveal coming up, and he didn’t want to wait any more. He needed to know where they stood.
The purr of the motor and soft country music lent the otherwise quiet ride a peaceful melody. Sara was debating what was to come, Mike could see it. Even though she wasn’t talking, he could tell when she was freaking out about some decision or other. And judging by the swishing hair, her grip on the steering wheel, and occasional clearing of her throat, she was absolutely freaking out.
She must be pregnant. She had to be. It wouldn’t be this big of a deal to her if she wasn’t.
Would it?
He should just ask her. What sort of a coward wouldn’t just open his trap and ask?
“Just here,” Mike said quietly, indicating the turnoff onto the long driveway up to the ranch.
“I probably should have let you drive after all,” she replied in a hush, leaning forward to peer out the window. “A streetlight or two wouldn’t go amiss.”
“Yeah, it can get a little darker up here. Are you