Quiet Walks the Tiger - By Heather Graham Page 0,75

say those three little words.

He didn’t dispute her. Very tenderly he kissed her hands, then her forehead, then abruptly and with far less tenderness, he plucked her from the chair and into his arms, laughing at the startled expression that replaced her tears.

“My darling,” he explained, heading through the den door, “you came in like a prisoner of war to give me the most marvelous news of my life. Then you start weeping all over me! This, Mrs. Adams, is a time for celebration. We’ve a bottle of Asti Spumanti in the back of the fridge, and we’re going to toast one another to death. Hmmmmm...maybe I’ll do the majority of the toasting...I don’t believe you should be drinking too much...”

Sloan’s tears were changing to giddy laughter. “I can certainly have a glass of champagne!” she protested. “You forget, I’m an old hand at this.”

“Well, I’m not,” Wes protested, “And so you are going to follow all the rules. You don’t smoke, that’s good, and we can hire a teacher to work with Jim—”

“Hey!” Sloan protested, laughing as she was deposited on the kitchen counter while he prodded through the refrigerator. “I’m not going to stop dancing—I don’t have to, Wesley, really. I danced professionally until I was five months along with both Jamie and Laura.”

Wes stopped his prowling for a moment to gaze her way with stern eyes. “I don’t like it, Sloan. You’re ten pounds slimmer than you should be to begin with; you’ve been taking pills—” He halted abruptly; his stare seeming to narrow and bore into her. “Sloan,” he said tensely, “why were you taking those pills so long?”

“Because I didn’t know, Wesley,” she explained quickly. Oh God, she thought mournfully, could he really believe that she would try to lose his child? “I’m afraid I’ve never known for quite some time.” She was blushing again; how ridiculous. “I didn’t even suspect until Monday morning, and probably only then because we had been talking...” How lame she sounded. “But it’s all right, Wes, really it is. Many women take pills accidentally, and, and, nothing happens.”

His gaze softened. “You really do want this baby?”

“Yes.” She kept her eyes level with his. “I told you that I did, and I mean that, Wes.” She didn’t tell him how good it felt, how wonderful to cherish and nourish his child within her.

“All right,” he said gruffly, “you can keep teaching then—for a while—but we won’t stretch it too far. And you can have one glass of Asti Spumanti.” His eyes had taken on a twinkle, and she felt like crying again with relief. Things were going to be all right.

Then she was in his arms again, laughing as he stuffed the cold bottle and two crystal glasses into her hands so that he could carry her.

“What about your work?” she demanded as he booted open the door to their bedroom.

“It won’t go anywhere,” he promised gravely. And then the door was being slammed behind them, and she was laughing while he undressed her. She still attempted to hold the champagne and glasses and feel the inevitable warmth and sensual stimulation steal over her with his commanding touch...

Things were going to be all right.

And they were all right. Wes started coming into the studio with her, telling her he was looking at books, but she was sure he was watching over her.

She didn’t mind the feeling.

In fact, the only spur in her existence was an uneasy feeling in the back of her mind which she usually managed to ignore. Wes had been back in Gettysburg for two full weeks, and he hadn’t mentioned a thing about Kentucky. She knew he hadn’t decided to remain in the north indefinitely—his business holdings outside of Louisville were too vast for him to suddenly forget them. She also knew that he loved his home, his work, and the prestigious empire he and his brother had created together. She was aware that he would have to be going back—but he made no reference to her going with him. She should bring it up, she told herself, but she was loath to do so. She didn’t dare do a thing to mar the happiness the announcement of the child had brought them both. As long as things were moving along so very comfortably, she couldn’t dare make a change that might be disastrous. She was also still afraid of answers she might receive if she questioned too closely. She didn’t want to take a chance on