“Did the doctor tell you an approximate due date?”
“Next May.”
“Then we should have that wedding soon,” he said, and her eyes flared.
“I’ll do what I feel I have to do,” she said, the old tension coming between them again. He could feel the first stir of his own anger over her answer. Trying to curb it, reminding himself of the huge upheaval this would cause in her life, he crossed the space between them to draw her to her feet and place his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened.
He could feel barriers coming up between them. Anger plagued him over her stubborn refusal to cooperate, which showed in her body language as well as her facial expression.
But who was he kidding? In spite of the problems and differences between them, he still wanted her—in his arms, in his bed. The minute he touched her, that familiar desire flared up in every part of him, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he caught the same response in her.
Unable to resist any longer, he pulled her into his arms to kiss her hard and passionately. For an instant she pushed against him, but he couldn’t step away if he wanted to, and in seconds, her arm went around his neck and she surrendered to his kiss. It was all the invitation he needed.
In one motion he peeled away her black dress while he continued to kiss her. When her bra was gone, he caressed her breasts, kissing first one and then the other. Her moans and soft breaths encouraged him to take her. He paused only long enough to strip off his clothes. Then, naked and hard, he picked her up and lowered her onto the sofa. Without a second’s hesitation he entered her in one smooth thrust. She was ready for him. Hard and fast, they moved together. Quickly, desperately, she clutched him to her as she climaxed with him, her cries muted by his frantic kisses. They both gasped for breath as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over them.
For Tony, though it was fast and furious, this was the best lovemaking he’d ever had. He leaned back to tell her as much till he saw the look in her eyes. He’d expected a contented haze; instead, he found a storm brewing in their blue depths.
She stared at him and he could feel her anger rising again.
Instead of lashing out, she simply pushed him off her. “I’m going to shower, Tony. I’ll be back shortly,” she said, still breathless. She yanked up her clothes and left.
He watched her walk away and wondered if he could ever get her to listen and cooperate or if they were at an impasse. Gathering his clothes, he went to find a bathroom and dress. As he did, his thoughts were on Lindsay. Would she even talk to him when she came back?
He returned to wait and soon she entered the room. As always, she made his heart beat faster. “You look gorgeous.”
She had changed from her dress and wore a white linen blouse and white slacks with white high-heeled sandals and she still looked good enough to model.
“Thank you,” she said in a dismissive manner, as if she barely heard what he had said. “Tony, I think our evening is over. I don’t feel like dinner together.”
He tried to curb the flash of anger that returned. Stubborn, stubborn woman who wanted life her way and her way only.
He wouldn’t leave, not without reiterating his proposal. “Lindsay, the logical thing is for us to get married. Think about it tonight.”
“I will,” she said, but from the way she replied, with anger in her voice, he suspected the next time he saw her, he would get only arguments about marrying.
She raised her chin. “Do you really think we can get along in day-to-day living?”
They stared at each other and he felt the palpable clash of wills.
“See. I proved my point,” she said. “Frankly, Tony, I’m trying to hang on to my temper. I really would like to scream at you for getting me pregnant, except I know full well that I had as much part in that happening as you did.”
“Thank you for that one.” At least she was rational. “Lindsay, I just see one solution and I hope you’ll come to the same conclusion.”
“We irritate each other.”
“Sometimes, but we can get past the problems. I know now that beneath the tough rancher is a stunning, sexy woman who can simply melt me.”
“Tony,” she said impatiently, “whatever we found compatible in the past few weeks since the night of the auction...it’s gone. That’s over.”
“Not altogether,” he remarked drily. “We found it again less than an hour ago.”
Anger flashed in her expression. She closed her mouth tightly while she glared at him.
“I know we need to work this out,” she said after a few minutes of silence. “I just can’t be the same person with you that I was.”
“Don’t stop communicating. I won’t be cut off from my child. I want this baby in my life and I feel strongly that, if possible, a baby needs both a mom and a dad. That isn’t always feasible, but in this case, it damn sure is, Lindsay,” he said, trying to keep his temper.
Again, he got a glacial stare. “I know it, Tony. We both caused this and I agree that we both need to be in our baby’s life. But don’t pressure me,” she snapped.