"Loren, querida, I'm sorry about that part of your life. But what does that have to do with us?"
"Oh, God, Reid, please try to understand what I'm about to say. From a woman's view . . . from my view!" Her blue eyes begged, and he nodded his willingness. How could he do otherwise?
Loren slumped at the small table and continued to talk. "When my mother married Dad, she gave up a promising career in the theater. She wasn't able to pursue her person- al goals here in Washington. As a politician's wife, she was involved in a social whirl beyond her control. You know what it's like. There was always something going on. She felt totally unfulfilled and blamed it on my father, especially after she became ill. I watched her bitterness grow. We don't want that to happen to our relationship, Reid." Tears filled her blue eyes as Loren implored him to understand. "I vowed that I would not compromise my goals for a man. Six years ago I felt the same way, but my career wasn't as satisfying then as it is now. I love my job and can't give it up. I will not jeopardize our relationship with the bitterness that comes from self-sacrifice."
Reid's reaction was not at all what she expected. No more angry outbursts. No pacing and raving. He sat down opposite her, encasing her icy hands in his warm, capable ones, and smiled. A gentle smile that revealed the single dimple in one cheek that she loved so much. In a low tone he asked, "Is that why, Loren? Is that why you refused me six years ago? Were you afraid of losing your identity and goals, for me?"
She nodded sadly but gratefully, her heart reaching out to the man she loved. He understood. What had seemed like an insurmountable explanation was summed up by Reid in a few succinct words . . . and with a smile. Her career was important to her, and she didn't want him to belittle it as Mark had done.
"Do you want to have your career and a family too? Or are you saying that you don't desire the same things I do?"
One nervous hand reached to caress his face. "Oh, Reid, I love you so. I do want you. And a family. I still grieve that I lost our baby six years ago. But—"
"Well, then, my lovely lady lawyer, surely you can figure out how to juggle all of that. I have never—never —asked you to give up anything in order to marry me. I wouldn't make demands like that on you, Loren, especially since it's so vital to you. All I'm asking is that you be my wife. You don't have to give up your career."
"But, Arizona is where you live—"
"For now it is, querida. You can have it all. Keep your clients here in D.C. and set up an office there too. Dios mío! Look what you did for the few women you met in Arizona, and you were only there a week. Imagine what you could do if you lived there, part time, of course. They need you. And so do I, mi amor. "As if to convince her, Reid moved deftly to her side, urging her up into his strong arms. Large hands gently cupped her face, turning it to meet his ardent lips. The kiss conveyed a love that had endured six long, lonely years and convinced her that a future together was possible. Entirely possible.
"Two offices?" she murmured, when he lifted his lips. "Are you sure I ... we can manage that?"
He kissed her again, little sipping kisses, as though he were tasting fine wine all over her face. "Of course. I'll fly you across the country to keep up with your eastern clients. People do it all the time. I don't think I could stop you, Loren, but after seeing you in action, I wouldn't want to. Your job is valuable, to others as well as to you. This is something you should do. We can make it work. We will, mi amor. I don’t want a mistress. I want a wife. I want you to have my name and everything that goes with it."
"Then we'll keep this little town house?"
He kissed a sizzling trail to her earlobe. "Sure. Who knows? I may consider a political career in the future. I've grown to love this city, too, especially if I can be here with you. When we come back for business, we'll need a place to stay."
"I—I just didn't think of being in both places." She smiled with relief, stretching eager arms around his neck.
Reid's capable hands were stroking her back, positioning her against him. "You didn't ask your man, lady lawyer. You should have known I would figure out a way to keep you this time. I couldn't let you go . . . couldn't leave you. Loren, I have always loved you. From the moment I first saw you, first made love to you in that antique brass bed upstairs, I fell in love with the lady with the bluest eyes I've ever seen."
She pulled his lips down to hers. "And I fell in love with the dark-eyed cowboy with scuffy boots from Arizona."
His kiss halted her words and caught her breath. "That sea captain's wife and her Hessian lover had nothing on us, mi amor."
Loren giggled as a light giddiness overwhelmed her. She had wasted so much time worrying, wondering, mourning Reid's loss, even before he was gone, that she just couldn't shift her thinking so quickly. All she knew was that she wouldn't be losing him. They would be together, and she wouldn't be losing anything. She would be gaining everything.
"Reid." She approached him seriously. "Do you really think it will work? I can keep my office here? My clients? Our town house? And have children running over the ranch?"
He shrugged. "We can handle all of that. The kids are up to you, Loren. Can we have another child?"
"The doctor told me there was no reason why I couldn't. Well, only one reason . . ." She hedged with a teasing twinkle in her eye.
"I'll certainly do my part!" Reid assured her heartily with a grin. "You can have it all, mi amor. Anything you want." His kisses reached the pulsing hollow of her throat.
The moment was interrupted with a single ‘me-oww.’ They looked down and there was Angel, winding her beautiful white furry self around Reid’s leg. “Does that mean she likes me?”
“I think she’s getting used to you. Think we could take her to Arizona?”
“Oh honey, you can take anything you want to Arizona. And I have to leave soon."
"I'll go with you, Reid. I want to be there. So we both have things to do and phone calls to make." Loren was suddenly serious.
"I'll cancel dinner with the governor and make reservations on the first flight out."
"Reservations? We're not flying in your plane?"
"There isn't time. We'll fly back later to get it. It'll give us a good excuse to make love again in the brass bed upstairs."
Loren smiled, her blue eyes glistening with happiness. "I'll call Althea and tell her the good news."
He kissed her soundly. "Break it to her gently."
"Yes, gently . . ." Loren felt a great surge of joy rising within her.
"And don't forget next spring."
"Next spring?"
"We’ll celebrate in the bluebonnets ... in Texas . . . you and me . . ."
Loren's laughter echoed against ancient brick walls and floated up narrow stairs past the brass bed, through the attic of the little town house on Prince Street.
Mexican food that Loren and Reid enjoyed in A Lasting Love
Tortilla Soup
8 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips
1 Tblsp. olive oil
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large, cooked chicken breasts, skinned, de-boned & cubed
6 – 8 cups of chicken stock
1 cup whole corn kernels
¼ cup cilantro
4 green onion, chopped
1 large mild jalapeño , minced (optional)
Bake corn tortilla strips on a cookie sheet @ 350 until lightly browned and set aside.
In a large soup pot with olive oil on medium heat, sauté garlic, tomatoes, chicken breasts, cilantro, and green onions about 4 minutes. Then add corn and cook another 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and cook 15 minutes and in last 5 minutes, add jalapeños if you dare. Top soup with browned tortilla strips. You’ll have great soup in no longer than 30 minutes.
Bírria
4-5 lb. chuck roast or flank steak
2 bay leaves
2 large cloves garlic
1 can beer
2 jalapeños, seeds & veins removed
<
br /> 1 tsp. oregano
1 large onion, sliced
Put all items into a Dutch oven or other pan with a lid and cook in oven @ 300 for 4-6 hours. Beef is ready when it is so tender it falls apart when pulled with fork. Put the meat in a bowl and continue to shred the meat. Remove the bay leaves from the beef juice and store in the refrigerator for a few hours so you can remove the fat. Then blend the remaining juice to serve warm as a light sauce to accompany your Bírria.
This meat is usually served with Spanish Rice, Charro Beans, finely shredded cabbage or lettuce and tortillas of choice. Serves 8 - 12.
Mary Tate Engels, author of more than 30 romance novels, soon to be on ebooks at Smashwords, also has two non-fiction southwest history books with Texas Tech University Press: Tales from Wide Ruins, Jean and Bill Cousins, Traders; and Corazon Contento – Sonoran Recipes and Stories from the Heart, co-authored with Madeline Gallego Thorpe. She has three sons, two granddaughters, has raised a wolf in her back yard, and has adopted two black cats for good luck.
Discover other titles by Mary Tate Engels at www.smashwords.com
Book page to sample or purchase Loves Dawning: http://smashwords.com/b/28521
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Table of Contents
A Lasting Love
A Lasting Love Page 16
