"She spoiled the surprise," Sharon said, her shoulders sagging.
"Surprise?" Now it was Tay's turn to look dumbfounded. "Oh, it was a surprise, all right. The message was that he will assist you in closing the Sun City deal as soon as you inherit the ranch property.''
Sharon looked at him, understanding everything in a second, unsure how to proceed.
“Nothing to say?'' Tay asked, raising his brows.
"Tay, I think you misunderstood the message."
"It was pretty clear. You've been planning all along to dump me and sell your half of the ranch to Sun City."
"Wrong."
He stared at her. "What? You think I'm going to fall for some new lie you've dreamed up? Hell, Sharon, I know you think I'm stupid. I can't say I blame you after the stuff I've swallowed during the last few weeks, but give me credit for some brains at least."
"Tay, listen to me. I'm not going to sell my share of the ranch. Pete was talking about a different deal."
"A different deal," he said, shaking his head. "I can't wait to hear this one."
Sharon told him about the letter she'd received from Citrus Farms, and how she was planning to buy the northern tract from Sun City. While she talked she could see his attitude change as he began to understand, and he finally interrupted her to say, "Why didn't you tell me about any of this?"
"I wanted to solve it for you, not bother you with it. You were buying those horses and you'd already put up the money...." Her voice trailed off into silence. She added, “Rosa told me to bring you in on it."
He sighed. "Rosa was right. God, Sharon, do you know what kind of night I just spent, thinking..."
"I know what you were thinking." She took a step closer to him. "Tay, maybe I was wrong not to tell you, but how could you jump to that conclusion?''
He shrugged, and shook his head.
She moved over to sit next to him and said quietly, "Darling, are you ever going to believe that I love you?"
He put his arm around her. "You just keep showing me and I will."
'' I have something important to tell you.”
"What is it?"
Sharon kissed him as she told him her news, and he responded, drawing her down with him to the carpet of grass on the edge of the stream.
Epilogue
"Danny, stop banging that spoon on the table and eat your lunch," Sharon said.
The dark haired four-year-old took one bite of his sandwich and started tapping the spoon on his plate.
Sharon put down the kettle she was holding and took the spoon out of his hand.
"Where's Daddy?" Danny said.
"He'll be here in a minute.''
"You said that hours ago." Danny's concept of time was a little vague.
"Just be patient."
“You always say that.''
"It's good advice, especially in view of the genes you inherited from your father."
"What are genes?"
"Part of a chromosome that..." She stopped. "Never mind, take my word for it."
"Daddy's bringing me a horse."
"Daddy's bringing you a pony, but not today, please God," Sharon said fervently.
"When?"
"Soon."
"You said the baby was coming soon."
"That's right." She glanced down at her burgeoning stomach. In about a month, she thought.
The door opened and Tay breezed in.
"Daddy!" Danny screamed as if he hadn't seen him that morning.
"How's my boy?" Tay said, snatching the child out of his chair. He swung the boy into the air and kissed Sharon's cheek at the same time.
"Hi," she said. "Where's Rosa?"
"Outside talking to Miguel. She'll be inside in a minute."
"The doctor's appointment is at one-thirty."
"Relax, we'll make it." He grinned.
"Unless I have the baby right here," Sharon said in an undertone.
“Not planning on it, are you?'' Tay asked.
“Baby! Baby!'' Danny yelled.
"Attaboy," his father said.
"Where's my pony?" Danny said, encouraged by the approval.
"I told you that we would go look at some later this week," Tay said.
"Tonight?" the child asked.
Tay looked at Sharon. "I think he has a vocabulary problem."
"No, he just wants what he wants, like his daddy," Sharon said, going back to the stove.
"I beg your pardon," Tay said, putting his son on the floor and hugging her from behind.
"Babysitter's here," Rosa announced, coming through the door.
"I'm not a baby," Danny said.
"Get it straight, Rosa," Tay advised her. "Once the new arrival is on the scene, Dan will expect to be treated with the proper amount of respect, as befits a senior citizen."
''How's Pilar?" Sharon asked Rosa.
"Nervous."
"Remember not to make any plans for tomorrow night," Sharon said to Tay. "The recital at UCLA is at eight, and we're meeting my clients after that.''
"I want to go," Danny announced.
"Only dance lovers over sixteen are permitted," Tay told him. "Mrs. Hendrix is coming to take care of you."
“She has a moustache,'' Danny said.
"Danny!" Sharon said reprovingly.
Tay turned away, smiling.
"You'd better get going,'' Rosa said to him.
Sharon picked up her purse and followed Tay out the door. "See you later," she called back, blowing her son a kiss.
"Mommy looks fat," Danny said to Rosa after his parents had left.
"That will change soon, mijo," Rosa said.
"Can we play the domino game?" Danny asked.
"Finish your sandwich first."
"Then can we play?"
"Yes," Rosa said, glancing out the window to see Tay helping Sharon into the car.
He bent over and kissed his wife as he closed her door, and Rosa smiled.
THE END
* * * * * * * *
NEW REALEASES BY
DOREEN OWENS MALEK
www.doreenowensmalek.com
AMANDA’S BLUE MARINE
Brand new, never previously published Contemporary Romance
AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AT AMAZON.COM
AND IN PRINT AT WWW.DOREENOWENSMALEK.COM
ON
JANUARY 22, 2012
When Amanda Redfield, an assistant district attorney from a wealthy Philadelphia family, is harassed by a mysterious stalker, she meets Brendan Kelly, the detective assigned to her case. Smart and capable but deeply troubled, Kelly protects Amanda while he works to find her tormentor, but his disturbing presence and rogue behavior disrupt Amanda’s settled life. She is helplessly drawn to the sexy and charming but barely controlled cop. As their passion grows she must choose between her privileged past and an uncertain future with a man who is spiraling out of control. How she draws on her wits and resources to rescue Kelly as surely as he once rescued her makes for a powerful and satisfying love story.
* * * * * * * *
FEBRUARY 2012 RELEASE
MEN OF INTRIGUE: A TRILOGY
MEN OF INTRIGUE is a collection of three previously published contemporary romances available in print only prior to this digital release. The trilogy includes:
MONTEGA’S MISTRESS
A sheltered heiress finds fulfillment and adventure with a Central American revolutionary when she aids an injured stranger whose mission transforms her life
DANGER ZONE
A mercenary rescues a political hostage and can’t forget the woman he saved as their love spans the globe, binding them in an unforgettable passion
DEVIL’S DECEPTION
A Federal agent goes undercover as a bodyguard for a mobster’s niece and finds romance and betrayal when he falls for his charge
* * * * * * * *
ALSO NEW FROM
DOREEN OWENS MALEK
COMING LATER IN 2012 ON AMAZON
ABRA’S ARRANGED MARRIAGE
&nbs
p; (Contemporary Romance)
A law student marries her estranged stepbrother to keep him out of jail, then discovers a new life of sensuality and commitment with the last man on earth she would have chosen
THE HIGHWAYMAN RETURNS
(Elizabethan Historical Romance)
Sequel to the immensely popular THE HIGHWAYMAN, downloaded 17,000 times in its first three days of digital release
OTHER WORKS
BY
DOREEN OWENS MALEK
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AND/OR IN PRINT AT
www.doreenowensmalek.com
The Panther and The Pearl
Panther's Prey
The Lion and the Lark
The Raven and the Rose
Clash by Night
Fair Game
The Highwayman
Torchlight
Big Sky Drifter
Daddy’s Choice
Officer and a Gentlewoman
Made for Each Other
Another Life
ADDITIONAL DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
SCHEDULED FOR FUTURE RELEASE 2012
Gypsy Autumn
Arrow In The Snow
The Harder They Fall
Above The Law
Marriage in Name Only
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
A Marriage of Convenience Page 22
