Still staring at him, Melissa took the phone. “Hello?”
“Melissa, I’m so pleased to at least talk to you. Russ told us all about you Thursday night. I’m so grateful you encouraged him to contact me.”
“I—it was nothing.”
“No, my dear, it was everything. I’ve been torturing myself for almost thirty years. Now my life is truly happy.”
“I’m glad,” she murmured, feeling terrible. “Here’s Russ, Mrs. Blackman.” She handed the phone back to him and fought the urge to hide while he finished his conversation. But she couldn’t do that. He’d probably never speak to her again after her ugly accusations.
He hung up the phone and turned to face her. “Did you recognize her voice?”
She nodded, licking her suddenly dry lips. “I’m sorry. I assumed—”
“Tell me you love me.”
Only the demand. No assurances on his part, no promises, not even a smile.
But she owed him honesty.
“I love you.”
With a whoop of celebration, he lifted her into his arms, his lips greeting hers with the kiss she’d feared would never be hers again.
When he finally released her, too soon in her opinion, he asked, “Do you believe I love you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“And Mandy? Do you believe I love Mandy?”
She nodded.
“Then I suggest we find the closest spot to tie the knot, Melissa Bright, before I take you to bed again.”
She desperately wanted the same thing, but there was her business, her home. She wasn’t an eighteen-year-old starting out fresh. “But Chicago—”
“We’ll visit occasionally.”
“Russ, I can’t just pack up and leave. My company—”
“Chicago. We’ll visit Chicago occasionally. To see my family. I can’t turn my back on my mother now.”
“No, of course not, but your job—”
“I resigned this morning.”
“Before you came back to the apartment?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, Russ...” She reached out for him and he didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with all the love in him.
A plaintive wail interrupted them. “Mandy’s awake,” Melissa announced.
As she started toward the baby’s room, Russ caught her arm. “Let me,” he said.
Knowing how much Mandy would enjoy Russ’s attention, Melissa stood back to let him by, then followed him down the hall.
When he entered the room, the baby fell silent. As he reached for her, however, she squealed and bounced on her toes. “Da-da-da-da!”
“Yes, sweetheart, Daddy’s here.”
Melissa’s heart melted at his words. She and Mandy were very fortunate. They’d found a man who loved both of them. She stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and kissed her solidly on the lips.
Mandy patted his cheek and babbled, “Ma-ma-ma-ma!”
He pulled back. “Is your daughter protesting or encouraging us?”
“I don’t know,” she said, laughing, but her voice was trembly.
“Will I lose any brownie points if I put her in her playpen?”
She shook her head no.
Russ took the baby to the living room and sat her down, in spite of her protest. Drawing Melissa back into his embrace, he covered her lips with his. He didn’t ever want to let her go.
When he began unbuttoning her shirt, her hand covered his. “Russ, we can’t. Mandy.”
“Oh, yeah,” he agreed with a huff of frustration. “And I guess I wasn’t keeping my promise, anyway. I said I’d be patient.”
“I think patience is highly overrated,” she murmured, a smile on her lips that had him reaching for her again.
“When does Mandy take a nap?” he asked, his voice rough with desire.
“She’s already had her nap.”
“So we have to wait until she goes to sleep?”
Melissa nodded.
“Then you’d better take me to a hotel.”
Stunned, she stared at him, then noticed the teasing glint in his eyes. “Oh, no you don’t. That offer’s withdrawn. You’re staying right here. We’ll be frustrated together—until Mandy goes to bed.”
He pulled her close for another drugging kiss. “Okay,” he agreed. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. I love you, Russ.”
His heart leaped. He hadn’t realized how much he’d longed to hear those words.
“I love you, too. More than I’d ever thought possible.” Again he kissed her, a kiss that promised everlasting love. “I’ve made a lot of plans,” he told her.
“You have?”
“Yeah. I’m going to start my own firm here in Casper. And I’m going to build that house you loved.”
She drew back. “You are?”
He nodded. “For you and me and Mandy. And any other babies that come along.” His hand slid to her stomach. “Do you want other babies?”
“Oh, yes. I never wanted Mandy to be an only child. And I’d love to have your baby. If you want us to.”
“I’d feel like the luckiest man in the world, sweetheart. Mandy and I want all the babies we can get.”
“Mandy does? How do you know?”
“Because I was alone, like her.”
“Me, too.”
“Good. Then what do you say we work on that little project tonight?”
“Good idea,” she agreed.
He led her to the couch and settled her on his lap. They had another couple of hours before Mandy went to sleep, and he intended to get all the talking that needed to be done out of the way.
He planned to be busy later.
Thank God his bachelor days were over.
EPILOGUE
RUSS AND MANDY WERE in the den, stacking building blocks, while they waited for Melissa to get up from her nap. He’d insisted she lie down each afternoon now that she was so big with his child.
“Russ?” Her voice drifted down from upstairs.
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m coming.” He scooped up Mandy, much to her delight, and hurried up the stairs. They’d been in their new house for three months now. He’d hurried the construction so they could move in before Melissa got too far along in her pregnancy.
He entered the bedroom, a smile on his face. These days he smiled all the time.
Then he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Mommy?” Mandy said, echoing his worried tone.
“I’m okay,” Melissa assured them both, “but I think it’s time.”
Russ froze. He’d prepared for this day, taking classes with Melissa, reading books. But now the time had come, he felt a sudden panic. “You mean you’re in labor?”
“Yes. Call Natalie and then the doctor.”
She’d written those two numbers by every phone in the house. He’d teased her about it, but now he was glad. He couldn’t remember either one.
Natalie had moved to Casper to live with Mrs. Tuttle shortly after their wedding. She’d promised to come care for Mandy when the baby arrived.
“Natalie? It’s Russ. It’s time. Can you come right away?”
As soon as she agreed, he dialed the doctor’s number. “Dr. Pelham, it’s Russ Hall. Melissa’s in labor.” He turned to his wife. “He wants to know how far apart the contractions are.”
“About six minutes. I’ve been feeling some discomfort since this morning.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded, hurt that she’d kept it from him.
“Because you would’ve wanted to go to the hospital right away, and it wasn’t time,” she said calmly, a smile on her face.
He expelled a deep breath of frustration and repeated the information to the doctor. After receiving instructions, he hung up the phone. “Come on. We’re supposed to go to the hospital at once.”
“I know. Will you forgive me?”
He stood Mandy on the floor and drew Melissa into his arms. “I just want to protect you, sweetheart.”
“You do, Russ. Mandy and I are so well-protected and loved. We couldn’t be happier.”
“Me, neither,” he assured her before his lips covered hers. The kiss was ended when he felt her muscles tighten with another contraction.
He turned and headed for the stairs. “Come on, Mandy,” he called, not forgetting the little girl who’d taught him about babies.
“Okay, Daddy,” she agreed, grabbing his pant leg.
“Can you walk? he asked Melissa. “I’m afraid to leave Mandy to navigate the stairs by herself.”
Melissa agreed, but Mandy had no fear. She was already several steps down.
“Wait, Mandy. I’ll carry you,” he assured her. Once he’d carried her down, he hurried back to help Melissa. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, Mandy was on her way back up.
“Mandy, come back,” he called, going after her. “I never should’ve built a two-story house,” he muttered.
“The house is perfect, Russ.”
He returned to her side for another kiss, Mandy struggling in his arms to get free.
He raised his mouth from hers reluctantly. “If her brother is half as active as Mandy, I’m going to become skin and bones. I can’t keep up with her.”
Melissa grabbed his arm as another contraction seized her. “I—I think they’re getting closer together.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, worry filling him. The sound of a car had him running to the window. “Natalie is here. We’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes, sweetheart.”
He opened the door for their friend, handed Mandy over to her and guided Melissa out of the house.
“Oh, my suitcase. It’s in the hall closet,” Melissa reminded him.
He ran back in, grabbed the suitcase, kissed Mandy goodbye and raced to the car.
As he drove to the hospital, he once again counted his blessings. “You know, if our son ever wants to be in a bachelor auction,” he began, reaching over to pat her stomach, “I’m going to be all in favor of it.”
Melissa smiled. “Me, too.”
Russ pulled her closer, driving with one hand. “You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. But I’m in a hurry to meet the next Hall bachelor. I only hope he’ll be as perfect as his father.”
“I just hope he’ll be as lucky,” Russ said, and turned into the hospital parking lot.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460314210
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