Tempt Me With Kisses by Phoebe Conn

Author:Phoebe Conn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2014-11-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Sunday dawned bright and warm, and Daniel hoped the beauty of the day would help to make their second visit to his parents' ranch far more pleasant than the first. He searched through their crowded wardrobe and encouraged Harmony to wear a silk gown with an iridescent copper hue that provided the perfect compliment to her glossy auburn curls.

"Please wear this," he said. "You always look beautiful, but this gown is especially nice."

Harmony eyed the elegant dress's tiny waistline and sighed nervously. "How much longer do you suppose I'll be able to fit into my clothes?"

He understood her concern. She had become pregnant in the third week of January. It was now early April. "You've another month at least before you'll have any noticeable change in your figure. I think you've lost weight rather than gained any so far, so it may be longer. Please don't fret over it."

She tried to smile as he handed her the dress. "I just wish,—" she began, but suddenly too shy to continue, she turned away.

He reached out for her shoulder and gently turned her back toward him. "Yes, I know. Things have never been easy for us, but I promised you a happy life, and I mean for you to have it. My family will only be thrilled about the baby. They won't criticize us. Anyone who would be stupid enough to gossip about us isn't worth knowing. Let's just try and have a nice time today. I intend to tell my father to say anything he feels compelled to say to me in private from now on. I'll not allow him to upset you again."

"No, I'd rather he confronted us both."

He placed a sweet kiss on her forehead. "The matter is settled, Harmony. Don't argue with me."

She appreciated his desire to protect her from any unpleasantness, but at the same time unhappy about being excluded from any part of his life. With any luck his father would also wish to avoid making scenes. She had another concern, however. "You needn't tell Concha to come every day. If you'd just let me help you, I'm sure I'd have plenty to do. I could greet your patients, keep track of their records, and tally your accounts. I'd not be bored if I were with other people all day."

He exhaled a deep breath. "I thought we were talking about my family."

"Yes, we were," she apologized. "I shouldn't have changed the subject so abruptly, but you said that's settled, and I'd like for tomorrow to be settled as well. I can go shopping and run errands when Concha's here. At other times I'd like to be of help to you, and not simply when you need extra assistance."

He began to deny her request, but quickly thought better of it. "Most of my patients are simple folk. I doubt you'll find them amusing."

She tried not to let her exasperation show, but was only partly successful. "Why must I keep reminding you that I don't need to be constantly entertained? I just want to be useful.

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