The Sheriff's Nine-Month Surprise by Brenda Harlen

Author:Brenda Harlen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-12-07T15:42:57+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Kate shook her head, exasperated by his unwillingness to give up on the idea—and increasingly tempted to take what he was offering. But for the moment, she held firm. “We’re not getting married.”

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the weekend we spent together in Boulder City,” he told her.

“I’m flattered,” she said. “But that’s no reason to start planning a wedding.”

“You’re right,” he agreed. “But what about a baby? Do you think having a baby is a good reason?”

“I’d say it depends on the preexisting relationship between the expectant parents,” she said. “If there was no preexisting relationship, then I’d have to say no—a baby is not a good reason to get married.”

“What if those two people, despite having no preexisting relationship, somehow just click whenever they’re together?”

“I’m not sure ‘click’ is either a valid or relevant factor,” she said dubiously.

“It’s both,” he insisted.

“Sometimes an attraction just confuses the issue,” she pointed out.

“I’ll admit to being confused about a lot of things, but wanting to marry you isn’t one of them.”

And when he said it like that, with unwavering conviction, she almost believed it was true. But she knew he didn’t really want to marry her, he just wanted to do the right thing. And she definitely didn’t want to have the same arguments with him again.

“We should get back,” she said instead. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

* * *

It was almost dark by the time they’d said their goodbyes to everyone and drove away from the ranch. Though Reid knew her family still had a lot of questions about his relationship with Katelyn, he considered the afternoon a success. Of course, everything would likely change when they found out she was pregnant, so he was grateful she didn’t seem to be in a hurry to share that news.

“Your family sure knows how to put on a barbecue,” he commented, fondly recalling the platters of ribs and burgers and sausages, heaping bowls of potato salad, coleslaw and macaroni and cheese, the enormous pot filled with homemade baked beans and baskets with thick slices of corn bread. It had seemed like a mountain of food, but the mountain was soon conquered by the Gilmores and their guests.

“My family doesn’t believe in doing anything by half measures,” she told him.

“I enjoyed meeting them,” he said as he turned onto the highway to head back into town. “Thank you for inviting me today.”

“I’m glad you survived,” she said, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I know they can be a little...overwhelming at times.”

A little overwhelming was something of an understatement. On the other hand, he’d enjoyed watching Katelyn with her relatives—the teasing and shorthand communications that develop through close relationships. The way one person would start a story only to have someone else pick up the narrative of the shared experience without missing a beat.

“You were lucky to grow up in such a close family.”

“I know,” she acknowledged. “Even if I didn’t always think so at the time.

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