Page 25 of Bryson

"Are you going to carry me around everywhere?" she asked as he lifted her from the wheelchair and into the passenger seat of the jeep. She had been sprung from the hospital, which was a relief as she had been going insane, just lying in bed. The room might have had all the amenities of a five-star hotel, but staying put had fried her nerves. But she was aware that she was exchanging one elegant prison for another.

"If that's what it takes, yes." Putting her down, he secured the seatbelt around her before rounding the hood and getting behind the wheel.

"I don't want to go to the ranch." She had been having this argument since the week started and he had ignored her.

"You have no choice." He shifted into drive, glancing at her briefly and noticing the fire in her eyes.

"I have a damn choice. I'm a grown-ass woman and you cannot just order me around as if I'm a child."

"You're with child." He exercised patience as he navigated the midday traffic. It was difficult to believe that it had been a week since he received the call from her that had scared ten years off his life.

"You have a difficult pregnancy. The doctors said it's going to take some time for you to start doing normal things again. You almost miscarried, almost lost our baby, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that you and our baby are okay. Even if it means you lashing out at me for it. I intend to take care of you, even if I have to place guards outside the doors of our bedroom to do so."

The glaring look she threw at him was lost because he was not looking at her. "I'm beginning to hate you."

He threw her a mild look and was not even offended, damn him!

"That's fine. As long as you're all right, I can take anything."

"I'm going to make things miserable for you."

"Is that so?" he asked in a mildly interested tone. "How so?"

She wanted to scream at his reasonable tone. Nothing she did was getting a rise out of him. And she felt like a bitch.

"Oh, bite me," she muttered, settling back and closing her eyes. Her eyes popped open when she felt the slight pinch on her cheek.

"Your wish is always my command." Amusement glittered in his eyes as she turned her head to stare at him.

"You bit me."

"You asked me to."

"You're a moron." She had to bite down on the mirth springing from her throat. "I still hate you."

Leaning over, he stole a quick kiss before the lights changed. "And I love you."

Settling back, she turned her head to look out the window at the passing scenery. The evidence of the storm had all but disappeared. She had heard from her bed in the hospital that he had put men on the job to do the cleaning up and restore the power lines. In between his constant visits to the hospital and his responsibilities at the ranch, he had seen to his town. The man was a typhoon, she thought whimsically. Brian had not been surprised to receive the call that she was staying.

"Honey, it's for the best. I will let the others know. Just take care of yourself and that young one you're carrying."

Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. Going back to the ranch to face his mother was not something she was relishing, not one bit.

To her frustration, he insisted on carrying her inside. Her hopes that she would avoid seeing his mother were dashed as soon as they stepped into the lofty foyer. Barbara McNab swept into the hallway as soon as they crossed the threshold, her sharp green eyes taking in the way her son was holding the woman she did not approve of.

"Mother."

"You missed supper. Ms. Merrywood, welcome to our home." Julianne raised her brows at the polite and slightly condescending tone and had a feeling that the woman was making it clear that she was merely a guest and an unwelcome one at that. "If you're hungry..."

"They fed me at the hospital, thanks anyway." Julianne turned towards Bryson. "I really need to lie down."

"Of course. I'll be right down. Please tell the kitchen not to bother rustling up anything for me. I need to go out and check on some fences. I will get something to eat with the men."

Barbara nodded, turning to watch as her son strode towards the staircase and bounded up the stairs. Schooling her expression, she made her way into the lovely blue and white salon where she had been dealing with her correspondence.

"This is humiliating," she muttered as he placed her carefully against the pillows.

"You're going to have to be more specific," he told her mildly as he pulled the sheets over her and sat at her hip.