Page 26 of Bryson

"Your mother and the staff saw you carrying me inside as if I'm a child."

"Really? You want to go there?" Leaning over, he kissed the pout off her lips. "You're being paranoid."

"I'm being practical. You cannot keep doing this. I cannot keep doing this. The doctors said I can walk. I'm not used to just lying around and not doing anything. I need to get some exercise."

"And you can do that by walking around the room at intervals. I mean it, darling. If I have to post guards inside the room to make sure you stick to the doctors' orders, that's what I'll do." He flicked a finger on her forehead that had her glaring at him. "You're too damned stubborn for your own good."

"Oh, just go away."

"I will and hope that when I return, your disposition will have improved." He grinned at the dirty look she threw him.

"Don't count on it."

Sitting back down, he pushed the tendrils of curls from her forehead. "I'm in love with you." He shook his head when she opened her mouth. "I don't need you to make jokes or brush it aside. I love you, Julianne, and this is me telling you that I would do anything for you. And if that means keeping you safe, keeping our baby safe, then so be it."

Julianne felt her throat thickening as the tears threatened to fall and could not find the words to respond. But he didn't seem towant words. Bending his head, he took her lips and gave her the sweetest, most melting kiss she had ever had. Her arms came around his neck as she held him there, just savoring his potent mouth, the tingle of awareness racing through her body.

"Christ!" he whispered hoarsely, reluctantly ending the kiss. "I just might have to take a bloody cold shower before heading out."

"You started it."

"Yes, I did." He cupped her face between his palms. "Stay in bed." With a last rough-tender kiss on her lips, he left.

Pressing a hand to her stomach, she blew out a breath and realized that unlike before, she could not simply leave. She loved him so much that leaving was no longer an option. And he loved her. As much as she tried to downplay her feelings, he wasn't afraid to express his. He had often accused her of not taking him seriously. But she did, and she was scared, afraid that he was going to leave just like her father did.

She had been to therapy, and even if the sessions had not ended up with the therapist explaining about abandonment issues, she would have known that was what was wrong with her.

But he had changed her mindset, and she could no longer ignore or deny it. Sliding down on the pillows, she closed her eyes and drifted off.

He made several stops before he headed out. The first thing he did was inform a maid to check in on Julianne to make sure she did not need anything and the housekeeper to instruct the kitchen on what to prepare for her later on.

Then he stepped into the salon where his mother was sitting at her desk.

"I thought you already left."

"I wanted to take care of some things before." He glanced at the monogrammed invitations on the desk. "Those are for the Governor's ball?"

"We decided to host it this year if you'll recall."

He waved a dismissive hand. "You're the one who usually handles those things." Pulling up a chair, he turned it around and straddled it. "I need to talk to you."

She knew exactly what the discussion would be and was not looking forward to it.

"Yes?"

"I want her to be comfortable here, Mother."

"I'm perfectly capable of treating a guest in my house with the proper respect," she said primly.

Bryson's eyes darkened with impatience. "She's not a guest."

She lifted her eyes to meet his and squared her chin. "You never asked me how I felt about having her here."

"No, I never did." His mouth tightened. "And I certainly did not feel the need to ask you any such thing. Julianne is the woman who's carrying my baby. She's the woman I'm in love with and hopefully, one day, she will agree to marry me."

Barbara shuffled the papers on her desk to avoid meeting his gaze.

"And that displeases you."