Page 83 of The Texas Ranger: Saddled Up
“Why are you staying in a room here at the BNB?”
Bear had prepared himself for this question which he knew Aasia would ask. “Some of the guys and I needed a break from each other.”
If she suspected that he wasn’t being completely honest, she didn’t show it. Both her hands were full. She held up one. “Whiskey.” She held up the other that held a large brown bag, “Chinese food.”
“Sounds like a perfect combination.” He stepped back so she could enter. He watched her sashay in bringing with her sunshine. She wore a cropped top and short shorts that showed off her shapely bottom and legs. He hoped that it was for dessert.
“On the phone you sounded like a sad song so I thought I should bring provisions.”
“I’m not sad.” He wasn’t. Not at all, which might be what was wrong. Maybe he’d gotten tired of his old life and needed a new spark to liven things up again. Or rather, maybe he needed calm and clarity. Peace and boring. However, Aasia was anything but boring. She made his heart pick up speed and the zipper of his jeans stretch.
She set the items on the small round table near the window then faced him with a raised brow. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
He strolled over, uncapped the bottle and took a sip. “Maybe in a moment. Right now, I need to relax.” He took a longer drink, wincing slightly as the alcohol laced his intestines. “From what you said on the phone you have had a wild few days too.” He wondered why he hadn’t heard from her.
She sat in one of the wooden chairs and divided the containers of food onto paper plates. “You’ll never believe what I have to tell you.”
“Something tells me I will.” He pulled the empty chair away from the table and took a seat.
“Phoebe is pregnant,” she blurted.
“Phoebe’s pregnant? How do you know?”
“She told me.” She twirled the long noodles around her fork and slurped them up.
What he liked was a woman who enjoyed eating and didn’t care if she looked graceful doing it. “Wow. You’re going to be an aunt.”
“That is a big reason why she came home.”
He poked a piece of broccoli with his fork and chomped on it. “Good reason. Fin’s Creek is a great place to raise children.”
“If she will keep it.” Aasia wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“She’s thinking of not?”
“She sprung on me that she’s unsure. She said she fears that she’ll be like our mother. I tried to assure her that she needs some stability and safety to bring this baby into, and if she decides to keep it I’ll be here. Over my dead body will any niece or nephew of mine be raised without the basics of life.” She had determination in her expression which Bear admired. “I asked her to give it a few weeks to think about it. Don’t make any rash decisions.”
“What does she say about that?” He took a long swig from the bottle.
“After her expected attitude, she agreed. She’ll be living at the farmhouse either way. She’s going to college to become a teacher.”
He looked at Aasia in confusion. “Wait. You two can’t get along for five minutes without spatting and you’re going to live with her?”
She twirled up more noodles. “She and I are going to have to work on our relationship. But what matters most to me is that this child will be loved and well taken care of.”
“That is if she keeps it,” he reminded her.
“Right. I have a feeling she will. Even as a kid Phoebe loved babies. I think every woman pregnant for the first time must have first time jitters.”
“Well, this kid would be lucky to have you as an aunt.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and her entire face lit. After dropping her fork and crumpled napkin into the empty bag she said, “Now, spill the tea. Why are you here and not at the ranch?”
Bear didn’t want to lie. He’d already told enough lies in his adult lifetime. “Grimes and I haven’t exactly been seeing eye to eye.”
“And that’s what made you leave?”
Women like Aasia were curious by nature. “We almost came to blows and I knew if I didn’t leave eventually there wouldn’t be any of the hands there to stop us.”
