Page 24 of A Bride for Brodie

“Goodnight.” Lottie turned and joined Brodie at the bottom of the stairs.

She held her skirt up and ascended the staircase.

Brodie followed behind.

At the top, he put out his arm.

She placed a hand in the crook of his elbow and leaned against him.

He covered her hand with his. As they reached the bedroom, he turned and kissed her before releasing her. Then he held the door open, closing and locking it once they were both inside.

“Did the sisters-in-law notice the necklace?”

Lottie laughed. “Did they ever. All of them had to look at it and open the locket. It’s so pretty. Thank you.”

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. Their lips melded together.

When they broke apart, both were breathless.

“I love when you kiss me,” she said between breaths. “I can’t think of anything else when you kiss me.”

He grinned. “That’s good…I think. I want you to be thinking only of me when we kiss.”

“I do. Now,” she turned away. “Let’s get ready for bed.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She prayed the same prayer she said every night.Please, don’t let me have a nightmare. Please, don’t let me relive it.As long as she was in Brodie’s arms, she was fine. Why did she trust him so completely? He was her husband, that was true, but until a few days ago, he was a stranger. Someone she’d never heard of. How was it possible that she trusted him so implicitly?

* * *

Three weekslater

Brodie,Clay and Gwen were back after rescuing Gwen from her old employer in Phoenix. She’d had quite the adventure, delivered a baby and killed a man, but she was lucky to be home alive and well.

Clay, who’d been shot in the leg, was healing with Gwen’s loving care. Somehow, this situation had made them realize they loved each other.

And Lottie had Brodie back. “I missed you.” She greeted him in the kitchen as they came in. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Inhaling his scent, that combination of leather, sandalwood and Brodie calmed her. “I know I said for you to go and I would do the same thing again, but I missed you. Clay needed you and mostly I was fine. But sleeping was difficult.”I’ve grown used to you, Brodie Campbell, in just a few weeks. Much to my dismay.

“I won’t leave you again, not for such a long time anyway, but we go on trail drives to Phoenix once a year. We have to move the cattle to the railroad so we can get them to market.”

“I understand. When does that happen?” She loosened her hold and leaned back. His skin was a deeper tan and the lines around his mouth were more pronounced, showing his tiredness from the trip.

“We’ll go in October before the weather gets too cold.”

“Okay. I shouldn’t be so dependent on you, and I’m not. Really, I’m not. I’ve gone a lot of years without being able to sleep well. I can do it again.” She let go of him, stepped back and looked away.

With a single knuckle to her chin, he turned her to face him. “You don’t have to. Not while I’m here.”

She gazed down and then back up, glad that he appeared to care. “Okay.”

“Come here.” He hugged her close. “We’re fine. I…uh…I have to run an errand. But I’ll be back later. Who knows, I might have another present for you.” He winked.

I wonder where he’s going. He’s been troubled by something since we got married. But what?“You’re a wicked man to make me wait so long between gifts.”

He smiled and tweaked her nose. “If you got them all the time, they wouldn’t be presents and they wouldn’t be special. Besides, I’ve been a little occupied.”

“True.” She pouted, but knew he was right.