“
She
’
s a fine woman all right.
”
Burke agreed.
Burke got up from the swing and took Annie
’
s hand.
“
There
’
s something I want to show you.
”
He helped her up.
Annie nodded. She wanted to see what he wanted to show her. She felt a bit shaky and unbalanced, more emotionally so. Still holding his hand, she followed as he led her down the porch steps. Now her curiosity was kicking in. She shot Burke a questioning look, but he only smiled at her mysteriously.
He led her to the paddock and told her to stay right there. She wasn
’
t in the mood for games
, but
she did as he
asked
. Annie was amazed when Burke led out of the barn the most magnificent stallion she had ever seen. He was pure black and he was a beauty. Her eyes widened as she realized which horse this was.
“
This isn
’
t King
’
s Crown is it?
”
she asked, her voice reflecting the excitement she felt.
Burke laughed.
“
The one and only.
”
“
But how did you do it? I tried to buy him
, but
I wasn
’
t fast enough with my offer,
”
Annie asked
,
amazed that King
’
s Crown was actually standing before her. She could hardly contain herself. She wanted to jump up and down
, but
she was afraid she
’
d fall.
“
The owner and I go way back. I had to mortgage the ranch to buy him
, but
I figured that he was what I needed to help my wife fulfill her dreams, what I needed to be a part of her dream and a part of her future. You see, I love my wife to distraction and I want to give her happiness.
”
Burke looked at Annie with his heart in his eyes. He waited for her reaction
,
barely breathing.
Annie stood there shocked. Joy filled her heart. He had mortgaged the thing that meant the most to him, his land. She looked into his blue eyes with adoration. She
was falling
in love with him all over again if that was possible. He was a man she could trust. He was a man that had integrity and lived by a code of honesty. She hadn
’
t been wrong about him at all.
“
Oh and one more thing, we
’
re still married, Mrs. Dawson.
”
“
Alice?
”
She asked.
“
She made fake papers for me to see. I feel so brainless. I mean I knew her best. I knew just how cruel she could be. This whole fiasco is my fault,
”
he admitted.
“
She had me fooled too
,
Burke
,
but she didn
’
t win. I love you
,
Burke. I have for so long.
”
Burke
’
s grin was enormous as he opened his arms to Annie.
Annie gave a slight cry of happiness and threw herself into his powerful arms. She covered his face with kisses and the laid her head over his heart.
I
t beat strong and fast, all for her. She had finally found a place where she belonged.
“
Now what, Mr. Dawson? Do we still live in separate houses?
”
“
Well, Mrs. Dawson
,
my home is wherever you are.
”
Annie snuggled closer to him.
“
Right answer.
”
“
Darlin
’
, I want us to have the best ranch we can make for this little one here.
”
He placed his large hand on her stomach.
Annie stepped back and looked at him. He looked so sincere. So much had happened this evening she felt emotionally drained.
“
Can we talk about this tomorrow?
”
Burke frowned at her.
“
What
’
s there to talk about?
”
“
I
’
m so tired, I can
’
t even think right now. However, I do want to invite you to spend the night at my place. I
’
d like to have you hold me and the baby while we sleep and I want you there when we wake up,
”
she explained smiling at him.
*
*
*
*
Burke didn
’
t even need to think it over. He immediately lifted Annie into his arms and headed for the truck.
“
I
’
ve been waiting for an invite to your place for a very long lonely time.
”
He gently put her in the passenger seat
,
reached over for the seat belt
,
secured her and kissed her cheek.
“
You do look weary,
”
he observed, looking at the blue circles under her eyes. They hadn
’
t been there earlier. The pregnancy must
have
tire
d
her out. He
’
d have to talk to M
r
s
. Harvy about it. He wanted to make sure that Annie got all the rest and pampering she needed.
He felt buoyant driving to her house. He
’
d been waiting to get her into his arms for a long time. God knows he tried to resist her
, he
tried not to love her, but in the end, his heart won out. He was lucky to be getting a second chance.
M
r
s. Harvy looked so pleased when Annie and Burke walked into the house. She didn
’
t ask any questions she just made herself scarce.
Burke looked around and whistled.
“
Nice digs.
”
“
Digs?
”
“
Yeah you know, nice place. They don
’
t say digs in New York?
”
“
I
’
ve certainly never heard of it before
, but
thanks, I think,
”
she said, taking his big work worn hand.
Annie led him into her bedroom.
“
I
’
m nervous
,
Burke.
”
Burke turned and tenderly framed her face with his hands.
“
My sweet
,
we are only going to sleep. I
’
m your husband you have no need to be nervous.
”
“
I
…
I
,
well
,
I feel so fat!
”
she wailed.
Burke smiled into her eyes.
“
You are beyond beautiful. Don
’
t forget that
’
s my baby inside you, it
’
s not fat.
”
“
Okay, but I
’
m going to put on my night gown in the bathroom.
”
He smiled watching her grab a granny nightgown. He looked around the bedroom and noticed the rose décor.
“
A lot of flowers in this room,
”
he said through the door.
“
Is it too much?
”
Hearing the pensiveness in her voice was endearing.
“
No, honey, you look great surrounded by roses.
”
The door jerked open.
“
You charmer.
”
“
Get into bed
,
woman,
”
he ordered.
“
Gladly.
”
They got into bed and Burke drew her into the safety of his arms. She felt so good, so soft, so... so Annie, his Annie. She still smelled like the sweet smell of a rose. He kissed the top of her head as she snuggled against his shoulder. He could feel her tears fall on his skin. His heart twisted.
“
Please don
’
t cry
,
Annie. I
’
m sorrier than you could ever know,
”
he said softly.
“
I
’
m just so happy that you are here. I
’
ve lain here night after night longing for you, missing you,
being
furious at you. I just can
’
t believe we are in my bed together.
”
Burke felt his own eyes mist.
“
I
’
m glad to be here. I
’
ve had plenty of sleepless nights thinking about you too.
”
“
Lay on you
r
back,
”
he said.
“
I want to feel the baby.
”
Annie turned onto her back, grabbed Burke
’
s hand, and guided it to where the baby was kicking.
“
I think he
’
ll be a soccer star with all the kicking,
”
she said as she laughed.
“
Or maybe she
’
s a ballerina,
”
Burke suggested.
“
Does it matter to you whether it
’
s a boy or girl?
”
“
Are you kidding? I
’
m just glad I get to be part of our child
’
s life. Boy or girl it
’
s a baby created from our love.
”
Tears rolled down her face again.
“
You are the weepiest woman in all of Texas,
”
he teased.
“
I can
’
t help it.
”
She turned on her side to seek comfort in his brawny arms once again.
“
It
’
s okay
,
love, I don
’
t mind.
”
He stroked her back. Finally, he felt her relax and fall asleep. He knew that he was one lucky man to be here at all. He wanted to make plans for their future
, but
he knew that he still had some wooing to do. He didn
’
t expect her to forget her hurt instantly.
*
*
*
*
Annie woke to the bright sunshine a bit disappointed that Burke wasn
’
t still with her, but she knew he
’
d probably been up for hours already, working the ranch. Being a ranch owner herself, she fully realized how much work was involved.
Smiling she caressed her stomach.
“
We
’
re going to okay, little one. Your
d
addy is back.
”
“
He sure is!
”
“
Burke what are you doing here? I thought you
’
d be off roping a cow or two.
”
Burke chuckled.
“
Actually I was
,
and then
I had King
’
s Crown brought over to your stables.
”
“
Let me get dressed I want to see him.
”
She eagerly got out of bed.
“
Whoa there, little darlin
’
.
B
reakfast before horse.
”
Annie frowned at him
, but
she knew he was right. She needed to take care of herself for the baby
’
s sake.
“
All right.
”