The Maverick's Thanksgiving Baby

Her blood was pumping and her head was spinning as she gave herself over to the pleasure of his kiss. She could still smell hay and horses, but mixed in with those scents was the essence of Jesse. His heat, his strength, his heart.

He eased his mouth from hers, but continued to hold her close as they each took a moment to catch their breath.

“What are you thinking about now?” he asked.

“That I won’t ever be able to walk into a barn without thinking about you and remembering this moment.”

He smiled. “Good.”

“My heart’s still racing.”

“But not because you’re afraid,” he guessed.

“No.” She blew out a breath and tipped back her head to meet his gaze. “Is that your usual method for helping people overcome their apprehensions?”

“It’s not one I’ve ever used before,” he told her.

Her brows lifted. “So I was a guinea pig?”

“No, you’re the woman who makes me forget all thought and reason.”

The words, and the sincerity in his tone, mollified her.

“But I haven’t forgotten why we came out here,” he said, looping his arm around her waist and gently guiding her along the alleyway.

They’d moved only about six feet when a huge head appeared over the top of the door of the closest stall. She let out a squeak and immediately jumped back.

Jesse’s arms came around her, holding her steady. He didn’t force her to move any closer, but he didn’t let her back any farther away, either.

“This is Honey,” he told her. “And she is as sweet as her name.”

“She’s...beautiful,” Maggie realized. The animal had a sleek chestnut coat that gleamed in the light, a white blaze, glossy mane and tail and eyes the color of melted chocolate. “And...big.”

The horse tossed her head, almost as if she was nodding, and Maggie couldn’t help but smile.

Jesse chuckled softly, and she felt the warmth of his breath on the back of her neck.

“Do you see how her ears are turned forward?”

She nodded.

“That shows that she’s relaxed and paying attention to you.”

“Is she hungry?”

He chuckled again. “No, she’s had her dinner,” he promised, reaching around Maggie to tug her mittens off. Then he took her hand and guided it toward the horse’s long muzzle.

She felt herself start to tremble and had to fight against the urge to snatch her hand away.

“Steady,” he murmured.

The mare watched her, its huge, liquid eyes patient and trusting. With Jesse’s guidance, she stroked the smooth hair of its blaze. Honey blew out a breath—an equine sigh of contentment—and Maggie fell in love.

“Now I really wish I’d learned to ride,” she admitted.

“I could teach you,” Jesse said. “Not now, obviously. But after.”

After.

The word seemed to hang in the air for a long minute, teasing her with possibilities. Neither of them knew what would happen after—they didn’t even know what the next five months would hold, but she couldn’t deny that she liked the idea of after.

“I think I’d enjoy that,” she finally said.

* * *

“What are the rest of your plans for the weekend?” Jesse asked Maggie, as they made their way back to the house.

“I didn’t really have any other plans,” she told him. “I came to Rust Creek Falls to tell you about the baby, and I’ve done that.”

“Maybe we could spend some more time together,” he suggested. “Get to know one another a little better before we bring a baby into the world.”

“That baby’s coming in another five months whether we know one another or not,” she pointed out.

“Then we shouldn’t waste any time.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing too crazy,” he assured her, opening the back door to lead her into the house. “Maybe a drive up to Owl Rock to see the falls or a walk through town. Dinner at my parents’ house.”

“I’m sorry—what was that last part?”

“Dinner at my parents’ house,” he said again.

“You want me to meet your parents?”

“And I want them to meet the mother of their grandchild.”

She blew out a breath. “I didn’t think about the fact that our baby will have a lot more family in Rust Creek Falls than a daddy.”

“We don’t have to tell the grandparents-to-be right away. I just thought it might be nice if they had a chance to meet you before I told them that I got you pregnant.”

“I guess that’s reasonable,” she allowed.

“We don’t even have to spend a lot of time with them,” he promised. “In fact, I’d prefer if we didn’t.”

She smiled at that. “Are you trying to talk me into—or out of—this?”

“I’m not sure.”