Aidan: Loyal Cowboy

“Won’t you at least consider it?”

“No.”

Her quick and adamant rejection stung.

Was the prospect of marrying him really that intolerable?

* * *

“ACE, I’M SORRY. That came out wrong.” Flynn rose from the log and joined Ace at the creek bank where he stood watching the water rush past. “I wasn’t expecting you to propose. It really was a sweet gesture.”

“Sweet?” He looked crushed.

“Okay, that came out wrong, too.”

“Flynn, I’m serious. I want to marry you.”

“I know you’re serious. And, honestly, that’s what scares me.”

“Because of your divorce?”

“Marriage is a big commitment. Hopefully, a lifetime commitment. Take it from me, marrying for the wrong reasons can lead to a lot of unhappiness.”

“A child seems like a pretty good reason to me.”

She softened her voice. “You only proposed because you don’t want me to move.”

“That hit below the belt.”

“Maybe, but it’s true.”

“How do you know?”

“Let’s be honest. You don’t have feelings for me—”

“I do. Couldn’t you tell from our night together?”

“All right, then, what kind of feelings?”

“I care about you,” he replied, a tad too defensively.

What had she expected? A flowery declaration? “I made a promise to myself after my divorce. I’m not going to marry any man who doesn’t love me.”

“Your ex-husband didn’t love you?”

“Not enough to make our marriage work. The same with my parents. You know my mom walked out on us when I was young. What you don’t know is Paul did the same thing to me.”

Ace remained silent for several seconds. Several very telling seconds. When he finally spoke, it was haltingly. “The other night, it wasn’t just the sex. I haven’t been that close to anyone before.”

Looking away was impossible and, boy, did Flynn try. “For me, either.”

They’d been intimate a few times when they dated in college. Here at this very spot, in fact. But Flynn had been completely inexperienced and Ace not much more. Ten years had brought about a lot of changes, for both of them.

Ace’s skill as a lover had been matched only by his emotional intensity. He wasn’t always as strong and confident and capable as he wanted people to think. Sometimes he let his guard down.

He had that night, allowing her to see a vulnerable side of him he mostly kept hidden.

And she’d fallen a little more in love.

“There isn’t anyone else I’d want for the father of my baby,” she admitted. “You’ll be a good one, I’m sure of it.”

“Then give us a chance.”

“I told you—”

“Not to get married. I realize I’m rushing you. But to be the best parents we can. Raise our child together.”

She did owe him that much. “You’re right. We have time. I won’t be moving for a while.”

“I’m not going to change my mind. I want you and the baby living close to me.”

Flynn should have heeded her father’s advice more closely when he’d warned her about Ace’s determination.

“Are you going to tell your family?” she asked.

“Soon. Once I figure out what I’m going to say.” He smiled crookedly.

Flynn turned away from that charming smile to stare at the sun descending toward the distant mountaintops.

“What’s wrong?” Ace touched her shoulder.

“I’m worried about what they’ll think of me.”

“Mom will be overjoyed. She doesn’t understand how she could raise four kids to adulthood and none of them make her a grandmother yet.”

“I can see your mom being happy.”

“And she likes you.”

“I like her, too.” Flynn couldn’t picture a better, kinder grandmother than Sarah Hart.

Then again, almost anyone would be a better grandmother than Flynn’s own mother.

“Have you told your parents yet?” Ace asked.

“My dad.”

“And?”