into the spacious bedroom.
Walking over to the bed, Sassy finished smoothing the thick white comforter. “Everything is very nice, Bella. To be honest, I’m not used to sleeping in such luxury. In my little rental I only have enough space for a twin bed, and the mattress on it is beginning to sag.”
Bella took a seat on the cedar chest located at the foot of the bed. “So you don’t room with the family you work for?”
Walking over to the dresser, Sassy picked up a yellow-and-green scarf and looped it loosely around her neck. “I did when I first went to work for them. Back then I was only a teenager with no other place to go.”
“Jett told me about the fire that took your parents and your home. I can’t begin to imagine going through such tragedy.”
Even though her gaze was on the mirror, Sassy wasn’t really seeing herself. She was seeing George and Gloria Matthews, the two people she’d believed had been responsible for bringing her into this world. Now all the wonderful memories she had of her adoptive parents were skewed with confusion and even a sense of betrayal. She’d always been a strong girl. She could have handled the truth. But maybe they’d not seen that strength in her. Or perhaps they’d simply wanted to shield her from her uncertain beginnings. Either way, she’d never have the chance to ask them why they’d withheld the truth from her.
“The Cantrells got me through it,” she told Bella. “And when I turned twenty I decided it was time for me to find a place of my own.”
Bella asked, “You like living on your own better?”
Turning away from the dresser, Sassy shrugged. “Most of the time I like having my privacy. Other times it can get pretty lonely.”
“I understand exactly. Before Jett talked me into moving in with him I was living alone. I’m divorced,” Bella explained.
Bella was a beautiful and intelligent woman. Sassy couldn’t imagine any man allowing her to slip out of his life, but then Bella could be the one who’d initiated the divorce. Either way, Sassy wasn’t going to pry.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you,” she told Bella.
With a wry smile, the other woman waved a dismissive hand through the air. “I was sorry, too—when it happened. But that’s all in the past. Right now, I want to make sure you’re okay. Jett says you’ve not eaten breakfast yet.”
“There wasn’t any need for him to send you to check on me,” Sassy said with a spurt of annoyance.
Bella’s brows rose to a faint arch. “He didn’t. He’s already eaten and left the house to go feed the livestock. I was the one who was worried about you eating.”
Sassy let out a pent-up breath. The mere fact that Jett was no longer in the house was enough to leave her feeling unexplainably empty. Heaven help her! Was it the pregnancy causing an overload of hormones to make her crazy? Or just the power of the man himself? When she was near him, she was constantly telling herself that she needed to run from the excitement and pleasure he made her feel. Then, when she was away from him, she wanted to be right back in his arms.
She said, “Oh. Well, thanks for asking. But actually I’m not feeling very hungry.”
Rising from her seat on the chest, Bella walked over to where Sassy stood. “I’m hardly an expert on the subject, but shouldn’t you be eating for the baby now? I’ve heard the first few months of nutrition are the most important. Maybe you could handle some toast and juice? It might make you feel better.”
Bella’s suggestions were enough to make Sassy see she was behaving immaturely, and that was worse than embarrassing. She was a responsible woman with a baby on the way. She needed to be behaving that way instead of letting Jett’s kiss turn her into a silly schoolgirl.
“Bella, I’m sorry. Normally I’m not so—”
“Emotional?” Bella suggested with an understanding smile.
“You’re being kind to call it that,” Sassy said ruefully.
Walking over to the bed, Sassy finished smoothing the thick white comforter. “Everything is very nice, Bella. To be honest, I’m not used to sleeping in such luxury. In my little rental I only have enough space for a twin bed, and the mattress on it is beginning to sag.”
Bella took a seat on the cedar chest located at the foot of the bed. “So you don’t room with the family you work for?”
Walking over to the dresser, Sassy picked up a yellow-and-green scarf and looped it loosely around her neck. “I did when I first went to work for them. Back then I was only a teenager with no other place to go.”
“Jett told me about the fire that took your parents and your home. I can’t begin to imagine going through such tragedy.”
Even though her gaze was on the mirror, Sassy wasn’t really seeing herself. She was seeing George and Gloria Matthews, the two people she’d believed had been responsible for bringing her into this world. Now all the wonderful memories she had of her adoptive parents were skewed with confusion and even a sense of betrayal. She’d always been a strong girl. She could have handled the truth. But maybe they’d not seen that strength in her. Or perhaps they’d simply wanted to shield her from her uncertain beginnings. Either way, she’d never have the chance to ask them why they’d withheld the truth from her.
“The Cantrells got me through it,” she told Bella. “And when I turned twenty I decided it was time for me to find a place of my own.”
Bella asked, “You like living on your own better?”
Turning away from the dresser, Sassy shrugged. “Most of the time I like having my privacy. Other times it can get pretty lonely.”
“I understand exactly. Before Jett talked me into moving in with him I was living alone. I’m divorced,” Bella explained.
Bella was a beautiful and intelligent woman. Sassy couldn’t imagine any man allowing her to slip out of his life, but then Bella could be the one who’d initiated the divorce. Either way, Sassy wasn’t going to pry.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you,” she told Bella.
With a wry smile, the other woman waved a dismissive hand through the air. “I was sorry, too—when it happened. But that’s all in the past. Right now, I want to make sure you’re okay. Jett says you’ve not eaten breakfast yet.”
“There wasn’t any need for him to send you to check on me,” Sassy said with a spurt of annoyance.
Bella’s brows rose to a faint arch. “He didn’t. He’s already eaten and left the house to go feed the livestock. I was the one who was worried about you eating.”
Sassy let out a pent-up breath. The mere fact that Jett was no longer in the house was enough to leave her feeling unexplainably empty. Heaven help her! Was it the pregnancy causing an overload of hormones to make her crazy? Or just the power of the man himself? When she was near him, she was constantly telling herself that she needed to run from the excitement and pleasure he made her feel. Then, when she was away from him, she wanted to be right back in his arms.
She said, “Oh. Well, thanks for asking. But actually I’m not feeling very hungry.”
Rising from her seat on the chest, Bella walked over to where Sassy stood. “I’m hardly an expert on the subject, but shouldn’t you be eating for the baby now? I’ve heard the first few months of nutrition are the most important. Maybe you could handle some toast and juice? It might make you feel better.”
Bella’s suggestions were enough to make Sassy see she was behaving immaturely, and that was worse than embarrassing. She was a responsible woman with a baby on the way. She needed to be behaving that way instead of letting Jett’s kiss turn her into a silly schoolgirl.
“Bella, I’m sorry. Normally I’m not so—”
“Emotional?” Bella suggested with an understanding smile.
“You’re being kind to call it that,” Sassy said ruefully.
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