The Rancher's Blessed Event by Stella Bagwell Page A

you.”
    Emily opened her mouth to tell her she didn’t have a husband, then just as quickly closed it. She didn’t want to explain anything about being a widow. For the next few minutes she simply wanted to enjoy being a woman and try not to think about Cooper’s hands on her now or in the past.
    A little more than an hour later, Emily climbed back into the pickup and fastened her seat belt.
    Cooper stared at her as if he wasn’t quite sure he’d picked up the right woman. “You are Emily Dunn, aren’t you?” he asked. “And where’s your cap?”
    She shook the snowflakes from her hair. “That’s the problem about a woman getting a hairdo. It makes her lose all common sense. My cap is in my coat when it should be on my head. But I didn’t want to hurt the hairdresser’s feelings by ruining all her hard work.”
    His gray eyes continued to roam over her hair, which had been shortened to frame her face and rest on the tops of her shoulders.
    His scrutiny brought a warm blush to Emily’s face, making her feel like a foolish schoolgirl. “Don’t look at me like that.”
    â€œLike what?”
    Why didn’t he put the pickup in gear and go? The grocery attendant had already loaded her few sacks in the back of the vehicle. There was no reason for them to keep hanging around in the parking lot.
    â€œLike I’ve suddenly grown a set of horns or something,” she told him crossly.
    He laughed, then shook his head. “Emily, I can’t figure out whether you’ve grown incredibly young or ridiculously old. But either way, you look very pretty.”
    She hadn’t thought of getting a compliment from him. Nor had she expected it to fill her with such pleasure. What was the matter with her anyway?
    Jerking her eyes off him, she stared out the windshield. She’d never been a woman to primp and fuss. From the age of seven to thirteen she’d grown up without a mother. During that time her father had taught her to be a cowgirl, nothing more. Later, Rose had come into their lives, but by that time Emily supposed she was too much of a tomboy to ever become a feminine fashion plate.
    â€œThank you, Cooper. Now can we go home?”
    Home. Cooper had never believed that word would sound good to him. Especially when it was connected to the Diamond D. But more and more when he heard Emily say it, he got a warm feeling in the middle of his chest.
    He was beginning to feel as if the old ranch was his home again, that being there with Emily was right and natural. Yet he knew those feelings had to stop or he was going to be in deep trouble.
    Ever since he’d kissed Emily more than a month ago, he’d decided his time on the Diamond D had to be limited. As soon as the baby got here and she could do for herself, he had to leave. Maybe that was the cowardly way out for him, but the way he saw things, there was no other course for him to take. It was already becoming an effort to keep his hands off her. Nor could he bear to stay and watch her with Kenneth’s baby. Either way he was damned and there wasn’t a thing he could do to change it.
    â€œYeah, I think it’s time we got home,” he said.
    Â 
    That evening while Emily was cooking supper, Cooper carried a large box and several sacks into the kitchen and placed them on the table.
    â€œWhat’s all that? Early Christmas shopping?”
    He gave her a sly little smile. “I guess you could call it that.” With his head he motioned for her to come there. Emily laid down her turning fork and walked over to where he stood by the table.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked. “I can’t let the steaks burn. All the other meat I bought is frozen.”
    â€œI’ll tend to the steaks, you see if you can use any of these things.”
    More than curious, she dug into the first sack and immediately let out a loud gasp. It was maternity clothes! Quickly