World's Most Eligible Texan by Sara Orwig Page A

were alone, he asked her, “Who’s your doctor?”
    â€œI went to my family doctor, Dr. Woodbury.”
    â€œYou should have a specialist.”
    â€œI’m going to change because I got a call today from Dr. Woodbury’s nurse and he’s retiring. They’re notifying his regular patients, so I called and made an appointment with an obstetrician.”
    â€œGood. I could ask Justin who he recommends.”
    â€œNo, you don’t. I’ll decide which doctor I go to.”
    Aaron rubbed his cheek and nodded, suspecting he wouldn’t get anywhere with an argument. “Who’s the doctor you have an appointment with?”
    â€œDr. Burke.”
    â€œAhh. Leon Burke?”
    â€œYes. I take it from your ‘ahh’ that you approve of my choice?”
    â€œMy sister knows him and thinks he’s a good doctor. I’ve heard her talk about him. Yes, I approve.”
    She rubbed her forehead. “Whether you approve or not, Aaron, this is my choice of doctors.”
    â€œSure, darlin’. Are you still planning to do substitute teaching?”
    â€œYes, I enjoy teaching and I can keep busy with substituting. Actually, I haven’t signed up to sub yet because I was waiting for my ankle to heal. When I teach, I’m on my feet most of the day, but I’m able to do that now, I think.”
    â€œWhich school will you teach in?”
    He listened, steering the conversation away from anything personal while they were served drinks and later were served their dinners. At first she was stiff and remote, but gradually she relaxed somewhat, although she was still guarded. She seemed to have as little appetite as he did.
    â€œYou’re barely eating. That can’t be good.”
    She shrugged. “It won’t last. I just don’t feel hungry tonight.”
    Neither did he. Placing his fork in his plate, he reached across the table to take her hand, holding it lightly in his. “I want to marry you.”
    She shook her head. “Thank you, Aaron, but no. I want to marry for love. How many times have you said, ‘I love you’ to me? Or have I said it to you?” Before he could reply, she spoke again. “Don’t declare your love now. You haven’t said ‘I love you’ to me because you don’t love me.”
    â€œI think I am in love.”
    â€œOh, please, Aaron! You’re doing what you think is right.”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” he replied and it hurt him to see the pain in her blue eyes. He ached to pull her into his arms and convince her to marry him.
    â€œAaron, I saw the look on your face when you realized I was pregnant. It wasn’t joy.”
    â€œNo, it was surprise,” he admitted honestly. He leaned forward. “How did you learn that you’re pregnant?”
    â€œDr. Woodbury told me.”
    â€œAnd wasn’t your first reaction surprise?”
    She gave him another exasperated look.
    â€œAnswer me, Pamela. Wasn’t your first reaction surprise?”
    â€œMaybe it was, but it didn’t last long.”
    â€œNeither did my surprise. But you can’t hold surprise against me when that was the exact same reaction you had.”
    She stood abruptly. “I want to go home.”
    He knew he had gotten to her on the last. He held her coat for her and draped his arm across her shoulders as they left the restaurant.
    In the car Pamela sat with her arms crossed tightly in front of her. They were going back to her apartment, and she knew they would have another battle and this time the little girls wouldn’t interrupt and end it. She glanced at Aaron. He could be so darned persuasive! But when she thought of the future, she knew she was right. He wasn’t really in love. Never once had a declaration of love crossed his lips. It might now, but she wouldn’t believe it. She just needed to stand firm and then he would go on his way and that would be that.
    As he