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He sounded so sure, so sincere, yet he couldn’t be, could he? Yet he had acted as if he enjoyed her body. Maybe he was just one of those men who loved women, period, and it didn’t matter how curvy they were.
“I’m going to gain a lot of weight.” Just the mental image of what she’d look like in a few months made her want to cringe. “I won’t be one of those cute pregnant women who maintain their body with a basketball for a belly. I’ll just look like the basketball. A big, giant basketball.”
His gaze narrowed and he forced her to look at him. “Your body is going to change into the body of a pregnant woman who is carrying my child. Mine. There’s nothing more beautiful, Ellie.”
Her insides quivered, and she found herself wanting to lean on him, put her head on his shoulder and put her trust in him. “I want to believe you, but …”
“But?”
“I know I’m not exactly the stuff of legends right now. How are you going to want me when I’m larger?” The tears had started flowing. Lots and lots of tears. Must be another side effect of pregnancy because she rarely cried, yet couldn’t seem to stop today.
“Of course,” she blabbered on. “That’s making wild assumptions, isn’t it? You might not even want me anymore now. I mean, after seeing me this morning and now.” She hiccuped, wiped at her eyes with her free hand, thinking she probably looked pathetic with her red, wet eyes and runny nose from crying. “I really should just shut up, shouldn’t I?”
Ty stared at her, shaking his head as he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Ellie, and I do mean Ellie because you do steal my breath, there is no one I want more than you. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”
She sniffed. “Why would you want me, Ty?”
“Are you kidding me? Why wouldn’t I?”
Should she write him a thesis? Or perhaps just send him the abbreviated version?
“You are a beautiful, intelligent, sexy, fun, wonderful, caring woman, and I know it, so you should, too.”
Yep, she was dreaming, so she might as well enjoy her dream. She buried her face in his chest and let him hold her, let him soothe the part of her that had never quite felt good enough for her family.
In Ty’s arms, she felt good enough.
She felt perfect.
She didn’t know how the future would play out. For the moment the future didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Ty made her feel complete, as if she belonged. He made her believe in herself, made her stronger than she’d thought she was.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TY DREADED GOING downstairs, but knew eventually he would have to face his family. Part of him was surprised he and Ellie hadn’t been interrupted by the whole Donaldson clan. Each of them would have something to say to him, no doubt.
Things he’d really rather Ellie not hear.
He’d convinced her to lie down. He’d lain down with her, held her sleeping body spooned up against him for almost an hour before he’d slipped out of the bed. He liked how her body fit against his, how holding her in his arms felt so right.
His brain had been racing from the moment he’d realized she might be pregnant. There were so many things to consider that he didn’t want to rush what he said to her, didn’t want to possibly say the wrong thing and inadvertently create problems.
A baby.
He’d dedicated his life to caring for babies, for nurturing and providing care for innocent new lives. Now he was going to be responsible for a new life.
A baby.
His and Ellie’s baby.
Really, before he faced his family’s various reactions, he’d like a little time to figure out his own emotions and to clear his head. Black Magic called to him. Big-time.
Somehow he made it out of the house without bumping into anyone, but the moment he stepped into the barn, his brother slapped him on the shoulder.
“Wanna go for a ride?” Harry asked, probably knowing that was exactly where Ty was headed.
“Absolutely.” He went into a tack room, grabbed his saddle. When he’d gotten his gear, he wasn’t surprised to see his brother had already mounted his stallion. Black Magic waited impatiently.
He spent a great deal of time getting the horse ready for the ride, taking time to talk gently to the stallion, to allow him to bond again with his too-long-gone master.
