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“The big deal is you being pregnant.”
“So? I’ve heard this wild rumor that pregnant women are actually not made of glass. And in fact can withstand some fairly strenuous treatment.” She gave him a sultry look from beneath her lashes that she knew turned him on. “Which you proved thoroughly last night.”
As she’d hoped, heat flared in his gaze. “I can prove it again if you like.”
“I do like. But only if I can come with you tomorrow.”
Finn leaned forward and put his bottle down on the coffee table. Then he beckoned to her in a preemptory fashion. “Come here, woman.”
“‘Woman’? Really? You’re going to order me around now?”
“You love it when I order you around.” The look in his eyes intensified. “Come here, honey.”
Desire gathered inside her, and although she loved teasing him, she loved being in his arms even more, so Beth put down her orange juice, got out of her chair, and went over to him.
Finn pulled her down, nestling her in the crook of his arm, and she relaxed against the hard planes of his body, relishing his heat.
“Why do you want to come?” he asked.
“Well, because apart from going to Glitter Falls once and Queenstown a couple of times, I haven’t done much looking around the area. And I’d like to.” She met his gaze. “I’d kind of like to see you at work too. Plus the environment here is important to you, and since I’ll be sticking around here for the foreseeable future, I’d like to get to know it. Especially for our child’s sake.”
His gaze flickered. “You didn’t consider moving back to the States? Bringing our kid up there?”
Beth frowned, puzzled by the question. “Why would I do that? I agreed to move in and marry you, Finn. And I assume that means staying here.”
“Yeah, it does. It just struck me that I hadn’t asked you how you felt about staying in New Zealand. I thought I’d better ask.”
She was touched he’d thought about it, but she’d already more or less decided when she left Deep River that she wouldn’t be going back anytime soon. She’d left that life behind and the decision she’d made still held.
“No,” she said. “I haven’t considered moving back. I wanted to leave Alaska behind and I have. Brightwater Valley is where I want to stay.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay. Then if you want to bring up a real Kiwi kid, you really do need to get to know the country. Tomorrow, you can come. But you’ll ride next to me.”
The little glow of joy expanded at the thought of spending a whole day with him, doing something he loved and doing it together.
You are such a goner.
But she ignored that thought, smiling and reaching up to twine her arms around his neck. “I can do that. Now…” Slowly she drew his head down. “How about I do some ordering around for a change?”
***
The weather the next day was pretty much perfect: blue skies all the way and warm, with a fresh breeze that prevented it from getting too hot.
Finn’s little group of tourists gathered in the gravel area in front of the stables at Clint’s farmhouse, all of them excitedly clustering around him as he explained where they were going and what it was going to involve.
Levi was there to help everyone mount up and get them settled, soothing any nerves and answering any questions while Finn got the group organized.
It wasn’t a hard trek. Just a ride along the ridgeline on Clint’s land before heading down a gentle hill, through some bush, and out onto a little plateau above the lake that gave some magnificent views.
Lunch—which had already been dropped at the site by quad bike—would be served and everyone could relax for a half hour before riding back to the farmhouse.
Soon everyone was on their mounts and ready to go, so Finn swung into the saddle on Jeff’s back. Karl used to follow the treks when Clint had lived there, loping along beside them with his tongue hanging out, and Finn saw no reason why he shouldn’t continue to enjoy a run with them, so he’d been brought along too. The horses were used to him and didn’t even flick an ear as he barked excitedly now, wanting everyone to hurry up so he could get going.
Beth was on Carol, the most bombproof horse he had, a steady old mare who spooked at nothing and knew the trail so well she could probably go there and back with her eyes closed.
She was as safe as houses, yet Finn was still vaguely uneasy about Beth being on a horse. When she’d asked him the night before whether she could come, his instant response had beenhell no. Because what if she fell? What if she was thrown? What if something terrible happened and she was hurt and lost the baby?
It was ridiculous thinking, and he knew it, and his response to it had annoyed him so much he’d decided that yes, she would come. Especially after she’d explained why she’d wanted to: to see him at work and to connect with the environment for their child’s sake.
