The Durango Affair by Brenda Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

“No, but thanks for leaving breakfast warming for me in the oven. My stomach wasn’t cooperating and I wouldn’t have been able to keep anything down. I found some saltines in your pantry and decided to munch on those.”
    Durango nodded, recalling her mentioning the previous day that she’d been unable to eat most mornings. “Have you seen a doctor?”
    “Yes, although I’m going to have to find another one soon. Dr. Wilson is the same doctor who delivered me and Rico and he’s retiring next month.”
    “Isn’t he concerned with you being sick every day? Are you and the baby getting all the nutrients you need?”
    Savannah shrugged as she sat up. “Healthwise Dr. Wilson says that both the baby and I are fine.”
    He leaned back against the wall. “When you go to the doctor again I’d like to be there.”
    “In Philadelphia?”
    “Wherever you decide to go doesn’t matter. And since your doctor is retiring, just so you’ll know, there’s a good obstetrician here in Bozeman and she’s female.”
    She tipped her head back and looked at him and wished she could stop her pulse from racing at the sight of his lean, hard body. “Really? That’s good to know.”
    He smiled. “I thought it would be.”
    He came into the room and sat in the chair across from her, stretching his long legs out and crossing them at a booted ankle. “Have you thought about what I proposed last night?”
    “Yes, I thought about it.”
    “And?” he asked gently, knowing she was a woman who couldn’t be rushed.
    “And I need more time to make up my mind,” she said, fixing her gaze on his boots.
    “I wish I could tell you to take all the time you need, but time isn’t on our side, Savannah. If we do decide to get married there needs to be a wedding.”
    Her head snapped up. “A wedding?”
    He smiled at her surprised expression. “Yes. I don’t anticipate one as elaborate as Chase’s, but as you know, we Westmorelands are a large family with plenty of friends and acquaintances and—”
    “It’s not as if it would be a real marriage, Durango, so why bother?”
    “Because my parents, specifically my mother, who won’t know why we’re getting married, would expect it.”
    “Well, personally I can’t see the need for a lot of hoopla over something that won’t last. If I decide to accept your proposal, I prefer that we go off somewhere like Vegas and not tell anyone about it until it’s over. They will eventually know the real reason we got married in a few months anyway.”
    Durango nodded, knowing she was right. His family,who knew how he felt about marriage, would know it wasn’t the real thing no matter what he told them. “What about your mother?”
    “She’s leaving tomorrow for Paris and won’t be back for a couple of weeks. If I do decide to marry you, she’ll be okay with my decision and it won’t bother me that she won’t be at the ceremony since she knows I don’t believe in happily-ever-after.”
    Durango rubbed the back of his neck with an irritated frown. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in fairytale romances, but after Tricia he figured it would be more fantasy than reality for him. “Fine. If you agree, we can elope and then if our parents want to do something in the way of a reception later, that will be fine. All right?”
    She sighed. “All right.”
    “So when will you let me know your decision?”
    “Before I leave here. Do you think the weather will have improved by tomorrow?”
    “I’m not sure. Usually these types of snowstorms can last for a week.”
    “A week? I didn’t bring enough clothes with me.”
    He thought now was not a good time to tell her he wouldn’t mind if she walked around naked. “The last time Delaney was here she left a few of her things behind. The two of you are around the same size so you should be able to fit into them if you want to try.”
    “You don’t think she’d mind?”
    “No.”
    “All right then, if you’re sure it’s okay.”
    He