Tess looked his way curiously and shook her head. No man could be a
finer lover, tender and tempestuous, but in the morning his temper
always seemed to leave something to be desired.
'I don't care what they know, if you're talking about our sleeping
arrangements.'
'I see. You think my older brother will insist that we marry.'
'No one will ever force you to marry, Jamie. You said so yourself.'
'So you're not planning on marriage.'
'I try not to plan on anything.'
She was at her dresser, brushing her hair. He slipped behind her, his
chest still naked, and pulled her against him.
He whispered against her ear.
'What if you're already with child?'
She turned and faced him, looking him up and down. 'You're nicely built,
intelligent, I think, and your brothers don't seem to have too many
flaws.
If I have a child, it should be a darling one.' She swung around to
continue to brush her hair.
He laughed as he donned his shirt and socks and boots. 'Tess, you are a
hellion,' he told her.
She smiled sweetly.
'I just do the best I can with what I've got, Lieutenant. I'm going down
for breakfast. I'm sure Dolly and Jane got things started very early
with all those 273 little children to feed. And I do want to be at the
paper by eight. I've got to teach Kristin and Shannon how to work the
press.'
'I'm right with you,' Jamie told her. But when she would have exited the
room, he pulled her back.
'We do things my way, remember.'
'I remember,' she said coolly. 'Everything.'
'Meaning?'
'I'll tell you later,' was all he said.
He stepped past her and hurried down the stairs. She followed him,
convinced that he had only stopped her to prove to her that he could be
down first.
Dolly and Jane were busy with the children, and they seemed like a
couple of doting old aunts. Dolly beamed at Jamie.
'I just can't wait until it's one of your little bundles I'm holding,
Lieutenant!' she said. Of course she wasn't really holding Shannon's
daughter--the child was squirming away, ready to chase a little string
ball that was rolling across the floor.
'Yeah, soon enough, Dolly,' Jamie said sweetly. To Tess's surprise he
winked at her.
'Coffee!'
A cup was shoved into her hand by Malachi.
'Jamie,' he said, 'I've told Hank to tal~ Dolly and Jane and the
children down to the storm cellar once we've gone. They're invisible
there.' 'Fine,' Jamie said.
'Dolly?'
'I understand, Lieutenant, I understand perfectly.'
