Expecting the Rancher's Heir Read Online Free PDF Page A

to have a baby.”
    â€œIt is pretty unreal, isn’t it?” He was having a hard time wrapping his mind around that fact himself.
    Her vivid blue gaze reflected some barely contained panic and he was fairly certain he had that deer-in-the-headlights look about him, as well.
    â€œI knew it was possible,” she said, finally laying her fork down. “But seriously, only one time unprotected and I get pregnant? The odds against that happening have to be pretty high.”
    â€œLooks like that’s all it took for us.” He reached across the table to cover her hand with his. “But I want you to know, you aren’t going to have to go through this alone. We’re in this together. I’ll be there to support you every step of the way, Lissa.”
    â€œI appreciate that.” She stared at him for several long moments before she finally sat back from the table. “But if you mean monetarily, I think we both know that isn’t necessary. I’m financially independent and have more than enough to handle whatever expenses there are before and after the birth.”
    Given their initial agreement to keep things casual, he could understand her misinterpretation of his promise, as well as her reluctance to believe he would commit himself to anything more than monetary assistance. But the idea that she considered him so shallow and irresponsible that he would just walk away from her and the child they created still didn’t sit well.
    â€œI’m not talking about child support,” he stated, doing his best to keep his tone even. “What are you talking about, Shane?” she asked, looking confused.
    Rising to place their plates on the kitchen counter, he turned to face her. “I’m telling you that I’ll be with you for doctor appointments, the baby’s birth and raising him.”
    â€œIn other words, you’re telling me you’re going to want joint custody.” She nodded. “I can understand that and I don’t see a problem. I’m sure we can work something out.”
    â€œCustody is going to be a nonissue,” he said, shaking his head. He walked over to squat down beside her chair, then reaching up to brush a strand of long blond hair from her cheek, he smiled. “I’m pretty sure that sharing the responsibility of a child is automatic when his parents are married.”
    Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed several times as she obviously tried to find her voice. “Married?” she finally gasped.
    â€œYes.”
    Her expression stated louder than words ever could that she didn’t believe him. “ Married as in the tiered cake, white dress and ‘I do’?”
    â€œYup.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    She closed her eyes, then opening them, shook her head as she pinned him with her crystalline gaze. “Have you lost your mind, Shane? You can’t possibly be serious.”
    â€œAngel, marriage is one subject I never joke about,” he said, meaning it.
    â€œWe can’t get married, Shane,” she insisted. “Beyond the basics, we really don’t know that much about each other.”
    â€œSure we do.” He stood up and, lifting her into his arms, sat down in the chair to settle her on his lap. “I know you like when I do this.” Kissing the side of her neck, he was rewarded with her soft sigh. “And you really like this,” he added, slipping his hand beneath the tail of her aqua T-shirt. He used his fingertip to trace the satiny skin covering her ribs. As he slowly lowered his head, he moved his hand. “But you love this.”
    His mouth covered hers at the same time his hand cupped her breast and to his immense satisfaction, Lissa didn’t so much as put up a token protest. Encouraged by her response, Shane deepened the kiss and once again marveled at her sweetness and thefeeling of completion he always experienced when he held