changed forever, taking a turn she’d never dreamed would happen.
She was still stunned by all that had occurred, unable to lose her apprehension over Ryan’s arbitrary ways. His profile, his straight nose and firm jaw indicated his determination to get what he wanted in life.
He was gazing out a window. He’d shed his coat and pulled off his tie, and had his shirt partially unbuttoned. She could see tufts of dark hair on his chest, and inhaled, remembering vividly how it felt to kiss and caress that chest.
With his long legs stretched out and his thick hair tangled by the wind, he was blatantly attractive.
She was marrying this man in two weeks! Whenever she thought about it, the realization stunned her. When he wanted something, he went after it exhaustively, and she’d better remember that. In this case, she knew it wasn’t a wife he wanted, but his baby. She was merely a means to an end. But she had believed him when he told her he wouldn’t ever try to take away her baby. Was she being foolish and gullible to accept that as truth and take him at his word?
One more reminder that she was marrying a stranger. Yet she was getting to know him. Most of the time their evening together had been exciting, and she’d had a great time.
She had to plan a large wedding for herself in two weeks. And then she would have a real wedding night with Ryan. Every nerve in her body tingled each time she thought about it.
As if he could sense what was on her mind, he shifted to face her and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “What are you thinking?”
“The wedding,” she said, hoping he couldn’t guess that she had been thinking about their wedding night.
“Shall we get back to some planning?” He glanced at the monitor and saw he could take off his seat belt. Standing up, he disappeared toward the front of the plane, to return a minute later with a legal pad and a pen. He handed them to her.
“You can make notes if you want. Monday, I’ll give you a list of guests. I suspect you know everyone in that town you’re from.”
She nodded. “We just about do, but I don’t intend to invite all of them.”
“Do what you want. Get the dress you want. You can take care of all the details. I’ll handle the honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon?” she asked, startled. “Why? We’re not in love, and I’ve asked for no sex after our wedding night. I can see the wheels turning in your mind. You expect to seduce me!” she declared.
“We’ll get off by ourselves and get to know each other,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. He looked as if he owned the world and expected everyone to do what he wanted them to. “Plan on a week.”
“A week!” she sputtered. “Well, I’m not even going to argue with you about it,” she said in exasperation. “Pick someplace warm and sunny. I don’t like snow.”
His enticing smile coaxed her to relax and stop fighting him. “See, we’re getting to know each other.”
“You don’t have to continually remind me,” she said. “What time of day shall we have the wedding?”
“Morning, and later we’ll feed everyone lunch and have a blast. Then we’re off on our honeymoon. How’s that?”
“Fine with me,” she said. “Rehearsal Friday night.”
‘You’ll need help getting out invitations, won’t you?”
She shook her head. “I can do it through my office and send you the bill.”
He nodded, and she wondered if he was going to object to any plans she made, and suspected he wouldn’t, no matter how exorbitant the price tag.
“Just remember, I have the baby’s best interests at heart.”
‘You mean, you have Ryan Warner’s best interests in mind,” she snapped, and he leaned forward to put his hands on the arms of her seat.
“I have your concerns in mind, too. I promise you’ll see that I do.” His face was close, and her anger warred with her craving. Being with him was an emotional battle, while physically, there was only one response—desire. She looked at his mouth and thought about his kisses, and in spite of her anger at him, wanted to lean those last few inches closer and kiss him.
He moved nearer and his lips brushed hers. She shut her eyes and relaxed. When he covered her mouth with his, she moaned.
Snapping open the buckle of her seat belt, he pulled her to him, sitting back in his seat and lifting her to his lap, to hold her close while he kissed her hard. Ashley’s heart pounded and her breathing became erratic. Forgetting their disputes, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him in return, wanting so much more.
As they kissed, she knew time was passing and desire was growing more intense by the second. To slow things down, she pulled away reluctantly.
“You’re irresistible, Ashley,” he said gruffly, touching her throat.
“You know how I react to you,” she replied, moving off his lap and straightening her clothes, sitting down to smooth her skirt and buckle up again. His steady look made her heart thud. Struggling for composure, she stared out the window at the black night, the pinpricks of lights occasionally showing in the distance.
“I don’t know how you’ll react,” he replied solemnly after a few minutes’ silence. He reached over to caress her cheek. “But I intend to learn how you respond to each touch and kiss.”
“You’re coming on strong, Ryan,” she whispered, finding his words as effective as a touch. “Let’s get back to some other topic. The wedding, if you want.”
With a long, intense look, he shrugged. “We didn’t discuss where we’ll live after we marry. How about my condo? Then we can build a house, so we’ll have more room when the baby comes, or soon afterward.”
Astounded, she stared at him. “I hadn’t thought about where we’d live,” she said, thinking about his sprawling, plush condo in an exclusive, gated area. She also thought about her own place, which was smaller, far more simple. “That’s fine, Ryan. None of this seems real to me.”
“It’s real,” he said. “Come back over here in my lap and I’ll convince you it’s real.”
She shook her head. “My mind boggles over all the abrupt changes. Things I never expected to have happen are occurring one right after the other.”
“Also, in the next week, find a decorator. Do my bedroom over—colors, new furniture—so the place is both of ours. We should start married life with a new bed. Spend whatever you want.”
She stared at him in consternation and amazement. “You can be so strong willed and then so generous.”
“Maybe you’ll discover that I’m really a nice guy.”
“I know you’re a nice guy,” she said. “Until you want something.”
He smiled. “You can do any other rooms over in my condo, too—or all of them if you want to.”
She laughed. “You plunge full steam into everything you do! Okay, I’ll look at your bedroom. A new bed for us would be great,” she said, and the thought made her breathless.
“And I can’t wait to try it out with you.”
“You’ll make me blush.”
“Just makes you look even more gorgeous.”
He fished in his billfold and handed her a card. “Charge everything you want to this.”
“Ryan, you’re being generous.”
“You’ll be my wife, Ashley. It’s like doing it for myself,” he answered casually. “Another thing we haven’t discussed is your job.”
“See?” she said.