Sorrows and Lace by Bonnie R. Paulson, Brilee Editing Page A

She arched her eyebrow and crossed her arms.
    She’d never be anything like that, even if he wanted it. Ronan’s laughter resounded around them. “Oh, Kelsey.” But the humor died and a passion burned. He reached for her.
    Her breath caught.
    Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he whispered. “You always did make me laugh.”
    Ronan lowered his lips to the curve just behind her ear. He’d be en dying to kiss her, taste her. Just a sample would have to be enough to plant the desire in her to stay with him, try it out, and hold him off her until she was ready.
    He allowed his lips to move across her satiny skin, tracing a line to hover just at the corner of her mouth. Her hot breath mixed with his and suddenly their long separation hit him square in the chest and he crushed her to him. Their lips melded and molded and she whimpered as she threw her arms over his shoulders, pulling tighter to him.
    A tightness in his lap reawakened his need to get marry her. As much as he claimed to not want love or need it, the emotion certainly made things easier. If she loved him, they’d be pregnant in no time. He didn’t care what the doctor had said. Kelsey didn’t have money then. If she married him, she’d have everything she needed to try to become pregnant – and carry to term.
    Hopefully, she took him up on his offer.
    For everyone involved.

Chapter 8
     
    Admitting to still being married to Sonny twisted a sharp pang of shame deep inside her gut. Kelsey hadn’t wanted anyone to know that, least of all Ronan. Why couldn’t she have been married to a movie star or other very successful man who would make Ronan jealous as hell instead of pity her for the worm she’d actually ended up with?
    She ached over Ronan’s words about love. Could he really still care for her? Or did he taunt her own feelings?
    Unable to think or breathe with his lips molded to hers, Kelsey stepped away from the onslaught of his kiss before she jumped him right there.
    She held up her hands to keep him back so she could first catch her breath and then finally calm down enough to talk. “I understand it sounds like a great deal, I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I still need to think about it. We don’t exactly have a contract to read over, this is one that I need time to assimilate the conditions.” She glanced around the kitchen, desperate for a drink. “Which means I can drink until I make up my mind one way or the other, right?”
    He frowned, but nodded slowly. “I’d rather you didn’t. I can get you counseling or help, if you have a hard time leaving the stuff alone. To help make it easier, I won’t drink either. But if you are going to be here in an official capacity – as my wife – I think it’s only fair to ask that you keep your body healthy for any offspring we have together.”
    His last sentence startled a snort and guffaw from her. “Are you serious? Did you just call any children we have together offspring ?” She continued laughing, gasping through her disbelief. “Alright, I’ll try to stay away from anything that will hurt my future babies until I make a decision. I need some time to myself. Can I borrow a horse and go for a ride?”
    Ronan turned from her, heading toward the front foyer. He grabbed a jacket hanging from an ornate antique brass hook. “Sure, Redbird should still be saddled.” He froze and stared at the hook and surrounding wall.
    Kelsey placed both hands on the counter and braced herself with straight arms. Had she just heard him right? “What did you just call your horse?” Shock split through her. No way, he’d named his horse after her. If he had, then he’d thought more about her over the last few years than she’d hoped. The possibility of the truth of that hit her full force and she hid the grin working to get out.
    Slowly lowering his coat to his side, Ronan pivoted on his left boot and faced her. “Well, I love the name. The Salish community doesn’t get enough