Read Online Not Quite Married by Christine Rimmer - Free Book Online

overdramatizing, Aunt Agnes,” said Clara.
    “No. No, I am not. I am sympathetic. I love you. I’m a traditionalist at heart, so I can’t say I approve of your becoming pregnant without being married first, but I—”
    “Aunt Agnes, stop!”
    Agnes put her wrinkled, perfectly manicured hand to her chest. “There is no need to shout.”
    “Then listen to me. Are you listening?”
    “Well, of course I am, dear.”
    “I love you, Aunt Agnes, but I want you to stay out of it, please.”
    “But I—”
    “Please.”
    Agnes sputtered a little more, but she did finally back off—which was too bad, really, as Agnes had been arguing his case for him. The old lady stayed for half an hour. She talked the whole time, gossiping about people he didn’t know and delivering several grim pronouncements concerning the frightening state of the world today.
    Right after Agnes said goodbye, one of the nurses came in to check on Clara. Dalton left them alone.
    When the nurse emerged from the room, she told him dinner would be served soon. Would he like a tray? He thanked her and said he would appreciate that and went back in with Clara.
    He’d no sooner settled into the chair by the bed than yet another visitor appeared in the doorway. Tall and broad-shouldered with light brown hair, the guy was too damn good-looking. He carried a large stuffed teddy bear. In the teddy bear’s fist were three red satin ribbons attached to three big red, shiny heart-shaped balloons.
    Dalton knew instantly who he was. He’d seen the pictures of him in that private investigator’s report back in December: Ryan McKellan, the one Clara had almost married.
    “Ryan!” Clara cried his name with way too much delight. She held out her arms.
    “Damn, Clara.” The guy went straight to her, dropped to the side of the bed, propped the teddy bear on the bed table and gathered her into his arms. “I just heard.”
    “Thanks for coming,” She hugged him way closer than Dalton thought was appropriate and the guy hugged her right back. The hug went on for far too long.
    Finally, Ryan pulled back and Clara settled onto the pillow again. He touched the side of her face, a gentle touch that made Dalton want to break something—preferably that too-handsome face. “Are you all right?”
    She had her hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Did she really need to keep touching him that way? “Honestly, Rye,” she said. “It’s not a big deal. I’m fine...”
    Dalton wasn’t letting that stand. “As a matter of fact, she fainted. She was dehydrated. And her doctor’s keeping her here overnight for observation.”
    Ryan turned to look at him then. Frowning, he glanced at Clara.
    Clara sighed, “Ryan, this is—”
    “I’m Dalton Ames. The father of Clara’s baby.”
    The other guy didn’t look happy. Not happy in the least.
    Clara didn’t, either. Too damn bad. But then she said, “Dalton, will you leave us alone for a few minutes, please?”
    It was the last thing he intended to do. “What for?”
    The other guy tried to smooth things over. “Clara, it’s all right. We can talk later.” He started to rise.
    But damned if she didn’t grab him back. “No. We’ll talk now.” She shot Dalton a look of mingled exasperation and defiance—a look that asked, Now, don’t you feel guilty for being a complete ass ?
    He didn’t feel guilty. Not in the least.
    She said, “Dalton, will you please step out of the room—and close the door when you go?”
    He stayed where was, though he knew he’d pushed the issue to the limit.
    She asked him again. “Dalton. Please.”
    He longed to simply tell her no, that he was going nowhere, not as long as this Ryan character was in her room.
    But if he did that, it would cost him. He could see it in those big brown eyes of hers. If he didn’t do as she’d asked, she was way too likely to tell him to get out—and not come back.
    So he rose without a word and left them, pausing only to swing the door shut in