“It’s settled, then.” Johanna resumed eating, bringing Alex’s misgivings to a screeching halt. “We can take my car, Connor. It’ll be much easier than the truck.”
Alex got the sneaky feeling she was being railroaded, but knew it would be fruitless to argue. Besides, if she didn’t get some new clothes soon she’d be running around with her pants unbuttoned. Practicality warred with guilt, and practicality won.
“I’ll get ready,” she answered faintly, still not convinced it was a good idea.
The first place they hit was a shopping mall, arriving just as the stores were pushing back their metal and glass doors.
“You need maternity clothes,” Johanna insisted, and led a reluctant Alex inside by the hand. The first customers of the day, they got the saleslady’s undivided attention.
“Only the basics,” Alex insisted, looking at Connor. He hung back, and she wondered why in the world he’d agreed to come along. Surely he didn’t consider this “fun”? As Johanna fluttered around, she wondered what exactly Connor did think constituted fun. She didn’t even know that much about him, yet here she was planning their wedding and shopping for clothes. Clothes he was going to pay for.
She didn’t want to be accused of taking more than she needed. She looked around at the racks of clothing, amazed at how stylish and cute they were. She picked up a black crepe top, with ties to the back and tiny pink flowers dotted over it. In a very few short months her tummy would be rounded and full. She touched the warm area where right now her baby lay. Motherhood. Somehow, shopping for maternity wear drove home the fact that she was going to be a mother more than anything else had—even the crazy deal with Connor. Someday in the near future she was going to have a tiny bundle to love, to nurture, to care for.
“Are you OK?” Connor touched Alex’s shoulder.
Alex half turned, letting out a breathless laugh. “It just hit me. I’m going to be a mother.”
Connor smiled. “You started to turn pale.” He scanned the racks, and shook his head at the sight of his grandmother chatting animatedly with the clerk. “So—excited, or scared to death?”
She couldn’t help it, she laughed, suddenly very glad he’d come along. “A little of both?”
She had an ally in Connor, although she had no idea why she deserved it. Johanna held up a hand, waggling it in the air and rattling hangers.
“I think I’m being summoned.” She aimed a wry smile at him, gratified to see his own mirror hers.
“I predict you’ll be a while, from that gleam in her eye. I’ve seen it before. I’ll go find us some coffee.”
“That sounds good,” she answered, unable to draw her eyes away from his. It was silly to be here, gazing into each other’s eyes, but somehow they’d locked and clung until her heart grew heavy in her chest.
His eyes shifted to over her shoulder.
“Here. Try these on. I thought you’d be happier with casual.” Johanna interrupted the moment and Connor quietly left. In some strange way she felt better when he was by her side, but she certainly didn’t expect him to hang around a maternity shop and comment on fit and style.
Alex was led away, then ensconced in a changing room, handing clothes in and out as she tried on several outfits. In the end she agreed to two pairs of jeans, two pairs of summer shorts, several casual cotton shirts, a sweet pajama set in white with lace trim, and a good outfit for special occasions—a black skirt with a ruffled hem, paired with a scooped-neck floral top.
“It’s too much.” She put a hand over the top of Johanna’s left as the older woman signed the credit card slip.
“Nonsense. Alex, you need these things. It’s a pleasure to provide them for you. I always only ever had a son and grandsons to buy for, and boys are too practical. It’s a treat for me just to be able to buy something pink and feminine. Indulge me.”
Alex took two of the bags in her hands. “And I thank you. But…I’m used to providing for myself.”
“You’re working hard to learn up at Windover. You are trying to be what Connor needs right now. That’s payment enough for me. I know Connor agrees.”
She was what Connor needed? A screw-up in the kitchen? A stranger who knew nothing about ranching? As far as she was concerned, she’d been on the receiving end of all the benefit and hadn’t given much in return. Now Johanna was treating her like a real granddaughter. The girl longing for a home was irresistibly attracted to that, while the practical woman inside knew that it would only hurt more in the end when she had to leave.
Johanna took the remainder of the bags, nudging her out the door. “Come on. You need shoes.”
Connor had been waiting outside and now handed her a paper cup, the tab folded back already and the letters “dec” printed roughly on the top. He’d thought to get her decaf, she realized as Johanna herded them on to the shoe store. His consideration was a constant surprise.
Feeling somewhat helpless, she watched as Connor waited patiently on a bench outside the store while she bought casual shoes, a pair of black patent slingbacks for dressy, and white satin slippers for the wedding.
By lunchtime, their arms were laden with bags. In addition to the footwear and maternity clothes, she’d purchased new socks and underwear at the department store. She’d also taken some of her own money, what little there was of it, and bought Connor a pair of new T-shirts. The one he’d had on first thing this morning was worn around the collar. She couldn’t think of anything else appropriate to buy, but she was determined not to go home with nothing for him. She hadn’t ever bought a man clothing before, and without knowing sizes was a fish out of water. Socks were too impersonal, and underwear…far too intimate. But T-shirts she could manage without too much trouble. Besides, it would be a treat to see his wide chest in them, the way the sleeves outlined the dip in his triceps…
“I’m famished. Let’s have lunch.” Johanna led Alex down the hall to the restaurant housed on the corner.
Alex waited while Connor requested a table, then put a hand on his arm when Johanna excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. “Lunch is on me. Please.”
She’d accepted enough today. She didn’t have much, but she had enough of her own money left after the T-shirts that she could at least buy lunch.
“You don’t have to do that.” He took a seat in the booth opposite her.
“But I want to. I’m not used to…to charity.” Guilt and shame trickled through her simply from saying the word.
“You’re not charity. I’m getting something out of this deal too, remember?” He reached over and put his hand on top of hers. “You’re helping me, Alex. Right now it’s safe to say you’re all the hope I’ve got.”
His thumb was tracing circles over the side of her hand and she didn’t think he was even aware he was doing it. Let alone realizing what the simple touch was doing to her insides.
She swallowed. “Then indulge me. You’ve done so much for me already. Let me buy you lunch.”
He hesitated a moment, but relented. “Deal. But I’ll warn you. Watching you shop works up my appetite.”
Alex laughed as a waitress brought tall glasses of iced water. “Now that the sickness seems to be getting better, I could eat all the time.”
His thumb kept circling. “You know, Alex, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before now. It’s not right that you have to come to me for every penny. There are things you’re going