“I didn’t, my da...”Sky started to shake her head, then froze.“I-I mean, the ranch looked like something I would like, and I always dreamed of being a wife and mother.”
He felt her stiffen and could tell her explanation was a lie.She was incredibly easy to read.He knew he would eventually find out what was upsetting her, but now wasn’t the time to push her any more than he already had.
“I can’t imagine the men you came in contact with hadn’t ever tried to snatch you up.”
Sky gasped in a burst of emotional pain and pulled away.She was surprised and a little disappointed that he let her.She kept her head down and smoothed a few wrinkles in the dress she was wearing.
“You don’t have to say things like that.”
“Like what?”
“Nice things.”
Jared stood to his full height and frowned down at the top of her head.He’d seen something in her eyes before she’d lowered her head.Someone had severely damaged this woman’s self-esteem.As much as he wanted to argue with her right now, she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to really listen.Later, they would work on her self-esteem, and he’d start her education on what his expectations were.
“Come on, Baby.Let’s go eat, and then I’ll show you around.”
He grasped her hand and pulled her along behind him.At that moment, Jared realized he felt really good, even content.He hadn’t noticed how humdrum his life had become.Only a few hours had passed since he’d met her, and she’d already shown him what he was missing.He now looked forward to the days, months, and years ahead of him.They would make a family together, and he was determined to make sure she had everything she needed to be happy, because there was no way in hell she was ever leaving him.
Chapter Seven
Jared watched fromhis chair at the head of the table as Abby, his housekeeper/cook, talked to Sky about the ranch while she picked up their dinner dishes to take to the kitchen.He watched Abby wave Sky back into her chair when she stood to help her.That showed Jared that Sky had yet another sweet side to herself.She was willing to help.It was something the women he’d known in the past would never have considered.They thought they were above such menial tasks.
In the short amount of time they sat at the table, he’d learned so much about Sky, and everything made him feel good about his decision to go that route to get a bride.In the back of his mind, he had seriously doubted it would work.
Jared stared at Sky as he thought about all he knew.She wasn’t used to the attention and definitely not affection.She had stiffened when Abby had hugged her when they were introduced, but then quickly relaxed and hugged her back almost desperately.She liked being helpful, and being waited on made her uncomfortable.It also made her feel very uncomfortable to answer questions about herself, and she was too shy to ask any of her own.
Jared had sat her to his right at the table.He held back a chuckle when he discovered his attention made her extremely nervous, and when she was nervous, she fidgeted.She looked horrified when she had knocked over her wineglass and spilled the liquid over the table.Jared had simply called for Abby and a towel.
“Baby, don’t worry about spilling anything.I spill shit all the time.”
“Ain’t that the truth?”Abby said sarcastically, making a small smile spread across Sky’s face.
Jared growled playfully.“I didn’t ask your opinion, woman.”
Abby picked up the wet towel and glass before turning toward the kitchen.“Well, Hun, that’s the great thing about being me, you don’t have to ask.I’ll always tell you like it is.”
