His Texas Christmas Bride. Nancy Robards Thompson

the baby. No one to please. No one to convince that this child was wanted and dear and loved—even if he or she was a surprise. She had just come to terms with the situation herself. Now things had suddenly gotten complicated again.

      Becca stared out the passenger-side window into the inky sky. The trees were beginning to shed their leaves and stood stark and bare in the chill night.

      How symbolic, she thought. Exposed. Stripped down to the naked branches with nothing to hide what lay beneath. Somewhere from deep inside, a voice reminded her that some of these trees had lined Celebration’s Main Street for centuries. They’d endured winters and storms and climate changes to see another season.

      This was simply a new season of her life.

      Nick was coming over tomorrow to talk. While she understood that he needed time to digest the news—just as she had—he hadn’t seemed very happy about it. And she wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with that right now. But if not now, when?

      When they stopped at a red light, Becca felt Kate’s gaze on her. Kate was such a good friend. This was all fresh news to her—huge news that her best friend was pregnant and going it alone. Well, not exactly alone. Not anymore. So, it was actually a double bit of juiciness, and not once since they’d left the hospital had Kate pushed her to give up the goods.

      Becca knew she didn’t owe anyone an explanation, but Kate did deserve to know what was going on.

      “So, I’m pregnant,” Becca offered. “And Nick is the father.”

      Kate’s eyes were wide, but all she did was nod.

      “I probably should’ve told you sooner so that you didn’t find out like this, but I wasn’t ready to tell anyone. Still, I hope you know how much I appreciate all you’ve done today. You’re such a good friend, Kate.”

      “I’m glad I was here for you today,” she said. “For the record, you don’t have to tell anyone anything until you’re ready.”

      The two sat in silence and Becca let the solidarity wash over her.

      “But he is a good-looking guy,” Kate added. “I can see the temptation.”

      A hiccup of a laugh escaped Becca, and for a moment the tension lifted. “I know, right?”

      Kate’s curiosity was almost palpable.

      “Liam’s never mentioned Dr. Ciotti.”

      The statement was a question. Kate was testing the water to see how Becca would warm to telling her more. The light turned green, and Kate accelerated at a gentle pace.

      “He hasn’t even been at the hospital a week,” Becca said. “Since they’re in different departments, I’m not surprised he hasn’t mentioned him. They may not have met yet.”

      That was a long shot. The hospital wasn’t large. Most of the staff knew each other at least by sight.

      “How did you two meet?” Kate ventured. “You don’t have to answer that if you’re not ready to talk about it.”

      The cat was already out of the bag. She couldn’t blame Kate for being curious. If the situation were reversed, she’d want to know. Then again, Kate was married to a fabulous man. It was a relationship made in heaven, though it hadn’t started out that way. Her husband, Liam, had been a widower when Kate had first met him. He came with adorable twin teenage girls and the expected amount of baggage that a man who had lost his first love much too young would bring to a new relationship. But Liam and Kate were soul mates. Despite fate’s cruel curveball, they’d been given a chance at happiness, and they’d taken it.

      Becca tried to keep her mind from wandering to the possibility that she and Nick might be soul mates.

      She really shouldn’t go there. For her own peace of mind.

      The best way to make sure she didn’t was to tell Kate the story of the night she met Nick.

      “No, it’s okay. I don’t mind. Remember the night that Victor got in the drag racing accident?”

      “Yes.”

      “That night at the hospital Rosanna was so mad at me.”

      Kate slanted her a glance. “Why was she mad at you? You weren’t driving.”

      “I wasn’t, but I was the one who taught Victor how to drive a standard transmission.”

      They came to a stop sign, and Kate shot her a glance that conveyed she clearly didn’t understand Rosanna’s anger.

      Really, who did understand her sister? It seemed as if she was angry most of the time.

      “She said if I hadn’t taught him, he wouldn’t have been tempted.” Becca shrugged. “That’s Rosanna logic for you. But I know she was just upset. Victor was banged up pretty badly. Anyhow, when the doctor came to give us the prognosis, I asked him to clarify something, and Rosanna tore into me. She told me I didn’t get to ask questions. She told me to leave.

      “I wanted to give her some space, so I walked away. I went over to the nurses’ station to get a cup of coffee. I just wanted to give her a chance to calm down. When I was pouring the coffee, this guy—this drop-dead-gorgeous guy—was standing there, and he told me he didn’t mean to butt in, but he couldn’t help but overhear the exchange with my sister. Everybody had heard her, I’m sure. He told me he was a doctor, and he explained what Victor’s doctor had said.”

      “That was Nick?” Kate asked.

      Becca nodded.

      “And then what? Did he ask for your phone number?”

      Becca ran a hand over her eyes. Ugh. This was so embarrassing. Kate knew her well enough to know she didn’t sleep around. In fact, the last time she’d had sex was with her boyfriend two years ago.

      “Not exactly. I went back over and rejoined my family, but Rosanna was just hysterical. My dad suggested that it might be a good idea to give her some space. He told me to go get something to eat, which really meant I should disappear for a while. He said he’d call if there were any changes in Victor’s condition.

      “So, I walked over to Bentleys across the street from the hospital. I was just going to sit there for a while, get a decent cup of coffee—the stuff at the nurses’ station tasted like dirty water, and it was only lukewarm. I was going to bring some coffee back for my folks and Rosanna. A peace offering. I just wanted to give her a little time.

      “And who do you suppose walked into Bentleys?”

      “Nick?”

      “How did you guess?” Becca laughed, but the sound was dry and brittle. It wasn’t funny. It was embarrassing. Kind of pathetic, really.

      “That night Nick and I seemed to be on a trajectory toward each other. I came in and sat down at a booth and ordered my coffee. And for some reason everything that had been bottled up began spilling out. I started crying, and I couldn’t stop. I mean, I wasn’t making a scene or anything, but the tears just wouldn’t stop. The next thing I knew, I saw Nick through the window. He was parking a motorcycle, and a minute later, he was standing by my table, offering me a napkin for my tears.”

      “And the rest is history?”

      “After he’d told me what the doctor had said, he’d checked on Victor and learned that, though he was banged up pretty badly, he was stable. He was going to be fine. And then the rest is history.”

      Even though they were both adults, and she knew Kate wouldn’t think badly of her, Becca couldn’t look at her friend. Instead, she stared straight ahead.

      “I’ve never had a one-night stand before,” Becca said. “I do, and look what happens.”

      They were in front of Becca’s condo now. Kate killed the engine and reached out and put a hand on Becca’s arm. “Honey, I’m not judging you. You’re a grown woman, and you’re free to do