Mistaken Identity (Identity 1)

“You can’t know that.”

“Have I let you down yet?”

“No, but what about filming?”

“It’s a few hours away. I’ll commute. We can work this out. I’m not taking you away from your support system. This town will protect its own. You won’t be hounded like we would be in L.A.”

“You’d stay here for me?”

“Don’t you know by now there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Kansas Karri Collins? Are you going to stop sabotaging us now?”

“Yes.” The emotion in her voice made his heart race, and his stomach churn like choppy waters.

Now was the time.

“Will you marry me?” Silence fell. All that’s missing is the chirp of crickets. Fresh beads of sweat formed on his brow as he held his breath. Each second that ticked by felt like a decade. Shit, too soon! I knew it was too soon. He studied her face, but found no cues for what was going on in the steel trap of her mind. It was like she’d become carved from ice. He was afraid to touch her or speak, and his anxiety grew like a storm coming in over the sea.

As she turned to look at him, their gazes merged, and an almost physical link came to life. Lifting her hand to his face, she smiled.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Did she just agree?

“Yes. Did you expect me to say no?”

“The first fifty times, yes.” He turned his head in a circle before he gave a nod. Dazed. “What changed?”

“Honestly? I could never live with myself if I let fear ruin us. Then she’d win.”

“Your mother?”

“Mmmhmm. My whole life I’ve never been good enough for one reason enough, too heavy, too masculine, too interested in school instead of pageants. Watching her belittle, berate, and ignore my father and me sent me out of the house at eighteen and running from anything too emotional. Then you came and showed me how full of shit I was. Things weren’t hard with you or uncomfortable. I didn’t have to change a thing, and as much as I waited for it, the caged feeling never hit. Before all I had to do was go on a second date and I was stumbling over my words, making excuses as I headed for the door. I’d be insane to let that go when I know how rare it is, and.” She rested her hand on her belly. “There’s more at stake then my Mommy issues. I’m not selfish.”

“Hey, if you’re not ready I don’t want to rush you.”

“Is anyone every really ready for any of this?” She snickered. “No, this is right for us.” Taking his hands she placed them over her bell. “For all three of us.”

Her words moved him, washed away the uncertainty and stress he’d been under since he found out about the baby. Tears blurred his vision.

“What do we do next?” she asked.

“Get married.”

“What about the show, and your family?”

“It’s okay. Give me some time, and I’ll work out a plan.”

Chapter Seven

Texas is hot. Kansas shaded her eyes against the brilliant rays as they surfaced from the airport. Or maybe it’s just me. He’d spent the whole flight talking about his home town, and his family. The pride and love he had for both evident in every word were like another pound of pressure sitting on her chest. If she didn’t get the thumbs-up of approval Jett would be devastated.

“Who’s picking us up?” she asked.

“My older sister, Sky. It was supposed to be Scott, but he got called in to work at the last minute.”

“That’s nice of her.”

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