A Handful of Heaven

His hand stroked her face. "Just memories, love. It's nothing."

Love. He'd called her love! Hope soared in her breast. Her plan was going to work. She could feel it. He already loved her; he just didn't know it. All she had to do was get him to realize it, slowly and in his own way, and then everything would fall into place. If he loved her, really loved her, he would want their child. He would ask her to stay and make a life with him.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to follow the plan. She still had to go slowly. "Cornelius, I've been thinking about your work."

"My work?" He chuckled. "We make hot, exciting love,| and all you can think about afterward is my work? How] unflattering."

She caught the teasing in his voice and smiled. "Well, I've been thinking about it for a while," she admitted. "I have an idea."

"Fire away."

She scooted upright for a better look at him. She didn't want to miss any nuance of emotion that crossed his face.

Her expression was too earnest, too eager, she knew, but she couldn't seem to change it. Excitement tinged her voice. "You know how much I hate you stomping off to the gulch, dragging that horrid sled."

"Yeah."

"Well, I know you have to carry all that stuff with you, and I thought . . . Well, I thought a dog might help." She smiled at him expectantly, waiting for his agreement.

It didn't come.

In fact he didn't say anything; he just looked at her, strangely, a lazy smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. | She frowned. He certainly didn't seem to be thinking about the merits of home and hearth.

Maybe he needed a little more convincing. "Plus it would be nice to have a pet, don't you think? Especially a dog. He

could sleep on the floor, curled up in front of the stove. It would make everything so ... homey."

He propped up on one elbow to look at her. "You want me to get a dog?" He sounded incredulous.

Devon felt the first stirring of apprehension. It wasn't going right. The plan had barely begun, and already he wasn't following it. He should have agreed by now. Why was he smiling?

"I'd take care of him," she added as an afterthought.

That smile again, a little bigger. "You would, would you?"

"Y-Yes." She nibbled nervously on her lower lip. Oh, why didn't he just agree? How hard could it be to say "Yes, Dev, a dog would be nice. A malamute, maybe." That's what he'd always said in her thoughts.

When she couldn't stand the silence anymore, she started talking again, "A dog would be nice. At least, / think it would. I mean, it would make us more like a family-" She looked at him meaningfully. "You know, a real family. You know it-"

He pressed a finger to her lips."You're babbling, Devon."

"I know, but-"

"Shhh. I appreciate the thought, Dev. Honestly I do. But if I'd wanted a dog, I'd have one."

"But-"

"But nothing. A dog is too damn much responsibility. Hell, what if I forgot to feed the damn thing and he died? I'd feel like shit. No, it's a nice thought. But I couldn't take the responsibility."

Devon sucked in her breath as the implication of his words hit home. Tears seared her eyes. She blinked them away rapidly then sank into the mattress, burying her face in the pillow.

" Devon?" She felt his hand on her bare shoulder, stroking it gently."What is it? Did you really want a dog that much?"

She shook her head, grateful now for the russet curls that shielded her face. "No," she answered in a muffled voice. "I'm just tired. Let's go to sleep."

He snuggled alongside her, his arms coiled around her naked body. One warm hand slid beneath her body and settled against her navel.

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