Expecting the Rancher's Heir

Before anyone could react, Shane lowered his head and gave her a kiss that caused her head to spin and her toes to curl inside her sensible black pumps. When he finally raised his head, there was a hushed silence. Then, everyone started talking at once.

“Congratulations you two,” Guy said, grinning from ear to ear. “It looks like my pastry chef is going to be busy for quite some time making nothing but wedding cakes.”

“That’s great,” Trevor said happily. “Now that McDermott is off the market, I won’t have as much competition with the ladies.”

“I’m so happy for you,” Erica said, rushing around the table to hug Melissa.

Avery was right behind Erica to wrap her arms around Melissa. “I never suspected a thing. I don’t know how you managed to keep quiet about a relation ship as serious as this.” Giving her a watery smile, Avery added, “I think it’s wonderful.”

As her brothers and Christian took turns shaking Shane’s hand, Melissa noticed that although Blake’s secretary, Samantha, added her congratulations, the woman seemed uncharacteristically quiet and subdued. What could possibly have the vibrant brunette so down in the dumps?

Before she had a chance to speak to the woman and ask if everything was all right, Gavin wrapped Melissa in a brotherly bear hug. “I wish you every happiness, little sister.”

Tapping on his water glass with the edge of his knife, Blake drew everyone’s attention. “I’d like to make a toast.”

To her surprise, one of her brothers had ordered a bottle of champagne and the waiter had just poured them all a glass of the sparkling pink wine. All except for her and Avery. Their glasses held sparkling white grape juice.

“I’m pregnant,” Melissa said, pointing to Avery’s glass. “What’s your excuse?”

Her friend made a face. “Remember, champagne makes me sneeze.”

Melissa didn’t have time to dwell on the matter when Blake raised his glass.

“To Melissa and Shane,” he said, smiling. “May you have a long and happy life together.

Everyone raised their glass in agreement, then taking a sip of wine, settled down to dinner and conversation. As it always did, talk turned to plans for expanding the resort’s services and special promotions. Melissa tuned most of it out as she watched her family.

Apparently so did Erica and Avery. They’d been huddled together since finishing their desserts and she wondered what the two of them were up to.

All in all, the evening had gone quite well, she decided, feeling more at ease than she had in several days. It was a huge relief to have her and Shane’s relationship out in the open.

As the evening drew to a close and everyone gathered their things to leave, Erica and Avery pulled Melissa aside. “Let’s get together for lunch on Wednesday,” Avery said, her eyes twinkling.

“We want to start making plans for a baby shower,” Erica added, just as excited.

Melissa was touched by their enthusiasm and happiness for her. “I’d like that, but don’t you think it’s a bit early to start planning something like that? I’m only a couple of months along.”

“You can never start planning the perfect party too early,” Avery said, laughing.

“Besides, from everything I’ve been told, it will start getting extremely busy in a couple of months when the ski season starts,” Erica agreed. “If we get most of the details worked out now, we won’t be so rushed later on.”

Agreeing on a time for their lunch, Melissa watched her sister and future sister-in-law leave the restaurant. She loved finally having female family members. After growing up as the only girl in a house full of boys, it was definitely a welcome change.

“I think everything went pretty well tonight,” Shane said, walking up to put his arm around her. “At least, none of your brothers threatened to grab their shotguns and run me out of town.”

She laughed. “I doubt that any of them own a shotgun.” As they walked from the Sky Lounge, she added, “I’m just glad everything is out in the open and we don’t have to sneak around anymore.”

“Yeah, I’m not going to miss those midnight treks from the stables through the woods to Willow Lodge one damned bit. It’s a wonder someone hadn’t noticed and thought I was a Peeping Tom.” Waiting for the elevator, his laughter turned into a grin that held such promise it stole her breath. “From now on, I’ll just roll over and turn out the light.”

“Really?” she asked, laughing at his lascivious grin.

“Most definitely.” He leaned close to whisper, “And just in case you have any doubts about that, I intend to give you a demonstration as soon as we get back to the lodge.”