For His Brother's Wife

“How does your leg feel?” she asked, realizing how long he’d been moving around on it.

“It’s a little sore but nothing I can’t handle,” he said, repeating the same thing he told her every time she asked.

“I’m definitely going with the cream color,” she said, handing him the sample. They had already picked out floor tile and her cabinets and with the selection of the paint she was almost certain they had everything for her studio.

“I’ll put these on the list for R&N’s next delivery for the Double R build,” he said, putting the paint chip in his shirt pocket.

“Is there anything else I need to pick out before we head back home?” she asked as they started toward the courtesy desk.

He looked thoughtful. “I can’t think of anything here. But I do need to stop by the pharmacy.”

She waited for Cole to give the store clerk a list of items to be added to the next delivery for the ranch. “Did the doctor give you another prescription to have filled?” she asked as they walked out of the store.

“No, I’m going to buy a box of condoms,” he whispered close to her ear.

“But why?” she asked, frowning in puzzlement. “I told you that I don’t think I’m able to get pregnant.”

“And there’s the key word,” he said as they got into her Mercedes. “You don’t think it’s possible. But you don’t know for sure.”

“Well, no, I haven’t had my suspicion confirmed by a doctor, but I haven’t become pregnant in ten years,” she said, a little less certain than she’d been a few minutes ago.

“Did you ever stop to think it might be Craig’s fault?” Cole asked.

She shook her head. “If you’ll remember he made me pregnant before we got married and I haven’t been able to become pregnant since. That suggests that it might be my problem. I might not be able to sustain a pregnancy.”

To her surprise, Cole shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Men can become sterile at any time and for a variety of reasons.” He reached over to take her hand in his. “I just don’t want to make you pregnant until that’s what you want.”

Her heart skipped a beat. It was something she hadn’t considered, and she had to admit he had a valid point. But it was the way he explained his reasons for buying the protection that stopped her in her tracks. He didn’t want to make her pregnant until she wanted him to? Did that mean he was all right with them having a baby?

Paige gave herself a mental shake. She always seemed to be reading things into what Cole said and it was past time she stopped. Men had a habit of phrasing things differently than women and their intentions weren’t always what women perceived them to be.

“All right,” she said, putting the sedan into Drive. “Next stop, the pharmacy and then home.”

A few minutes later, while Cole went into the pharmacy, Paige waited outside in the car at his request. He didn’t give her a reason, but she had a feeling he might think she would be embarrassed at the checkout when all they purchased was a box of condoms.

“That was quick,” she said when he slid back into the passenger seat a few minutes later.

“A lot of men won’t admit it, but they have a size and brand they prefer,” Cole said, grinning.

“I thought those were a one-size-fits-all kind of item,” she said, laughing.

Cole laughed with her. “Sweetheart, contrary to the observations of our country’s founding fathers, all men are not created equal.”

As their laughter faded, they each fell silent, and Paige couldn’t help but marvel at how easy it was to be with Cole. They both liked many of the same things, they enjoyed rooting for the Rangers baseball team and their sense of humor was similar.

“Are we still on for our date tonight?” Cole asked as Paige steered the car up the lane leading to the ranch house.

“Date?” She shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You, me, propped up on the sofa bed with the Rangers playing the Yankees.” His wide grin faded. “I figure it will be one of our last nights in the family room now that I’m able to move around a little easier and will be able to get upstairs to my room soon.”

She nodded as she parked the car in the garage. “You’re probably right. The physical therapist will be here again tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yeah, and results are pretty quick. I’m amazed after each session at the progress I’ve made,” he said as they got out of the car and went into the house. “And that’s just fine with me. I’d like to get back to work.”