Free Bridled and Branded by Natalie Acres Page A

and make no mistake, a life spent fathering a child with that woman is like stepping into the pits of hell.”
    “I would agree with that,” he said. “And for the first time in my life, I’m grateful for the things I cannot have.”
    Lynlee stopped her rant and stood completely still. Lynlee cleared her throat. “You expect me to believe you can’t have children?”
    “It’s the truth.”

    “Then if that’s so, why did you use protection with me?”
    “You have to ask? Hell, I’ve been with a lot of women, Lynlee.”
    “It sure didn’t bother you when your dick was down my throat!”
    “God, Lynlee,” Blaine muttered.
    They stood there glaring at one another until Blaine finally said, “I don’t want to fight with you. I told you the truth. You’re the one that has to decide whether or not you can live with it.”
    Lynlee tried to keep the tears from falling. If she cried, she wasn’t sure if she’d shed tears of joy or pure sorrow.
    Lynlee sat down all at once. She wanted him to say something, anything to steer the conversation in another direction. Was it a good time to tell him that she’d never really wanted children? Probably.
    “I’m sorry,” she finally whispered.
    “I’m not. Truth is, until I realized I wanted a future with you, I never wanted children. I’m not exactly the kind of man who can’t wait to settle down.”
    “A…a…future?”
    “Yes, Lynlee. I’m not sure what I can offer you, but if you’ll have me, I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”
    “What are you proposing here, Blaine?”
    He grinned and then shrugged. “Well, I reckon, in my own way, I’m asking you to be my wife.”
    She gulped. “You want to marry me?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I want to marry you.”
    “You’re a little young to be proposing marriage, don’t you think?”
    He walked over and knelt down on one knee. “I’m three years older than you. If anything, you might want to think about the proposal yourself. You’re twenty-two years old. You’re young and healthy. I’ll never be able to give you children, even if you decide you want them la—”
    “I don’t,” she blurted out. “I’ve never wanted children.”
    “You might change your mind.”
    “I won’t, Blaine. I promise you, I won’t.”
    She leaned over and he cupped her face in his hands. He kissed her lips so softly that she felt like it was more like a goodbye kiss than the beginning to something more substantial in their relationship.
    “I know this is bad timing, but I had planned on moving to Tennessee this September. Your dad said there were a few farmers selling off some land after the economy killed the crop business, and I’d already told him I planned on making you mine.”
    “You did what?” Lynlee gasped. Now Blaine was full of one too many surprises. “You talked to my father about ‘making me yours’ and what did you say to him exactly?”
    With a smirk, he took her hands in his. “I don’t think you want to know.”
    “Tell me you didn’t tell my father you were going to take me to your bed.”
    “I think he’s smart enough to know that’s exactly where I planned to take you.”
    Lynlee blinked. Blaine remained on one knee. “Truth is, Lynlee, for years, you’ve kept my nerves in shambles. Yeah, I’ve had other women but—”
    “I don’t want to talk about them.”
    “Well, then, what do you say?”
    “About what?”
      “I’m still down here waiting for your answer,” he pointed out.
    “Yes,” she agreed, lifting her left shoulder in a partial shrug and noting the obvious. He wasn’t well-prepared for a proposal. She didn’t see a ring, but then again, she’d never thought much about wearing jewelry.
    “You drive a hard bargain,” he said, grinning. “Wanna see the ring first?”
    “You mean you have one?”
    “Yes, I have one. And it’s a shiner, too.”
    She laughed. Naturally, it would be. The McCains had plenty of money to burn.
    “Well?”
    “When did you