Free Daddy with a Deadline by Marilyn Shank Page A

robe for her clothes and finger-combed her hair. A glance in the mirror assured her she looked a bit more presentable.
    You’re not dressing for Trent
, she reminded herself. It didn’t matter what this cowboy thought of her appearance.
    She stepped out of the bathroom and noticed that the table by the window was set for two. “What’s this?” she asked.
    “Rosa thought we could eat here. These windows provide the best view of the ranch.”
    Eating in the cowboy’s bedroom wasn’t a good idea. But Annie was so hungry that when Trent pulled out a chair, she took her seat. He settled across from her.
    Rosa bustled in with steaming plates of enchiladas. Annie inhaled the heavenly aroma.
    “I understand you took a trip to the hospital,” Rosa said as she set the plates down.
    Annie sighed. “An unnecessary trip.”
    “Next time you’ll bring your little ones home. You got some bonus time to finish getting ready.”
    “That’s Rosa for you,” Trent said. “The eternal optimist.”
    “I made lots of enchiladas, Miss Annie, and you must eat good to build your strength. You’ll need it when the babies come.”
    “Thank you. I will.”
    Rosa left and Annie glanced at Trent and swallowed hard. His gaze was fixed firmly on her. And his expression held a tenderness she hadn’t seen before. “How are you feeling?”
    “Better.”
    “More pains?”
    “Not even a twinge.”
    “Go ahead and eat. You must be hungry.”
    She took a bite. “Mmm. No wonder you brag on Rosa’s cooking.”
    Annie’s gaze drifted to the magnificent view of the ranch. “I see why you love it here. Just looking out the window brings a sense of peace.”
    “You should see it at sunrise,” he said softly. “It takes your breath away.”
    Annie could imagine Trent stretched out on his bed as the sun inched over the horizon. She pictured his rumpled pajama bottoms and dark tousled hair. Oh dear. She’d imagined the man shirtless! And that view proved breathtaking as well! Annie gave herself a mental shake and turned her attention to the enchiladas.
    “Rosa’s right, you know. We did get some bonus time. And we’ll put it to good use.”
    Trent’s use of the pronoun
we
disturbed Annie. Because of his loyalty to Brad, he’d adopted her as a pet project.
    “What are you suggesting?” she asked cautiously.
    “Isn’t it obvious? The nursery’s practically empty. Crib shopping’s next on our agenda.”
    There it was again. The pronoun
our
. She’d better set the man straight and fast.
    “My plans have changed. Mrs. Higginbotham found a bassinette in her attic and brought it over. And Sara’s sister is lending me another one. So stop worrying about the twins sleeping in dresser drawers. That’s not going to happen.”
    “What’s a bassinette?”
    “A basket-bed made specifically for newborns.”
    Trent’s brow furrowed. “That won’t last long. Why not buy cribs right away? There’s a sale at Babyland...”
    Annie eyed him skeptically. “How does a horse trainer know about sales at Babyland? Are you on their mailing list?”
    “Actually, Rosa stopped by the store to check it out.”
    “Rosa? Is she on the nursery-furnishing committee as well?”
    “Will you lighten up, Annie? You have hard work ahead of you, and the right equipment will make life easier.”
    He was right, of course. But Annie had to do this alone. When she’d married Brad she’d believed with all her heart that he would make a good husband and father. And she’d been dead wrong.
    “Look, Trent. I need to make my own decisions and move at my own pace.”
    “You mean a snail’s pace? If I’d gotten Brad’s letter sooner, we’d have more time to get ready. But our time is running out. The more we get done now, the less you’ll have to manage later.”
    Part of her would love to give in—to let Trent lift some responsibility from her shoulders. But he’d just summed up their relationship in five words:
Our time is running out.
    “I appreciate