Page 23 of A Bride for Brodie

CHAPTER6

As Lottie and Brodie prepared for bed, she looked over at him. He’d already removed his clothes and was lying in bed, propped up by his pillow, folded in half.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I want to be courted, too. I’ve had no one attempt to court me, and I think I might like it.” All the women wanted to be courted, except, perhaps, Fiona. Lottie never heard her mention it once. “Occasionally, I’d like to receive a small token, like ribbons for my hair or a bottle of my favorite scent, which is lilac, by the way.”

“I wondered why you smelled so sweet. I like lilacs.”

She climbed naked into bed next to him. “I love when they flower in the spring. They are so wonderful. Their scent just makes me feel good.”

“And what if I don’t want to court you? You’re already my wife, after all.” He put one arm around her and the other under his head.

Lottie crossed her arms over her chest. “Then we’d be done until you see it my way.”

He frowned. “I suppose it can’t hurt. What’s a few bits of frippery, anyway? What would you like? I don’t know what to get a woman? I’ve courted no one before.”

“Weren’t you listening? I told you what I wanted. And now we’ll both be learning. I’m tired. Let’s go to sleep.” She turned over and scooted away from him.

He rubbed her back. “I thought we’d…”

She turned her head toward him and fluttered her eyelashes. “Not tonight. Not until I get my first courting gift.”

He frowned. “That’s not fair. I just found out about the courting gifts. I haven’t even been given a chance to buy something.”

Lottie was quiet for a moment, a warm feeling in her chest. She smiled and then she turned back toward him. “You’re right. I want us to be on the same footing…and I enjoy making love with my husband. But this doesn’t mean I’ll give in every time. Just this time.”Who am I kidding? I find solace in his arms. All those memories go away when he’s holding me.

Brodie turned to her. Kissed her and made love to her.

All she knew…was him. All she felt…was him. All sheremembered…was him, and she was grateful.

* * *

Brodie thoughtabout the money he owed Jake. He still hadn’t figured out how to pay it without asking Ross. And now what little bit of money he still had would have to be used to buy Lottie courting gifts. He’d kill Clay next time they were alone, or at least get in a lick or two before his brother beat him senseless. At least then he might get some sympathy from Lottie.

* * *

The following morning,before she dressed, Brodie came over.

“I have something for you. Turn around.”

She obeyed, thrilled to her toes.How did he come up with something so soon?

“Hold your hair up.”

She picked it up and held it with one hand. Then turned her head to see what he was doing.

He reached around and placed a necklace on her.

She let her hair down and touched the necklace. It was a heart. She hurried over to the bureau and looked in the mirror. It was a gold locket with a design engraved on the front. “It’s beautiful, but where did you get it?” Lottie turned and placed her arms around his neck, pressed her chest against his, and kissed him.

He rubbed his hands up and down her back. “It was my mother’s. Part of the items each of us received when our parents died. It was for my wife, and that’s you. I’m glad you like it. Open it.”

She looked in the mirror as she gently opened the necklace. Inside were small miniatures of a man and a woman. “Are these your parents?”

“Yes. You said you would have liked to meet my mother, now you have something that was hers.”

That night, after dinner, everyone again retired to the living room for rest and reading before bed, as was becoming their custom. Lottie and Brodie were always the first ones to leave.

“Goodnight, all. See you in the morning,” said Brodie.