Chapter Six
Six
Was there a protocol for doing the walk of shame into your own shop wearing the same clothes from the previous night?
Morgan had gotten home well after midnight, couldn’t sleep, and had headed back to the store well before she was due to open.
Even though Ryan had helped her get the showroom from war zone to presentable, there were still touches she wanted to do.
Plus, she just wanted to look at it with fresh eyes.
As helpful as Ryan had been—in more ways than one—Morgan had been a bit distracted and her mind all muddled when they were working in here last night.
First things first, she wanted to change her clothes. She wanted something fresh and more in the holiday spirit. She’d gotten some new sweaters in and even though this was Texas, the weather had mood swings, resulting in chilly nights.
Once Morgan grabbed a new outfit and did a quick change, she went into her office and pulled her hair into a neat low bun and applied some lip gloss.
As she stared in the arched floor-length mirror in her office, Morgan couldn’t help but turn to the side and smooth her hands over her still flat stomach.
Surprisingly, she didn’t feel bad like she’d heard other women talk about. Morning sickness hadn’t hit and she hoped it stayed away. Her appetite had grown...and apparently not just for food. Who knew pregnancy pulled out so many hormones and emotions?
Morgan lifted the white sweater and eased down the waist of her taupe wide-leg pants. She still couldn’t believe there was a little life in there. She’d never thought about being a mother or having a family of her own. In this town, marriages and babies seemed to be contagious lately.
Morgan flattened her hand over her belly and vowed that no matter what, she would put the baby first. Above all else, she valued family and even though she was terrified of being completely out of control with the unknown here, she also couldn’t deny the excitement at the idea of a baby. Her baby.
Well, hers and Ryan’s.
Morgan readjusted her clothes and tried to push Ryan to the back of her mind, but damn it, he just kept creeping right up to the front where he didn’t belong.
She had her life going just fine and all set the way she liked it.
Then he had to come along with that sexy black masquerade mask where all that had been exposed was that kissable mouth and those bright eyes.
The champagne fountain had flowed a little too freely and the next thing she knew, they were back at his ranch and in his bed.
Maybe not her brightest moment, but she couldn’t change the past.
And last night had been about taking what she wanted because she needed to be in control of something in her life right now when everything seemed to be chaos around her.
She should have regrets, but she didn’t. Ryan was unlike any other lover she’d ever had. But great sex and a child on the way didn’t make for a reason to marry. She didn’t love him and he didn’t love her.
Maybe she was the only one thinking clearly here because love didn’t exist for everyone...and marriages didn’t always last. She refused to put her child on a roller coaster of instability simply because Ryan wanted to build a family dynasty.
Thankfully, she had several months to lay groundwork and get a solid plan in place. She and Ryan would just have to sit down like the adults they were and come up with a course of action...one that didn’t involve a loveless marriage.
Morgan busied herself accessorizing the mannequins in the window and adjusting the draped lights to give the party dresses the best glow. She loved this new line and knew the women in Royal would flock to grab them for the upcoming Christmas party at the TCC.
Just as she stepped away from the display, Sylvia Stewart stood waving on the other side of the window.
Morgan smiled and waved back, though inwardly she cringed at starting her day with the town gossip.
Morgan truly wished Kylie didn’t have to care for her grandmother.
She could really use her at the store right now.
Morgan went to the doors and flicked the lock and opened one side for Sylvia.
“I’m a little early,” Sylvia stated as she stepped right on in.
“No problem at all. I was going to have these dresses sent to you this morning.”
Sylvia waved a hand and shook her head. “I ran out to meet a friend for coffee and just thought I’d take a chance that you or Kylie was here.”
“Come on in.” Morgan gestured inside the store. “Would you like another cup of coffee or water?”
“Oh, no, dear.” Sylvia did another glance around the newly decorated area. “I’m fine. I do love how you rearranged the place. You really maximized the space.”
“Thank you.”
Morgan loved the new floor plan, as well. Ryan had played a huge part in helping with the heavy lifting...but Morgan would leave out that nugget of information.
“I had to make room for more stock,” she added. “I’m always busier at Christmas so I just wanted a fresher look.”
Morgan went behind the counter and opened the double doors to the closet area. She pulled the items for Sylvia and hung them on the raised stand next to the desk.
“Would you like to try them on here or take them and let me know what works for you?” Morgan asked.
Sylvia started toward the desk, but stopped and glanced down.
“Oh, what was that?” she muttered as she bent down. She came up holding something. “I hope I didn’t break this. It was just there and I stepped on it.”
Morgan focused on the item in her hands...and realized that was Ryan’s watch. Wonderful. Had he lost that in their haste to get to the back room for sex or had it slipped off when they’d been moving furniture and displays?
“Oh, that must have fallen off a customer’s husband,” Morgan stated. “I’ll set it back here and try to find the owner.”
Sylvia turned the watch over and smiled as her eyes darted to Morgan. “Looks like the owner is Ryan Carter, unless someone else has the Yellow Rose Ranch logo on their watch.”
But of course he had his own damn logo on his watch. A man with an ego that inflated would do something as trivial as that.
“He’s not the husband of anyone,” Sylvia added with a quirk of her silver brow. “Maybe he stopped by to see you? After the way the two of you were hanging all over each other at the Masquerade Ball, I would have assumed you’d be engaged by now with as fast as the couples in this town are moving.”
Why get engaged when you could bypass that and go straight to family life?
Morgan certainly wasn’t going to give Sylvia any more information or ammunition than necessary about Ryan.
“He actually did stop by yesterday,” Morgan admitted.
“I needed help moving some of these larger tables and that display stand with the boots. Ryan is good friends with my brother and Vic is always looking out for me. Ryan happened to be free to assist and his watch must have fallen off during the move.”
Sylvia’s knowing smile and quirked brows didn’t budge as she handed over the watch. Morgan laid it on the desk and would text Ryan about it later. For now, she had to divert the nosiest woman in all of Royal.
“So, what did you decide about your dresses? Trying on here or taking them with you?”
“Oh, I think I’ll just take them. What about accessories and shoes? It’s Christmas and I do like to splurge on myself, especially for a party. Will you and Ryan be attending together?”
Morgan couldn’t help but laugh. “Ryan and I are just friends, but I haven’t even thought about a date yet.”
“You two were pretty friendly about a month ago.” Sylvia winked. “Don’t worry. Some girls need their secrets and that cowboy would be a great secret to keep. I won’t say a word.”
Oh, maybe not say a word, but she sure as hell would send out texts.
Whatever. Morgan was well aware people had seen her and Ryan kissing at the ball and they’d seen them leave together, as well. So what?
As Morgan gathered up shoes, jewelry and a few clutch bags, Sylvia decided to keep chatting.
“Is Heath going to be at your sister’s wedding?” she asked.
“I would assume so,” Morgan replied, taking a delicate gold chain from a display. “He is the brother of Chelsea’s fiancée.”
“I would just think he wouldn’t want to be at an event filled with Grandins and Lattimores.”
Yeah, Heath Thurston probably wasn’t thrilled, but Nolan was his twin and he wouldn’t let him down.
Morgan was all for family ties. She just hoped no animosity spilled over into Chelsea’s life once she and Nolan were married.
“I’m sure he’ll be on his best behavior at the wedding,” Morgan assured Sylvia.
She made a few trips to the desk with boxes of shoes and any accessory she could think of that would go with the chosen dresses.
“Let me bag all of this up for you and then I’ll help you to your car. I’ll wrap the jewelry and place it inside the shoe box that I believe will be the best pairing.”
Sylvia beamed. “You are so good to me. I’ll be sure to let you know something by tomorrow. You still have my credit information?”
Morgan nodded. “I do.”
“Wonderful. And, for what it’s worth, Ryan is quite a catch. You two would be a lovely couple.”
Great. Just what Morgan needed, the validation of Sylvia. Morgan wondered just how long it would take for word to get out that Ryan’s watch was on the floor of her boutique.