Lahat ng Kabanata ng A LADY FOR A DUKE : Kabanata 271 - Kabanata 280

Lexi stared at her reflection in her bedroom mirror and tried to calm her racing heart. Her wedding night. If someone had said last week that she’d be married right now, she’d have called them crazy. But crazy was just how this felt. She knew of people who’d run off after knowing each other for a short amount of time, but even though she’d known Tyler for years, it still seemed absurdly sudden. Freakishly, frighteningly sudden.The ceremony had been held in the backyard of her father's mountaintop home, the occasion even more beautiful than planned due to Tyler's interference in the arrangements her father and Lily had made. Lily, being the amazing friend she was, had taken time off her honeymoon to do this for her, and Lexi had let them decide everything. The music, the flowers. But Tyler had vetoed their decisions—and proved just how well he knew her.Instead of roses, her bouquet was made of a mixture of miniature sunflowers, roses, mums and ivy with the sweet scent of honeysuckle

Lexi parked beside Tyler's car, her heart pounding in her ears when she saw his tall form step from her back porch. Just the thought of him being there had her body warming. A deep-rooted quivering began inside her, because she knew what they’d do and she wanted him so much.Her car door opened, “Hey, sweetheart.Welcome home.”She inhaled and grabbed her purse and files she’d taken to work with her. The moment she stepped out of the car, Tyler pulled her to him and buried his nose in her hair.“Mmm, you smell good. I’ve missed you.”He was warm and solid, lean but strong. She closed her eyes, feeling some of her tension drain away, “Come on. It’s getting chilly. Let’s go inside.”Lexi glanced up at him, caught her breath at the heat and desire she saw in his gaze. Would it always be this way? Tyler dipped his head and brushed a kiss over her mouth, lingering, pressing for more when her lips parted and he could slide inside. Within seconds they were both breathing heavily and Tyler hu

Heaven knows it wasn’t from anything else. She’d flown all the way to Olkfield and all she’d seen was the airport, the city lights and the inside of Tyler's apartment. Not that she would have changed a thing. This weekend had been surreal. Perfect, just the way it was.Lexi rubbed her back as she walked down the hall toward the dining room. Along the way her stomach cramped and she made a detour to the bathroom, only to shake her head at herself and whatever was causing the tremor in her hands. Her stress level had risen but why? A panic attack? She’d had them before, mostly in childhood, though. She stared at herself in the mirror and searched for signs of those stupid hives. Yup, there they were. What was going on?Her stomach cramped again and she bit her lip. Had she eaten something bad? The cramps sort of indicated that, like she had an upset stomach.“Mrs. Graham, are you okay?”She forced a smile at the secretary. “I’m fine, Wendy. Just a stomachache.”“Oh, I hope you don’t hav

Tyler nodded, his gaze never leaving Lexi's face. “I’ll take care of her.”She didn’t need anyone to take care of her. If she’d taken care of herself in the first place, none of this would be happening.Her father nodded and stepped close to give her a hug. “I love you, pumpkin.” His voice dropped. “Please don’t do anything drastic. Not right now.”Lexi kissed her father's cheek. “Thanks for driving me home, dad.”Sending Tyler a glance, her father left the room and headed down the hall. Lexi picked up her spatula and began stirring the rapidly thickening glob again.“You should be in bed.”She ignored his attempts to take the spatula away from her and slid the bowl farther down the counter away from him, adjusting her position in the process. “The doctor said the soreness would lessen if I moved around.”“I doubt they meant for you to do it as soon as you stepped out the hospital doors—early, I might add. Do you know how I felt when we realized you were gone?”“Sorry.” She glanced up

“Be nice. I worry myself sick every time I'm at home. Now I’m here and I’m spending the day with you.”Lucky me. Who else is going to show up?“Think I’ll go get the rest of the supplies we talked about since Tyler's here to help unload them,” Paul said.“I don’t want him hanging around. I want him gone.” Lexi's head throbbed. “It’s been a week and every time I turn around, he’s here. Why won't he go back to Olkfield? He’ll never be happy here.”Lily stared at her, hurt apparent on her features. “Why wouldn’t Tyler be happy here? You're his wife. This is technically his home.”Arms across her chest, Lexi clenched her teeth so tight pain shot up the side of her jaw. “Why don't you go home too?”“Now, don’t be a witch. And you know, maybe Tyler would be happy if you’d talk to him.”“He left.”“But he came back.”That he had. But why? “You convinced him to, didn’t you?”“I did,” Lexi confessed. “He’s your husband and he belongs with you,” She fiddled with the strap of her purse. “You’re