“That suits me just fine,” she said, and hugged him. Secretly, she was still a little worried. She’d gone to her doctor two days before and been examined. The visit had required a little minor surgery, which was still just a little sensitive. But by the weekend, she’d be all healed up and ready for an adventure with her new husband. Hopefully, she could stop being afraid of what would happen. She was all nerves already. Well, she told herself, women had been doing it for thousands of years. It was natural. She just had to think of it that way.

The wedding was well attended. Clancey wore a white dress and a hat with a veil, and she carried a bouquet of white roses. Friends had set up refreshments in the church’s fellowship hall, as well.

Clancey said her vows, watched her brand-new husband lift her veil and look at her with black eyes so full of affection they made her knees weak. He kissed her very softly and then they ran down the aisle to be showered with white rose petals all the way out the door.

They fed each other cake, had photographs taken, visited with the guests and then climbed into Colter’s big SUV to go back to his house and change clothes for the drive to Galveston.

Tad was staying with Brenda at her apartment in San Antonio, so there was nobody in the house. Colter had taken Clancey’s suitcase full of clothes to the ranch the night before, so that she’d have everything packed for the trip. He’d packed, as well.

She started to change out of her dress when she felt big, lean hands on her waist, pulling her back against a hard, warm body.

“Mrs. Banks,” he said softly, and chuckled.

She turned, smiling. “Mr. Banks,” she replied, her eyes searching his. She bit her lip. “Listen, I need to tell you something.”

His eyebrows arched. “You’re on your period?”

“Colter!”

He chuckled. “Sorry. Bad choice of words. Go ahead.”

She was flushed. “I had to see my doctor, you remember?”

He nodded.

“Well...he had to do a little minor surgery. I was, well, sort of intact,” she stammered.

“Are you healed?”

“Yes.” She looked up at him, worried. “It will be all right, won’t it? I mean, I’ve never, and I’m scared,” she blurted out.

“Honey,” he said gently, “everybody’s scared the first time. Even boys.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

He nodded. “Really. If it helps, I know what to do. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

She relaxed a little. She nodded. “Okay.”

He started to unbutton the coatdress.

“But it’s daylight,” she burst out.

He chuckled deeply. “In five minutes, you won’t care.”