When two people are married, Hannah reasoned, no matter what the circumstances, they must learn to make concessions. She'd been so willing to find fault with Riley," so willing to place the blame on…
Her. Riley openly acknowledged as much after a month of missing Hannah. Never again would he leave her behind with unsettled business between them. This time apart was pure torture because he'd been too damned stubborn to talk out his feelings. She accused him of not being a husband, and he'd found her lacking as a wife. Four long weeks had softened the tough hide of his arrogance, and he willingly admitted his mistake. He'd never been strong on relationships, preferring to live his life independent of others. Caring for another, putting her needs before his own was new to him, and he'd committed several blunders.
His damn pride was the crux of the problem. Hannah was carrying his child, and if she was a bit sensitive over some matters, the least he could do was to be a little more understanding.
His inexperience in dealing with the opposite sex posed other problems. Riley had never lived with a woman. He didn't know what to expect or how to act toward her. They both needed time to adjust to each other, make allowances. This infernal need to look for the bad instead of the good in their marriage was destined to doom them.
They'd made mistakes aplenty, but that was to be expected. They were both new to this marriage business. For years Hannah had assumed she'd be marrying Jerry Sanders, a seminary student. It was little wonder she was having a difficult time adjusting to life with a beer-drinking, poker-playing sailor.
Despite all that, they were physically attracted to each other. The child Hannah carried was testimony of that. The desire he felt for Hannah hadn't changed. Riley dreamed of the day she would willingly share his bed. Closing his eyes, he could almost smell the sweet scent of wildflowers that was hers alone. Dear sweet heaven, he missed her – more than he'd ever dreamed it was possible to miss anyone. He'd gotten impatient, wanting to make…
Love. Riley hadn't been unreasonable that night. What he'd said about a husband and wife sharing a bed had struck a raw nerve with her. Waiting to make love until she was more comfortable with their relationship had seemed like a good idea to Hannah when she had first mentioned it. She'd since altered her opinion. Mingled with the other regrets she was suffering since his deployment was the fact she had never spent the night in his bed. Riley wasn't a brute. He would never have forced her. His kisses were gentle and thorough, speaking more of commitment than passion. His touch, so warm and special, conveyed all the wonderful things a man and woman, a husband and wife, could expect in a loving, long-lasting relationship. He'd never pressured her or rushed her, and had been willing to grant her all the time she required. Her anger and pride had pushed him away, leaving her to brood six torturous weeks over what might have happened.