Thanks so much for all the reviews and support. I am so pleased!! Here's the next exciting installment and beware the smut!

February 14th 1872

Rebecca woke on Valentine's Day morning feeling peaceful and serene. As she lay watching dawn break and the sunlight filter in through the curtains, she knew she had never felt happier. She thought back to the previous year and how she had been so looking forward to marrying Preston. So much so that she thought she could never be happier than she was on that day. But she knew now, she had been wrong.

She was now ten weeks pregnant, and everything had been going well. There had been no attacks, for which both she and Preston were grateful, and all she could think about was the day their baby would be born. As promised, she had given up working at the store, contenting herself by overseeing matters at the hotel and occasionally helping Preston in the bank. Not that he had always welcomed it.

"Rebecca, I really think you should leave," he had said to her in an exasperated tone only a week earlier.

"Why?" she had asked, confused and concerned. "Am I not doing it right? Have I don't something wrong?"

"No," he had reassured her, "but you are proving too much of a distraction for me."

"Distraction?"

"Indeed. I find it difficult to keep my eyes off of you and, consequently, my hands." She had blushed like a schoolgirl and left to allow him to get on with his work in peace, delighted that, despite her gently swelling stomach, he still found her to be attractive.

As if on cue, Preston rolled over onto his side and opened his eyes. "Good morning," he mumbled sleepily.

"Good morning," she replied. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Is that what today is?" he replied. "I had forgotten."

"No you hadn't," she said, burrowing down under the bedclothes and sliding nearer to him. "You know fine well what day it is."

He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "I can't fool you, can I?"

"No, you can't," she said, pushing herself against him and kissing him longingly. He responded to her, gently brushing her hair out of her eyes and tracing the line of her jaw with his thumb, causing her to shiver. He kissed across her chin, down under her throat, across her collarbone and then lower, gently prising open the ribbon at the nape of her neck and easing one flap of her nightshirt to one side, exposing her swollen breast. He kissed down the flesh, his tongue finding her nipple and swirling around it tantalisingly. Rebecca gasped and instinctively arched her back towards him, heat flooding her abdomen.

"I want you," he murmured, moving back up her body to her mouth, his hand replacing where his mouth had been.

"I want you too," she whispered in response, surprised at the depth of her desire. Despite innuendo, it was the first time Preston had engineered relations since she had discovered that she was pregnant. The first few weeks, they had been walking around each other in a slight state of shock at the fact that they were actually going to have a child, neither one seemingly equipped to celebrate it in that way.

Preston ran his hand down over her breast, down her ribcage and over her stomach where he abruptly paused and lifted his mouth from hers. "Ummm…" he said.

"What is it?" she asked, breathlessly.

"I don't want to…I mean…" he stuttered. "I don't want to hurt you or the baby."

Rebecca felt an overwhelming rush of love, touched that he should be so concerned when most men would simply claim their conjugal rights without question. "You won't," she reassured him gently. "Not if you're gentle with me."

"Aren't I always gentle with you?" he questioned, seemingly taken aback by her comment.

"Of course," she replied, "but just be extra-specially gentle." He continued to hesitate. "Preston," she urged. "Please."

He kissed her again, more passionately this time and she responded with equal ardour. She fought herself free from her nightshirt and pressed against him, delighting in the feel of her naked flesh against his, the feeling of her breasts crushed against his chest. Her hands slid down to his pants and she slipped her fingers inside, feeling him harden at her touch. He shuddered against her, "Rebecca…"

"My darling…" she whispered, pushing the material down as his fingers slipped inside her own briefs and felt her wetness. "Preston…" she gasped his name, pressing her abdomen upwards against his hand. He continued to stroke her, watching as the expression on her face grew more and more rapturous and her breathing became shallow. "Please…" she breathed, "please…"

He removed his hand and gently eased her thighs apart, sliding up her body and kissing her waiting mouth. Before he lowered himself down though, he paused again.

"Preston…" Rebecca groaned in frustration.

"You won't be able to take my weight," he reasoned, though he wasn't sure how given the intense pulsation in his groin.

"I will, my darling, I will," she tried to reassure him. "I can't wait…please…"

"I'm not sure…" "With a frustrated groan, all thoughts of telling him to be gentle flying from her mind, Rebecca placed both hands on his shoulders and pushed him roughly over so that he was lying on his back and she was straddling him. "Rebecca!" he exclaimed, shocked and extremely turned on at the same time. Before he could say anything else, she had lowered herself down onto him, groaning in the process. She threw her head back, taking his hands in hers and lifting them to her breasts. Preston watched in shocked surprise as she moved against him, feeling pleasure flood his own body at the feel and sight of her. He moved his hands over her breasts, then down over her stomach and around her hips, gripping her tightly so that she moved just where he needed her to.

All of a sudden, Rebecca threw herself forward, gripping onto the metal headboard, her hair falling forward into his face. "Preston…" she gasped, "Oh my darling…my darling…"

Preston pushed her hair back, desperate to see the look on her face. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks reddened, her mouth forming an 'o' of pleasure. He moved his fingers over her lips and then cupped her face with his hand and she turned her face into his palm, biting down momentarily on his flesh. Then she let out a cry and he knew that she was close to her climax. She started to move harder and faster against him and he found his heart racing, his body starting to shake, his mind starting to go blank. He came first, spurting inside her then, moments later, she followed, crying out his name before collapsing on top of him. They lay like that for a few moments, both gasping for air, before Rebecca rolled slowly off him and over onto her back.

"Rebecca…" Preston said, when he had found his voice, "you are quite…wanton."

She laughed, "I suppose I am."

He looked over at her, "Where on earth did you learn…that?"

She met his gaze and merely raised her eyebrows, "Happy Valentine's Day, my love."

XXXX

"Must you go?" she asked an hour later as he finished dressing. He turned to look at her, lying under the covers, her arms stretched languorously above her head, her eyes shining.

"I'm afraid so," he replied, though he genuinely wished he didn't have to, knowing as he did that she was still naked. "I have an important meeting this morning."

"With who?"

"A very important gentleman who may be able to send some very influential business our way," he replied. "It'll be good for the hotel." She pouted slightly and he laughed. "You can't expect me to stay here with you all day."

"Why not?" she asked with a slow smile. "Are my charms not enticing enough?"

Preston laughed again and sat down on the edge of the bed, "They are more than enticing, my darling. In fact, I do believe you've quite worn me out. I need to go to work to recover."

"Well, if you must…" she sighed.

He bent and kissed her gently, "I have a surprise for you this evening."

"What surprise?" Rebecca asked.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it?" He got to his feet and moved to the bedroom door. "I'll pick you up at six o'clock sharp."

"Wait a moment!" she exclaimed, sitting up quickly, causing the covers to fall from her body and expose her breasts. "You have to tell me more than that!"

With a groan, Preston strode back across the room and gathered her into his arms, kissing her passionately, one hand trailing to cup her right breast. "I'm not telling you another thing," he replied breathlessly, pulling back from her. "I will see you at six." Before she could tempt him further, he left the room, closing the door purposefully behind him.

Rebecca lay back down on the bed and sighed contentedly. If it was possible, she felt even happier than she had felt an hour earlier. She dosed for another twenty minutes and then got up, washed, dressed and made her way downstairs. She made herself some coffee and then spent some time replying to correspondence she had received from Louisa and her aunt in Boston. Then she checked what groceries she needed and stepped outside to hitch up the surrey, only to find that Preston had already done it for her. She smiled to herself as she climbed inside and made her way into town.

"Mornin' Rebecca," Loren greeted her as she entered the store.

"Good morning Loren," she replied cheerfully wandering around and purchasing what she needed, including a box of cigars for Preston, even though she hated the things.

"You're looking very happy," Loren commented as she took her purchases to the desk.

"I suppose I am," she replied with a smile. He looked at her suspiciously. "I'm surprised the entire town doesn't know." She leaned forward. "I'm having a baby."

Loren's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "A baby?!"

"Yes Loren," she laughed, "a baby."

"Is that…you know…safe?" he asked.

"Loren…" she groaned, "I wish that at least one person would be happy when I told them as opposed to everyone questioning the effect it might have on my health."

"Sorry."

"It's all right," she said, knowing there was little that could dampen her mood. She handed over the money. "Happy Valentine's Day." Before he could say anything else, she swept out and bumped headlong into Matthew.

"Rebecca!" he exclaimed.

"Matthew," she said. There was a slight awkward silence. "I haven't seen you for a while. How are you?"

"Fine," he replied. "And you?"

"I'm very well, thank you." She saw his eyes flicker to her stomach and she instinctively placed one hand over it. "The baby too."

"Yeah, I heard you didn't…you know…"

"No."

"Well I'm…" he paused, "happy for you and Preston."

"Thank you," she said softly.

There was another awkward silence and he shuffled his feet. "Well, I should be…"

"Of course," Rebecca said, "well…take care."

"And you," he replied. He moved past her and then turned back. "Rebecca?"

She turned back to face him, "Yes?"

"Happy Valentine's Day."

Rebecca felt her cheeks redden slightly, "And to you, Matthew."

XXXX

Preston pinched the skin between his eyebrows as he felt a headache starting. He had been engaged in talks with Walter Mason for the best part of two hours and it hadn't gone as well as he had expected. Mason was an influential businessman from New York keen to find a location where he and his not insignificant family could spend a month every summer. Preston knew that if he was able to secure Mason's patronage that there could be other influential families who may also choose the Spring Chateau as their summer destination.

They had started with a tour of the hotel and the grounds followed by a sumptuous lunch and were now dealing with the finer points of the potential arrangement. Mason was proving a difficult man to please.

"It's a nice enough location Mr Lodge," he said, "but I'm just not sure that it meets all of our needs."

"Well," Preston said, "perhaps if you could give me a better idea of what your needs are then I might be able to do my best to fulfil them."

"My wife is extremely particular."

Preston waited. "Yes?"

"She's not one of these women content to simply sit around and look pleasing on the eye."

"I confess my wife is the same."

Mason peered at him, "No?"

"No indeed. Rebecca is very…independent," Preston felt a warm glow just thinking about her and their activities that morning.

"Sarah is the same. As are my children. They need to be kept amused constantly and, I have to confess, your hot springs will not be able to sustain them for the period of time we're talking about."

"I see," Preston said.

"Do you have children, Mr Lodge?"

"My wife is expecting our first."

"Then you will soon have first-hand experience of what I'm referring to." Mason paused. "I do believe I would like to meet your wife."

Preston looked at him, "You would?"

"Yes, I would," he replied decisively. "Why don't we have dinner this evening? I can ask her for a woman's perspective on living here and it might help me to convince Sarah that your resort is the perfect one for our family."

"Well…" Preston paused, thinking of the surprise he had been planning for her that evening, weighing up his desire to spend the evening alone with her against the possibility of securing Mason's patronage.

"Unless there's a problem with that," Mason said, interrupting his reverie.

"Not at all," Preston replied, hastily coming to a decision, "I'm sure she'll be delighted."

XXXX

At quarter to six, Rebecca was just finishing pinning up her hair when she heard the sound of a horse approaching and looked out to see Preston hurriedly riding up to the house. Casting a final look at herself in the mirror, she made her way downstairs just as he was coming in the front door.

"You're early," she chided him. "Luckily for you I'm ready ahead of schedule."

He stepped forward and took her into his arms, "You look sensational my darling," he murmured.

"Thank you," she replied, pulling back and kissing him. "I've been on tenterhooks all day wondering about this surprise."

"Ah, yes…well…" he hesitated.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I'm afraid there's been a slight change of plan," he confessed. "My meeting with Walter Mason didn't go as smoothly as expected and he insisted on having dinner with you before he made his decision."

"Me?" He nodded. "But…what about our evening together?"

"There's always tomorrow night, my love. The surprise can wait another evening," he replied. "This is a crucial stage in the negotiations."

"But it's Valentine's Day tonight," she protested pettily.

"I'm aware of that, Rebecca," he replied, "but this is extremely important. If we can secure Mason's patronage…"

"Then it will benefit you."

"It will benefit us," he insisted. "The business that Mason can send our way has the potential to be phenomenal."

"Why does business always have to come before us?" she asked.

"It doesn't."

"It does."

"I don't want to get into a petty argument with you," Preston said angrily. "We are having dinner with Mason and that is the end of it."

Rebecca bit back an angry retort and they rode in stony silence in the surrey to the hotel. The place was lively and a part of her was pleased to see that business was going well, but she was still smarting at having been sidelined in favour of it.

Preston brought the surrey to a halt outside the hotel and then helped her down. As she alighted, her attention was drawn to a figure standing to one side and saw, to her surprise, that Matthew was standing talking to Andrew. He seemed to sense her gaze and turned in time to see her. Before she could make any sign of greeting, however, Preston, led her into the hotel and into the lounge where Walter Mason was sitting in the far corner.

"Mr Mason!" he greeted him heartily.

"Mr Lodge," Mason got to his feet. "This must be your delightful wife."

Rebecca put on her best smile, "Mr Mason, I'm Rebecca Lodge. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"And you," he replied, kissing her hand. "And please call me Walter."

"Walter."

"You look very lovely this evening," Mason continued, "Mr Lodge, your wife is quite stunning."

"Yes she is," Preston replied, smiling at Rebecca.

"I'm delighted you agreed to dinner this evening," Mason said. "I realise it's an imposition at short notice."

"Not at all," Rebecca replied.

"Shall we go through to the dining room?" Preston suggested. The party made their way in to the best table where he pulled out the chair for her and they sat down.

"I was talking to your husband earlier about the resort," Mason said, "my concern was that my wife and family wouldn't find enough here to occupy their time. I was interested to hear a woman's opinion."

"Well," Rebecca said, "Colorado Springs is small, but there is plenty to do. Aside, of course, from the hot springs there are plenty of trails to explore. We also have our own mountain, Pike's Peak, which several townsfolk have climbed. Soda Springs and Denver are also only a short train ride away which would make the hotel a perfect base."

"Hmm…" Mason said as their starters arrived at the table. "That does sound promising. But I have a family of women used to frequenting fine salons."

"Well, to be honest, we don't have any of those near here," Rebecca confessed, "but if your family was looking for something different then I don't think you could beat this area and, consequently, our hotel." She looked over at Preston as she spoke and he smiled faintly at her. On impulse, she reached over and squeezed his hand in an attempt at an apology and, to her relief, he squeezed it back.

Mason appeared thoughtful for the rest of the meal and, as coffee was served, Rebecca excused herself as she was starting to feel slightly light-headed, caused in no small part from the strong cigars both men were smoking.

"Are you all right?" Preston asked quietly as he and Mason stood up.

"I'm fine," she replied. "I'll only be a moment." She made her way out of the dining room and into the lobby before stepping out the door onto the veranda where she took a deep breath in.

"Not exactly what I figured Preston would have planned for Valentine's Day." She turned and saw Matthew standing a few feet away.

"Something came up," she replied abruptly. "We would have been alone but…"

"He needed to impress someone?"

"It's not like that," she replied angrily.

"Course it ain't," Matthew replied and she realised from his manner that he had been drinking. "Seeing as you seem to think he's so wonderful…"

"He is wonderful," she retorted. "I'm sorry that, as a friend, you can't simply be happy for me."

"Oh yeah, cause a wonderful husband would try and force his wife to get rid of their child."

Rebecca glanced around to see who might have heard before stepping over towards him, "How dare you! You know nothing about that!"

"I know you went all the way to Denver to get it done."

"And I didn't!"

"And who changed their mind, Rebecca? Did you put your foot down or did you wait until Preston changed his mind?"

"I'll forgive you for what you're saying because you're clearly drunk," she said, coldly. "You should go home, Matthew." She turned on her heel and started to walk away.

"Maybe you should have thought twice after our kiss!" He called after her.

Rebecca froze and was about to turn around and confront him when she saw the last person she had wanted to witness the exchange.

Preston's expression was thunderous yet his eyes were pained and his voice, when he spoke, was surprisingly measured. "What kiss might this be?"