He nodded.
“What can I do to help?”
“You mind watching him in the backseat of my SUV? My vet is gonna meet me at my house. It’s closer than his office.”
“Sure,” she said, stroking the dog’s golden coat gently. “Of course I will.”
And once Dan got her situated in the backseat of his car, the big blanketed dog scooted next to her and planted his sweet mug on her lap. Thatta boy. She smiled and continued to massage the dog’s head, just over the eyes and occasionally stroking over his ears.
Dan didn’t say much as he drove, but he kept glancing in the rearview mirror to see how the dog was doing. She was touched by his concern, the kindness in his eyes.
“Pretty nice vet to come out in the middle of the night for this sweet guy,” she said.
Dan nodded, and she didn’t think he’d say anything but seconds later, he admitted, “I do business with him at my ranch. He’s a neighbor.”
So Dan really was a cowboy. “Is it far?”
“Five more minutes.”
And a short time later, Dan pulled into one of the garages of a beautifully appointed two-story estate. It was dark; she couldn’t see more than what the ground lights surrounding the property gave away, but her instincts told her this ranch was massive and successful.
“I’ll set up a bed in the kitchen and then come get him,” Dan said.
Lights flicked on in the garage as he entered his home and Erin waited patiently. The dog was breathing heavily, but other than that, his whimpers from earlier were all gone. Thank goodness. Erin had never owned a dog, but back in her college days she used to walk dogs to pick up extra spending cash, and she’d grown fond of the species, even as she was also picking up their poop. She was sure this big guy would’ve stolen her heart too. He had those kind of eyes that seemed to touch her deep inside.
Once Dan came back, he removed the dog from the backseat, lifting him with as much care as he’d lifted her from the mat after her mechanical bull fiasco. Erin followed him inside to a kitchen a chef would envy. Despite the ivory cabinets, black granite countertops trailing with gold vein, contemporary appliances and stone fireplace, the room looked cozy and lived-in.
Dan set the dog down and stroked him lovingly a few times. Then he grabbed a towel he’d soaked with warm water and began dabbing at the animal’s wounds.
“You came up with that bed really fast,” she said, kneeling beside Dan, curious about this man. “I’m impressed.”
He shrugged. “I sorta rescue animals.”
“You do?”
“Not deliberately.”
“How does that work?”
“If strays come by, they end up staying. One I found stranded by the side of the road, another was left behind after the family moved out of Texas. The cats are all freeloaders. They kept coming around searching for food and I fed them.”
“How many pets do you have?”
“Four dogs, three cats, a string of horses.”
“Is this a horse farm?”
He shook his head. “Cattle ranch.”
“Lots and lots of cattle, I assume.”
His lips quirked up a bit. “Something like that.”
Erin could easily imagine Dan surrounded by animals. He was one of those men that appeared tough on the outside, but she didn’t doubt he was a total softie on the inside. When the dog was hit, Dan went into action mode, seeing to the injured animal’s needs immediately.
Sort of like how he’d come to her rescue with the bull.
A few minutes later, Dan’s neighbor, a man he introduced as Doug Bristol, walked into the kitchen armed with his medical bag. He quickly went to work on the dog, giving him a thorough visual examination along with poking and prodding him gently in a few places. “He’s lucky,” he said after his exam. “He got pretty banged up, but nothing seems broken.”
They watched the vet administer pain meds to the dog and then bandage his wounds. When he’d done all he could for him, Dr. Bristol told Dan to bring him by his office in the morning. “I want to examine him again. What’s his name?”
Dan shrugged, then said, “How about we call him Lucky?”
Dan gave his neighbor a nod. “Lucky.”
“Okay, I’ll see Lucky, then, tomorrow. Nice to meet you, Erin.”
“Thanks for stopping by, Doc,” Dan said, and the two men shook hands.
After seeing his neighbor to the door, Dan walked back into the kitchen and there was stony silence. Now that the dog was sleeping and seemed fine, there was no reason for her stay any longer. Awkward moments passed as both of them stared at each other. “I should go,” she whispered. “You managed two rescues in one night. You must be tired.”
“Not tired, are you?”
She shook her head. She couldn’t believe how easily she’d done that, knowing full well if she’d said she was tired, Dan would’ve driven her back to the Dark Horse to pick up her car. “No, I’m not tired. Kinda keyed up after what happened tonight.”
Perhaps admitting that to Dan was the riskiest thing she’d done all night.
“Yeah, me too. Cup of coffee? Something stronger?”
No more alcohol for her tonight. She wasn’t quite sure if it was the mechanical bull or the two Cadillac margaritas she’d had earlier that landed her flat on her ass at the saloon. “Coffee sounds perfect.”
And the man of few words set about making coffee.
* * *
Erin sipped Dan’s coffee and nibbled on a warm giant chocolate-chip cookie oozing with melted chocolate. Warming the cookies before gobbling them down was her mother’s trick, and tonight Erin put it to the test. A few seconds in the microwave made even a stale cookie speak to the senses.
“Aren’t they good warm?” Erin asked Dan.
He nodded. “Good.”
Instead of Gorgeous Beast, maybe she should call him Caveman. The man seemed to have perfected the art of grunting, nodding and giving one-word answers. But his eyes spoke volumes and right now she was the object of his intense smolder. Not that she was complaining. He was almost as delicious as the cookie that was coating the interior of her mouth with chocolate goodness.
“So how long have you lived here?”
“In Texas? All my life,” he said.
“I’m from Seattle.”
He sipped coffee. “So you said.”
“I did? When?”
“After the bull tossed you off.”
“Oh yeah. That bull thing was a dumb idea.”
He nodded, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “Kinda courageous.”
“Really?” She perked up. Had he just complimented her?
“But not real smart.” He tossed the last of his cookie in his mouth.
She rolled her eyes and he laughed, a big hearty he-man sound that did things to her sanity. “I really should go. Would you mind calling me a cab?”
He stood. “I’ll drive you.”
“But you shouldn’t leave Lucky alone.”
Dan gave the sleeping dog a glance. “He’s getting the rest he needs. I doubt he’ll wake up before morning.”
But she suspected it was more than that. Dan was the kind of Texan bred with incredible manners and he wasn’t about to send her off alone in the dead of night. He’d see her safely back to her car. “Only if you’re sure.”
“I’m not sure I want you to leave,” he said quite candidly. “But I am sure about driving you.”
Wow. Not only did he surprise her by speaking in full sentences, but he admitted he wanted her to stay longer. “Thank you. I’ll take you up on that ride.”
Dan nodded, appearing neither relieved nor disappointed.
She really wanted to stay, but her risk-taking skills were momentarily disable
d. “You know, I don’t think I ever thanked you for saving my pride and my hide this evening. It was really kind of you.” She reached up and planted a kiss to his scruffy, super sexy cheek.
Just as she was backing away, a strong arm wrapped about her waist, drawing her against the wall of his chest. He was massive, in a very good sort of way, and an image of him shirtless muscled its way into her head.
“I need to thank you too,” he said.
“For?” Trapped against him, her breath hitched. This was different from before when he’d carried her out of the Dark Horse Saloon. This was more intimate. They were alone in Dan’s big ranch house. Two consenting adults.
“Helping with Lucky.” Using his thumb, he tilted her chin up until she met his striking blue eyes. Oh boy. He was going to kiss her and she gave him a nonverbal okay. He took his time, inching closer to her mouth. And he was taking forever. The anticipation was killing her.
Then his mouth came down on hers and her lids lowered. She fell into the delicious, fiery, heaven-help-her, hot, hot kiss. The taste of chocolate and coffee mixed with sheer raw passion. Having his lips on hers blew her away. It was like a force of nature, something powerful and inspiring. She roped her arms around his neck and he circled her waist, connecting them, freeing them to continue whatever this was.
Dan’s mouth became more demanding and little throaty sounds pressed from her lips as she indulged. Their tongues mated and Dan let out a grunt of approval that made her smile inside. Her hands threaded through his dark blond hair, the strands curling up at the collar of his shirt. She stood incredibly close to his rock hard body and it was difficult not to notice the state of his arousal. She found herself in the same situation—wanting.
Wanting to stay.
Wanting more time with him.
Wanting to take a risk with this tall Texan.
And just as those thoughts were cementing in her head, Dan ended the kiss and backed away. “Sorry.” He shrugged. “I got carried away.”
She smiled, missing his lips on her, missing his warmth and heat. “That’s my line. I got carried away. By you, back at the saloon.”
“I didn’t plan on bringing you here.”
“I know. It was just Lucky, I guess.” She giggled at her own joke and even the big man smiled.
“You think so?” He pulled her back into his arms. “’Cause I was feelin’ lucky just a minute ago.”
She stared at his mouth. “It’s been a long time since I felt this lucky,” she said softly. He furrowed his brows again, something he did often. She found that trait incredibly appealing.
“Same here, Erin. Will you stay the night?”
She nodded, murmuring a soft, “Yes.”
Then without another word, Dan took her shaky hand and led her out of the kitchen.
* * *
He liked Erin. If he was being honest, probably too damn much, and it had been a long while since he met a woman who sparked his interest. He’d spotted her at the Dark Horse, and almost instantly there was a connection. And also almost instantly, he knew she didn’t belong in the saloon. When she’d climbed up on that mechanical bull, he figured she was in for the ride of her life. For a few seconds, that is. But as soon as the bull tossed her off, he’d come running to her rescue, shielding her embarrassment, making eye contact with the crowd, daring anyone to laugh as he carried her off.
What was it about him? He rescued animals and damsels in distress, or so it seemed. Bringing her to his cattle ranch at Hunt Acres had never been his plan, but then the dog was hit by a car and all of a sudden, they were here together in the middle of the night and now she was on his bed, reaching for him.
It was damn hard to think straight or at all.
He lowered onto the bed, taking her into his arms and kissed her again, careful not to crush her small frame. She was sweet and sexy and willing. Was he the risk she’d decided to take tonight too? He had to make certain this was what she wanted, had to give her a way out. “Are you sure, Erin?”
Her pretty blue-green eyes darkened. It was heady stuff seeing her nod and murmur, “Yes, I’m sure.” Then she chewed her lower lip and added, “Aren’t you?”
Her question caught him off guard. He nearly laughed, but held back. Didn’t she know how much he wanted this? He’d picked her out of a crowd at the Dark Horse, hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the sweet blonde in tight jeans and a gold blouse the exact shade of her pretty hair. A woman who’d appeared completely out of her element. She’d intrigued him from the get-go.
Now she was in his bed. “Absolutely.”
Relieved, her expression softened.
“You didn’t really doubt that, did you?”
She smiled, a stunner that made his body go completely rigid. He was through talking and ready to give Erin a much better ride than she’d had on that bull.
* * *
Erin was taking a risk, making a memory she’d bring back to Seattle when her time in Texas was up. She wasn’t going to dwell. She wasn’t going to admonish herself. She was all in. Dan’s size thrilled her. He towered over her, all brawn and muscle, solid and sure, yet his touch was tender. She placed incredible trust in this man already. She loved his hands on her, his fingertips caressing her face as he kissed her. She responded to him carnally, soft murmurs of approval and pleasure parting her lips.
Dan kissed a path down her throat, his hot breath searing the slope of her breasts. In just a second, he had her blouse unbuttoned and his mouth moved over her, teasing her nipples to rosy points. She moaned, relishing the laps of his tongue on her skin. Her bra disappeared magically, Dan’s talent making her head spin. She loved this feeling of being loose, unbridled and unaware of anything but the man spreading heat and excitement through her body.
Her zipper was down, her jeans pulled off and Dan was there, cupping her panties in his large palm. The warmth seared through her, the pressure unbelievably perfect. He lay beside her on the bed, making her dreams come true. And just then, she stopped, a coherent thought pressing through the pleasure. His shirt was still on. He was fully clothed and that just wasn’t fair. She needed to touch him, to make him lose all thought the way he was doing to her. She needed her hands on him and pulled at the snaps of his shirt. They opened easily, and with his help wrestled him out of his shirt.
Oh wow. His shoulders, squared and broad, were massive in size. There was just so much of him to touch and she didn’t hesitate. She laid her palms on him and his eyes shuttered closed. “Sweetness,” he rasped.
She explored eagerly, sinking her hands over his taut muscles, the ripped cords of his skin and lower still until she met with the fine hairs below his torso.
His erection pulsed against her.
“Dan,” she murmured, and pressed over the bulge.
“Hang on, woman.” He gritted.
Instantly, she was on her back again, his one hand tying her wrists above her head, while the other worked her panties down her legs. When he touched her folds, her eyes squeezed shut and her hips arched. The strokes of his fingers were like music, each one bringing her to sighs and moans and desperate whimpers. He played her sweetly and then the strokes came stronger, harder and her breaths hitched higher and higher.
She was ready. So ready.
She cried out, her release overpowering. And Dan was there, kissing her, stroking her hair and making it all so much better. She came down slowly and dared to look in his eyes.
They were dazzling, gleaming and hungry.
“That was a beautiful thing,” he whispered.
She had to agree.
She’d poked the bear and he wouldn’t be denied.
Thank goodness.
He kicked off his boots and she reached for his belt buckle. He was all too willing to help her divest him of his clothes.
Naked n
ow, Dan’s raw power excited her all over again. His beauty lay in his solid strength, his massive frame, the tenderness in how he made love and as she gazed below his waist for the first time, she took a big gulp of air.
Dan caught her eyeing him and concern wrinkled the corners of his eyes. He said so much in his expression and she heard him loud and clear in the nonverbal way he seemed to like to communicate. Relieving him of any worry, she rained kisses on him again and tucked her body under him.
Her explanation went a long way in making him understand and he wasted no time in searching through his jeans to pluck out a condom. Then he rose onto his knees, this beautiful man towering above her and the image seared her brain, not to ever be forgotten. Ready now, she pulled him down and dipped her tongue into his mouth. It was heady to be the aggressor, to show him how much she wanted him, to hear him groan and whisper her name.
Dan took over from there and she followed his lead as he feather-touched her breasts until she was ready to scream, nudged her legs apart, grabbed on to her hips and guided himself home.
Two
Erin opened her eyes thirty minutes later and found herself alone in Dan’s king-size bed. Her entire body was one sweetly serene sigh. If only she could bottle that feeling and keep it close, she’d be satisfied forever. It was truly luck and her clumsy attempt at the bull that brought her here, to Dan. She smiled and rolled over and came face-to-face with a gray-and-white fur-ball of fluff. “Hello,” she said to the cat sitting in a regal pose on the nightstand beside the bed. “Who are you?”
The cat blinked several times.
She chuckled. “A big talker, I see. Just like your owner. So where do you suppose he is?”
She didn’t wait for the cat’s reply. She grabbed Dan’s shirt from the floor, laced her arms through the sleeves and fastened a few snaps.
She rose to check out her appearance in the mirror and was happy she didn’t find a bad case of bed head. Considering how often Dan had run his hands through her hair, she took it as a good sign and strode out of the room. As she made her way down the hallway, she was met with a cocker spaniel mix of some sort with short stubby legs who was doing his best to keep up with her. The dog was much too animated for this time of night. As she reached the top of the stairs, she looked into the soulful eyes of a friendly black Lab. Friendly, she assumed, because his tail had started wagging as soon as he spotted her.
The Texan Takes a Wife Page 2