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Miss Firecracker

Page 21

by Lorelei James

Page 21

  Author: Lorelei James

  “You don’t have to do this now, Blake. ”

  “Yeah, I do. Since selling the ranch I’ve felt…displaced. I didn’t know where I was going. Or what I was doing. Or if what I’d done for the last fifteen years of my life was pointless in preparing me for what comes next. ” He smiled tentatively. “Then I met you. I was totally unprepared for you, sunshine. ”

  Willow didn’t say a word.

  “These last four days have been amazing. ”

  “For me too. ”

  “You know I’ve gotta ask…why? I know why they were unforgettable for me, but why for you? Especially when yesterday afternoon you accused me of lying to you. ”

  “I was mad. But I shouldn’t have said that… I…I’m sorry. ”

  “Was what happened between us amazing for you only because the sex is so incredible?”

  “I’ll admit that’s part of it. I’ve never…clicked with anyone the way I have with you. ”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. I liked working with you in the bar. I liked talking to you. You make me laugh. You make me feel like I am a sexy beauty queen. You make me hot. ” She smiled. “You make me dinner. ”

  Blake laughed softly.

  “You make me feel all those things plus a whole lot more. After I took off and calmed down, I realized I didn’t want…”

  His hopes sank. “Didn’t want what? Me?”

  “No!” Willow inhaled a deep breath. “I didn’t want you to leave. I want more than four days to get to know everything about you, Blake West. ”

  “Thank God. ” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Does that mean you’re okay with me sticking around Broward and tending bar part-time at Dave’s until I figure some things out?”

  Her shocked expression was priceless. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Think maybe you could help me find a place around here to rent?”

  “You could live with me. ”

  Blake shook his head. “I appreciate the offer. But I wanna do this right, Will. What’s started between us is too important to screw up. Seems I’ve been waiting for a woman like you my whole life. ”

  “You’d better define woman like you,” she teased.

  “A perfectly sweet, perfectly hot, perfectly nice woman. ” He touched the curve of her jaw. “I’m crazy about you. ”

  “I’m pretty crazy about you too. ”

  The moment floated between as sweetly as a promise.

  “So what do we do now?”

  “Think your crew could do without you for a couple days? I need to go back to Sundance and get my dog and books and stuff. And I’d like to introduce you to my folks on the way back here. ”

  “You sure you want me to come?” Willow smoothed the hair from his forehead. “Won’t you be sad to leave your family and home in Wyoming?”

  “But that’s the thing. I feel like I’m finally coming home. ”

  “You and that sweet talkin’. I could get used to it. ”

  “I sure hope so, sunshine. ”

  “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you… Why do you call me sunshine?” Her brow wrinkled. “I’m not blonde. Or even golden skinned. ”

  He grinned at her. “And your disposition isn’t particularly sunny when you have a hangover either, which was why it was tongue in cheek when I first started calling you that. But now…”

  “But now what?”

  “Now, I call you sunshine because you light up my world. ”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I could definitely get used to having you around, Blake West. ”

  “I have a feeling it’s gonna be one long, hot summer. ”

 



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