“So it’s to be your bed, then?” She gave him a teasing glance. “Are you saying you prefer a king-size mattress to a double bed in a room covered with posters of studly NASCAR drivers?”
“I could ignore the posters, but mine is definitely the party bed.”
“Okay, so that much is settled. What about…”
He cleared his throat. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that.”
“Don’t assume you have to. I don’t believe a man has to be in charge of birth control. I can run into town this afternoon and make that purchase. I’ll just need to know the size.”
He couldn’t believe how adorable she was. “Ginormous.” When her eyes widened, he couldn’t help laughing. “What do you suppose a man will say when you ask him a question like that? Of course he’ll tell you to get the supersize ones.”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t want them to fall off.”
He laughed harder. “The way they’re constructed, I doubt they would, but I’m going to save you the trouble of standing at the counter puzzling over which ones. I know exactly what I want, and what size, so I’m the logical person to take care of that little matter.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Or big matter, as the case may be.”
“The huge matter.”
“Okay, okay, I get the idea.” She hesitated. “Are we going to text each other once we’re both upstairs, or what?”
“Tell you what. You recommended a hot bath for me, right?”
“Yes.”
“When you hear the water running in the bathtub, you’re welcome to wander down the hall and scrub my back.” Or whatever else she wanted to put her hand to… He shifted his weight as his jeans’ fly started to pinch.
“So everything’s planned.”
“Yep.” Rafe made sure he had a good hold on Destiny’s reins as he walked around his horse, which was blocking access to Meg. “So Spilled Milk won’t move no matter what, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Good. Then hold these.” He put Destiny’s reins in her hand.
“How come?”
“I need one more for the road.” Sweeping off his hat, he pulled her close and gazed into her green eyes. “Don’t let go.”
“Rafe Locke, are you about to be a bad boy?”
“Yes, ma’am, I am.” Dipping his head below the brim of her hat, he settled his mouth firmly over hers, and once again, the world caught fire.
Except this time the flames licked through his entire body as she wound both arms around his neck and pressed against him. Sweet heaven. He deepened the kiss and she arched forward, sending her hat sliding down her back.
With a groan he cupped her bottom and brought her as close to his aching cock as layers of denim would allow. The dampness from her shirt seeped into his, reminding him of the way her breasts had looked outlined by wet fabric.
Operating with blind desperation, he managed to hook his hat on her horse’s saddle so he’d have his other hand free…free to slide under her shirt and cradle her breast in one hand. She shivered and moaned softly.
He longed for bare skin, but now was not the time. Stroking his thumb over damp lace, he caressed her taut nipple as he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. Tonight. Tonight he’d know the full wonder of making love to her. And it would be so good. So very good.
One of the horses snorted, bringing him back to reality. He lifted his mouth from hers. “Tonight.”
“Yes.”
What a sweet word that was. He wanted to hear her say it over and over while he gave her all the pleasure she could stand. Groaning, he released her. Tonight. Somehow he’d find the patience to wait until then.
6
MEG’S SHIRT WAS DRY BY the time they brought the horses in, but her pulse still skyrocketed every time she glanced at Rafe. Several of the hands were working around the barn, cleaning stalls and grooming horses, so she didn’t look at Rafe very often as they unsaddled Destiny and Spilled Milk, because she didn’t want to give herself away.
She showed Rafe how to use a brush on Destiny’s glossy coat and they worked side by side, grooming their mounts. Every accidental, or not-so-accidental touch sent a jolt of sexual awareness through her. Rafe was probably affected, too, but he acted totally calm.
“Perfect morning for a ride,” he said conversationally. “Couldn’t have been better.”
A devil took possession of her tongue. “I don’t know. I thought it was a little warm out there.”
He coughed and cleared his throat. “Personally, I like it on the hot side.”
“Then you’ll be pleased to know it will stay that way while you’re here.”
“I’ll admit that makes me a happy man. Nothing like working up a sweat doing what you enjoy.”
He’d turned the tables on her quite effectively, and now she could barely breathe as she imagined what would happen in that big bed upstairs tonight.
“You’re awfully quiet over there, Meg. Cat got your tongue?”
She did her best to calm her racing heart. “I…uh…just remembered I have some things to do up at the house.” She put the brush into a bucket and untied her horse from the hitching post. “I’m finished here anyway.”
“If you are, then I must be, too.” A hint of laughter ran through his words. “Should we put them back in their stalls now, or what?”
Right. She couldn’t simply abandon him when he didn’t know the routine.
Emmett came around the corner of the barn. “You two all done?”
“I think for now we are,” Rafe said.
“I’ll take those two and turn ’em loose in the pasture for you. Did you have fun?”
“Sure did.” Rafe untied Destiny and led him over toward Meg. “I wouldn’t mind a repeat tomorrow.”
“There, see?” Emmett clapped him on the shoulder. “I knew you’d take to it.” He glanced at Meg. “You look a little flushed, girl.”
Meg swallowed. “I’m fine.”
Rafe handed Destiny’s lead rope to Emmett. “You do look flushed, Meg.” He glanced over at Emmett. “She was just mentioning that she thought it was quite warm out there.”
“Honestly, I’m fine.” Or she would be, once she got away from the major heat source in the black Stetson.
“Even so, you’d better head on up to the house for a cool drink.” Emmett gave her a fatherly smile. “Don’t want anyone falling by the wayside before the big day.”
“That’s for sure.” Rafe slung a casual arm over her shoulders. “Come on, you. Let’s get you cooled off.” He gave her a little push toward the house before letting his arm slide free.
She tingled everywhere he’d touched her. “It’s your fault, you know,” she murmured.
“Yes, but you started it,” he said in a cheerful tone. “And for your information, I’m a writhing mass of frustration inside.”
“I don’t believe you. Emmett didn’t mention that you looked flushed.”
“My reaction takes place a little lower. I’ve been struggling to keep my pride and joy under control so I can walk.”
“Well, for your information, I have a reaction going on a little lower, too.”
“Good. I’ll take full responsibility for your damp panties if you’ll take full responsibility for my pinched penis.”
She nearly choked on a laugh.
“You okay?”
She nodded and cleared her throat. “Listen, we need to stop this or we’ll never make
it through the day.”
“You’re not having fun?”
“I didn’t say that, but what if I snap and drag you upstairs in broad daylight?”
“That would give everyone something to talk about besides the problem of my mother. For all you know, we’d be doing them a favor by creating a diversion.”
She looked over at him and grinned. “Interesting idea, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not be the main topic of conversation around the ranch.”
“I’m just sayin’. So if you happen to lose control and haul me upstairs, it wouldn’t be all bad.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“But if you’re not feeling inclined to do that right this minute, I think I’ll turn on my cell phone.”
She gave a guilty start. “Good grief, by all means. I hope you weren’t waiting for my permission.”
“Well, no. It’s the damnedest thing. When I’m with you, I forget all about work.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I can’t say that happens very often.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I guess it is, but that also means you could become a liability.” He powered up the phone.
Her happiness ebbed a bit. “That doesn’t sound nearly as nice.”
“Don’t worry.” He scrolled through his messages. “I won’t let that happen.”
Happiness gave way to irritation. “I wasn’t worried. I was insulted. What do you mean, I could become a liability? You make me sound like a bad investment.”
He frowned and glanced over at her. “Sorry. I didn’t catch all that.”
“Never mind.” Nothing like a guy mesmerized by the information coming through his iPhone to kill the mood. She started up the porch steps, unwilling to compete with technology for his attention.
“Meg, wait.” He caught her arm. “You’re upset. What’s the matter?”
She turned. A step above him, they were eye to eye, nose to nose. Also mouth to mouth, but she wasn’t in a kissing mood. “You said I could become a liability. I don’t appreciate being told that.”
He winced. “Yeah, that was a bonehead thing to say. I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”
“How did you mean it, then?”
“It’s the way financial types talk. Everything’s viewed in terms of assets and liabilities. If something boosts the bottom line, it’s an asset. If it doesn’t, then—”
“Spare me the economic lecture, Rafe. I know about assets and liabilities. I want to know why you’re so ready to dump me into the second category.”
“Because you’re so vibrant and sexy that when I’m with you, I forget everything else. That’s good, and I really like the way I feel when I’m with you, but it’s also a little scary.”
She blinked. He’d actually admitted that he was afraid? That was progress. He must be venturing outside his comfort zone for him to say something like that.
“The thing is, if I’m going to do my job, I can’t afford to zone out on a regular basis. I only meant that if I allowed myself to focus on you all the time, I’d be in danger of letting my work suffer.”
Time to calm his fears. “In what world would I monopolize your time? Or allow you to monopolize mine? This week is an aberration for both of us. Normally I’m working, too, plus I have friends and family and plenty of my own interests. Furthermore, I respect your time and your work. I would never suck up chunks of your life to the point I’d become a liability.”
He looked stunned. “No, of course you wouldn’t. If I’d taken time to think, I would have realized that. It was an insulting thing to say, and you have a right to be angry. I’m sorry.”
He looked so miserable that the anger leaked right out of her. In truth, he had paid her a huge compliment. Apparently not much came between Rafe and his precious work.
But she had, for one golden morning. Although she’d meant what she’d said about not sucking up chunks of his life, she wouldn’t mind freeing him from his shackles once in a while. If not her, then who?
“It’s okay.” She smiled at him. “Go ahead and check your stock prices and whatever else you need to do. I’m going to take a quick shower before lunch.” She started to leave.
“Wait. The message I was reading was from Wyatt. He and Olivia have a break between appointments, and they wanted to know if we’d meet them for lunch at the Spirits and Spurs. He said it might be the only time the four of us could get together before things get crazy.”
“Sure. I’d love that.”
“Good.” He seemed immensely relieved that she wasn’t upset with him anymore. “I’ll text him that we’ll be there in…” He glanced up. “How soon?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“Great. I’ll tell him.”
“That should give you a little time to check in at work.”
He grimaced and shook his head. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret that liability remark for a long time.”
“Nah.” She touched his hand. “You can make me forget everything else, too, including bonehead remarks.” Leaving him to mull that over, she ran up the steps and into the house.
* * *
RAFE GOT READY QUICKLY while ignoring the fact that Meg was right down the hall in the shower. Now was not the time for fun and games. They were due in town, and besides, he felt a little off balance after their last exchange. So he freshened up and waited for her at the bottom of the winding staircase that connected the first and second floors.
While he waited, he tapped the borrowed Stetson against his thigh as he replayed their flare-up. The conclusion was obvious—he’d been an ass and she’d called him on it.
Fortunately she seemed willing to forgive him and let the subject drop. Fine with him. They had so little time to enjoy each other that he didn’t want to waste any of it on arguments.
No question that he was in uncharted territory with Meg. After one morning with her, he realized how superficial his relationships with women had been up to this point. She was the first one to get under his skin, and in trying to explain that, he’d almost blown his chance to be with her.
She was so different from the women he usually dated. He’d gravitated toward a cool exterior, someone who didn’t get too excited about anything, someone who skimmed over the top of life and avoided emotional depths. Pleasant women. Undemanding women.
He hadn’t demanded anything of them, either. No wonder he hadn’t considered marrying any of them. He’d never bothered to get to know who they were, and vice versa.
Two days ago that kind of life had made perfect sense. Now he wondered what it said about him that he’d been satisfied with such tepid encounters. He’d never thought of himself as a coward, and yet…
“Let’s go!” She came bouncing down the stairs in a crisp white blouse tucked into a fresh pair of jeans. Instead of boots, she wore sneakers with daisies all over them. She’d also ditched the Western hat in favor of sunglasses perched on top of her head, and she had a denim purse slung over her shoulder.
Apparently she liked to come at life from many angles. He’d met the cowgirl and the seductress. This afternoon she was the girl next door. Her mop of red curls and sunny smile filled his heart with joy. “You look terrific.”
“Thanks.” She joined him at the bottom of the stairs and gave him a once-over. “So do you. How many spare outfits did Sarah have?”
“Only two.” He walked to the door and opened it for her. “After this I’m back to m
y slacks and dress shirts.”
“Noo.”
He laughed at her exaggerated distress. “If it makes you that unhappy, I could find out where the washer and dryer are in this place.”
“You could.” She glanced over her shoulder at him as she walked out the door. “Or we could go shopping.”
Shopping for his clothes sounded a little too domestic and intimate. “Nah, I’ll just wash what I have.” Closing the door, he followed her down the porch steps.
“But don’t you need to buy some dressy Western wear for the wedding?”
“So Wyatt said.” He led the way toward the Lexus that was still parked in the drive. Maybe he ought to move it when they came back. “At some point I’ll go to Jackson and pick up what he suggested.”
“That makes sense.” Some of the cheer had left her voice. “Didn’t mean to push.”
He blew out a breath as he opened the passenger door for her. “You weren’t pushing, Meg.” He might have to officially admit that he was a coward, scared to death of letting someone get too close. “What would you say if I told you I’ve never shopped for clothes with a woman I’m dating?”
She glanced up at him as she slid onto the leather seat. “I’d say you’re a very private man. I’ll keep that in mind.”
In that instant he could see the wall going up between them, a very familiar and comfortable wall for him. He didn’t think it would prevent them from having sex and enjoying some good times this week. But it would stop him from getting to know Meg on a deeper level, because if he held back, so would she.
As he closed the door and rounded the car to the driver’s side, he realized that this was how he reacted with every woman. They’d reach a point where he would have to make a choice to be open or build a wall. He’d always chosen the wall.
What if he made a different choice this time? What if he used this week to find out if he could have a relationship that didn’t involve a wall? If he ever planned to risk it, now seemed like a good time, and Meg seemed like the right woman, open, flexible, giving.
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