“I’m back,” he told her.
“So I see.”
“I’m going to run for sheriff.”
“You are?”
“I have to establish residence in Wyoming, so I…”
“And that’s why you’ve come back. Of course.” So much for fantasies.
“But I…” He took a deep breath. “I thought we might… I thought maybe we could…see each other.”
“Sure we can see each other. Well, heck, Mase, I can see you right now.”
He frowned. “I meant, we could see each other a lot.”
“A lot?”
“Damn it, Callie, I mean I’m crazy about you, and I want you to marry me.” He sounded angry.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Stop it, Callie, you’re driving me nuts.”
“Well, I love you, too.”
“Really?”
“Hey, that’s my line.”
“God, Callie.”
Her muscles finally overcame their paralysis, and she hopped down from the fence and grinned.
“Okay,” she said.
“Okay what?”
“I’ll marry you.” She took her hat off and slapped it against her thigh. “But you have to promise one thing.”
“What one thing?”
“You won’t give me speeding tickets when you’re sheriff.”
“Aw, Callie, Reese already told me that.” Then he took her in his arms and kissed her, and Joey giggled, and somewhere a horse whinnied, loudly and triumphantly.
“I guess it’s okay with everyone,” she gasped.
“It better be,” he said, and he bent his head to kiss her again.
* * * * *
BACHELOR FATHER
by Vicki Lewis Thompson
New York fashion editor Katherine Seymour had thought a three-day retreat in Yellowstone would be just the thing to get her life back on track. But she hadn’t planned on slipping into a rushing river…or being saved by a very sexy Ranger.
When Katherine learned of the bachelor auction almost a year later, she knew what she had to do. Make the highest bid…and introduce Zeke Lonetree to his daughter.
Here’s a preview!
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“CLOSE THE DOOR gently if you can, so you don’t startle her.”
Zeke glanced at Katherine and caught his breath. Her green blouse was unfastened, although she’d modestly pulled it around her so that her breast barely showed. Somehow that made the picture more erotic to Zeke. Rain drummed on the roof of the truck, but he could still hear the soft sucking noises Amanda made while she nursed.
He pulled the door closed as best he could, knowing he’d have to open it and slam it again before they started driving. Then he stared straight ahead and tried to concentrate on following the path of an individual raindrop as it slid down the windshield. He seemed to be having trouble getting enough air, and he cracked his window open a little.
A woman nursing her child was no big deal, he told himself. He lived among wild animals who raised their young that way, and this was the same thing. Except it wasn’t even close. A year ago, he’d desperately wanted this woman, and she’d desperately wanted him. Now, the result of their mating that night lay in her arms, the tiny mouth fastened to her breast. God help him, he wanted this woman still.
“There’s no way to fix the tire, is there?” Katherine asked quietly.
“No.” He cleared the hoarseness from his throat, hoping she didn’t notice. He didn’t want her to know how she still affected him.
“Maybe someone will come along.”
“That’s not likely.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “We’re going to have to drive with the tire flat. I have a cabin out here. It’s not far. From there we can call a tow truck.”
“You live out here?”
“Yeah, when I’m not on duty at the park. It beats renting an apartment somewhere.”
She nodded. “I can’t picture you in an apartment. I imagine you clearing the land and building something out of logs, like Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett.”
Zeke grinned. “Which is exactly what I did.”
Katherine gazed at him, her expression wistful. “That’s the first time you’ve smiled since we met at the lodge.”
“Yeah, well, this experience hasn’t been a laugh a minute,” Zeke said wryly.
“But Amanda is such a beautiful little girl. I wish you could share some of the joy I feel.”
“You’re really happy about this?” he asked.
“How could I help being happy? Maybe I was a bit shocked when the doctor told me I was pregnant, but in about five minutes the shock wore off and I started feeling excited. A new life was growing inside me. That’s a miraculous thing, Zeke.”
He wondered if he’d have reacted that positively if she’d called to tell him right away. Maybe not, but he’d never know. Well-meaning though she might have been, she’d cheated him out of that sense of anticipation.
Katherine made a slight turn toward him, tempting him again with the perfect picture of motherhood she represented. “My only regret is whatever trouble I’m causing you.”
Zeke looked away, breaking eye contact. “You haven’t caused me any trouble,” he said. “Yet.”
ISBN: 9781459238862
Lynn Erickson is acknowledged as the author of this work.
Copyright © 1999 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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Courting Callie Page 22