How To Rope A Wild Cowboy (Silver Springs Ranch Book 1)
Page 19
“Fuck you. Is she coming back?” That was all Emmett needed to know.
“She’s supposed to, as far as I know, not sure when this week though. Might need to call her office. Granted, it might not be her office for much longer,” Colt went on with a shrug.
“What do you mean? Explain.” Emmett demanded with a sinking pit of despair taking hold in his gut. Had yet another woman he loved upped and left him without a goodbye? Was he that unlovable when it came to women?
“She’s thinking of selling the practice and taking the job offer she received in Denver. That’s why she’s there.”
Emmett pinched the bridge of his nose. “I need you to come in and explain all of this.”
“You planning on decking me again, or can I enter without having to watch my ass?”
“Just get the hell in here. I’ll give you a beer, if there are any left, and you can tell me everything you know.”
Colt said, “Fine. But you’re taking a shower first, dude. Fuck.”
Emmett sniffed his shirt. Yeah, he did smell. “You know where the beer is in the fridge. Help yourself.”
After his brief shower, and change of clothes, Colt took him through everything he knew from start to finish.
“She’s really considering leaving?” It was a great job offer, and she already had an offer from the local hospital to buy the practice out. Why would she stay?
“Yep, from what I can tell. I’ve apologized to her for the part I played. But she’s hurting something fierce.”
Emmett sighed with remorse. “I know. But hell, she won’t even talk to me. How’s a guy supposed to apologize when he can’t even get the woman to sit and listen?”
“I think she cares about you and is all tangled up in her emotions for you along with her being mad,” Colt said. “But what do I know about relationships? I’ve never had any that worked out for the long haul. It’s partially why I made that stupid bet in the first place. The doc, she’s a woman a man keeps.”
“Yeah, she is, and the most perfect fucking submissive I’ve ever had the good fortune to be with. I love her, but I don’t know how to fix it.”
“Rub it in that she’s a perfect sub, dick. As for the rest, it depends. What do you want with her?” Colt asked, studying Emmett across the table.
“Everything. Collar her as my sub, marry her. You name it, I want it all.”
Colt laughed. “You really are sunk, aren’t you? Then the idea I have might not seem so crazy.”
“I’m listening.”
They spent the next hour hashing out a plan that to Emmett’s mind seemed like a rock-solid endeavor. One he was betting his future happiness upon.
22
Pulling into her grandfather’s driveway—now officially hers—Grace felt confident in her decision, and that she had made the right one. Phil had been wonderful. The hospital was one of the best in the country. But she’d be putting in a hundred hours a week without fail.
She enjoyed Denver, but all the activity and the frantic pace after weeks away had been jarring. That made it easier to turn down Phil’s offer. When she had told him that she was going to work in her granddad’s practice and be a small-town family physician, he’d looked at her like she had snakes coming out of her hair.
After the celebration of his life, Grace had realized she couldn’t sell—not without giving the town that had meant so much to Grandpa Joe a real chance. The house was paid off, so that was a plus. She’d taken a day to box up her things and get everything ready for the movers tomorrow. She would have to make another trip to clean up the apartment and turn in her keys, but that was easy compared to the other things she had to do.
Like talk to Emmett, and discover if he still wanted her.
Grace needed to give them another shot. She had thought a lot about the bet, but she loved Emmett far too much not to try. While she didn’t like what he had done, it was clear he’d not meant to hurt her.
With the garage door still open as she climbed out of the car, she spotted Emmett striding purposefully up the driveway, his gaze trained on her.
He was here, right now. Her stomach did a backflip.
“What do you want, Emmett?” It came out a lot harsher than she intended.
“Just to talk. I need you to hear me out. Let’s go inside. And afterwards, if you still want me to leave, I will,” he said, crowding her. That scent of his that was all male, all alpha, surrounded her.
She wasn’t ready to do this tonight. “Emmett, I’ve had a very long drive, and I’m tired. Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“Please, Grace, give me ten minutes.”
“Fine. Come on.” When he reached for her suitcase, she held it back. “I’ve got it. You’re still dealing with an injury, even though it looks like you’re healing nicely.”
He held up both hands. “Okay. Just trying to help.”
They would see about that. She headed into the house from the garage, closing the garage door to keep out all the wild animals. Emmett backed her up against the wall.
“What are you doing?” she said, hating how her body softened and purred at having him go all badass Dom.
He whipped her around, grabbed her hands, and tied them behind her back. Then he picked her up and tossed her over his uninjured shoulder.
She screeched, and kicked out.
He swatted her butt. “Quiet. I’m not going to hurt you. But I need to make sure that you listen to what I have to say.” He strode with her past the kitchen to her bedroom.
Once inside, he kicked the door closed and tossed her on the bed. She rose and went to scramble off, but he knelt before her, wedged his chest between her thighs, and held her hips with his iron grip.
“Look at me,” he demanded. She thought about telling him to piss off with this latest stunt. But she’d be lying to herself if she said the dominance pouring off him was not turning her on, because it was, big time. She lifted her gaze until it clashed with his, and sucked in a shaky breath.
“Grace, I’m sorry. Sorry about making that silly bet. It didn’t mean a thing,” he pleaded.
“You said that before. If that’s all, I’d like you to untie me and leave so I can get some sleep.” Then she would deal with it—with him—when she wasn’t dog-ass tired.
“No, Grace, that’s not it, dammit.” He gripped her shoulders. “I made that bet like the arrogant ass I was, thinking that I would sleep with you, and that would be the end of it. But what I didn’t expect was that I was going to fall in love with you.”
“What?” she asked, dazed and hopeful all in the same breath.
He cradled her face in his palms. “I love you, Grace. This last week without you, I realized my life doesn’t work without you in it.”
“You love me?” she asked in disbelief. Could this be real? Did he really mean it?
“I do, more than I ever thought possible. And if I must—it might take some time to find a job that suits, but I will come with you to Denver if need be.”
“What are you saying?” she asked, confused. Why was he talking about Denver?
“Babe, if you’re moving to Denver then so am I. I mean it. Wherever you go, I will follow.”
She couldn’t have stopped the tears from filling her eyes if she’d tried. “But you love it here. Your cabin and working on the ranch… this is where your life is.”
“Yeah, I do, but I happen to love you more. I’m all in, doc. Say you’ll forgive me for being a blockheaded idiot, and give me another chance. I swear to you, you won’t have cause to doubt me, doubt the way I feel about you, ever again.”
The tears she had been holding back started to flow. But they weren’t tears of pain or hurt or the loss that her life had been full of lately, they were tears of hope, and accompanied the swell of love cresting inside her heart for the man kneeling before her. It humbled her, that he would consider giving up his life for her, so now she owed him no less than all she was. With her heart in her throat, she said, “Then show me you love me. Be
cause this submissive loves, and has sorely missed her Sir.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Emmett.”
“Again.”
“I love you, and I promise to forgive you for the whole bet thing if…”
“If what?” he asked, his love for her shining in his eyes.
“You promise to ravish me here and now.”
The smile that spread over his face made her belly flutter. “Like you had to ask. Let’s get you out of those clothes, shall we?”
“Untie my hands, Sir, I need to touch you this time,” she pleaded as he helped remove her pants.
He removed the band around her wrists. In a flurry of movement, they tugged their clothes off. When they stood naked, breathing heavily, Emmett cupped her face and kissed her. Grace moaned into him, her hands caressing his flesh as their tongues danced together. They tumbled onto the mattress, lips locked together, and wrestled for dominance in the small bed.
She laughed into his mouth in delight when he won. They needed each other too fiercely for foreplay. Emmett slid home, his cock stretching her walls, and Grace writhed beneath him. He moved in like a hurricane, driving her body up, joining them together as deeply as two people could be. Her nails scored his back, and she undulated her hips. And through it all, she poured her love—her heart—into her actions.
He held her, driving inside her like he was ensuring that they would meld into one being, where one would not survive long without the other.
“Emmett,” she keened as the climax spiraled out of control through her body and she bucked beneath him.
“I know, love, I know,” he groaned, pumping his hips as he came. He claimed her mouth in a tender, drugging kiss, and her heart overflowed with love for him.
He lifted his head. “I really do love you.”
“I know. I’m sorry for being so unmoving. Emmett, I’ve been alone most of my life. The few relationships I’ve been in didn’t end well. So when the truth about the bet came out, I lost my head a bit.”
“I’m sorry. I will work the rest of our lives to ensure that you never have cause to doubt me ever again.”
“I know. And it’s all right.”
“When do you start the job in Denver?” he asked, cuddling her close.
She winced. “Yeah, about that. I’m not moving to Denver.”
Puzzlement dotted his brow. “Wait, you’re not?”
“No. I have everything I want here, and nothing that I need is there. The decision was relatively easy when I made it. And it’s not like I need the money.”
“You’re staying here?” he said, like he didn’t believe her.
“Yeah, because I realized it wasn’t just you that I fell for, but the town too. I like the slower pace of things. The way the community came together to remember my grandpa. And most of all, you. While you might have been willing to move for me, I love you too much to let that happen. I wouldn’t let you give up your home for me.”
“Don’t you get it yet? You are my home. It doesn’t matter where we live, as long as we’re together. Marry me, Grace. Make a home with me wherever we choose to rest our heads.”
“Yes, Emmett. I will. I’m going to want kids.” She gasped as he began to thrust. “Again?” she asked on a moan.
“Always, love. I always need you. And we can get started on those kids right away.” He wriggled his eyebrows.
She laughed. “I love you, Sir, don’t ever stop loving me.”
“Never,” he swore and crushed her mouth, kissing her with all the passion, all the heat, and all the love they had found. She might have moved to the country, but it was the wild cowboy who had stolen her heart. And as she surrendered to the love they’d found, she knew it was a love that would stand the test of time, the trials, and tribulations that life would toss their way. But with her cowboy, her Sir, at her side, there was nothing they couldn’t face together.
~The End~
Also By Anya Summers
Silver Springs Ranch Books
How To Rope A Wild Cowboy
Crescent City Kings Books
Lone Survivor
Far Reaching Consequences
The Right To Remain Silent
Bound To Protect
Self Sacrifice
Cuffs & Spurs Books
His Scandalous Love
His Unexpected Love
His Wicked Love
His Untamed Love
His Tempting Love
His Seductive Love
His Secret Love
His Cherished Love
His Christmas Love
Pleasure Island Books
Her Master & Commanders
Her Music Master
Their Shy Submissive
Her Lawful Master
Her Rockstar Dom
Duets & Dominance
Her Undercover Doms
Ménage In Paradise
Her Rodeo Masters
The Dungeon Fantasy Club Books
Her Highland Master
To Master & Defend
Two Doms For Kara
His Driven Domme
Her Country Master
Love Me, Master Me
Submit To Me
Her Wired Dom
The Alcyran Chronicles Books
Taken By The Beast
Claimed By The Beast
Loved By The Beast
Boxed Collections
The Dungeon Fantasy Club
The Pleasure Island Collection
The Cuffs & Spurs Collection
About Anya
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.
www.anyasummers.com
anya@anyasummers.com
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