You Make My Heart Race Like Cocaine
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
“I don’t know how we got to this point,” Stephanie said as she took a step back, her hands on her hips. “Maybe it’s because of that stupid horse.”
She didn’t have any more words in her arsenal for the moment. She couldn’t think straight with all the pounding happening inside her chest. Her heart was racing so fast she thought someone had put a gun to it and fired. She could feel her eyes bulging out like a cartoon character’s would when they were hit over the head with a frying pan.
It seemed the only way she’d ever get him off the stallion was if he did it himself. It wasn’t fair that some horses were easier to ride than others, but she wasn’t about to let her horse go. Not until she knew exactly what was going on between these two cowboys.
The way Tom kept glancing at Ben gave her plenty of information—that much was clear enough. But she hadn’t been able to make sense of why one of them felt compelled to keep his distance from the other. Maybe it had something to do with their pasts being tangled up together like spaghetti noodles, or maybe they just hated each other now because they shared the same last name.
“I’ve got to stop you right there,” Tom said as he moved forward again. His body blocked hers so that he stood directly between her and Ben. “We are not going anywhere.” He reached down and gripped the horn of the saddle with both hands before he pulled himself up onto the mount.
Then he swung around behind her, placing his hands gently on either side of her waist. “The only reason I’m even here is that Ben won’t leave my horse alone.”
Stephanie watched Ben’s arms hang by his sides without touching Tom as they rode along through the trees. She couldn’t hear anything that passed between them, but then again neither did Tom. They rode in silence except for the creak and thump of hooves moving beneath their feet.
A few minutes later they stopped near a stream, where Tom dismounted. She looked up at him as he untied the reins and placed them in his saddlebag.
“Do you want me to take your horse?” she asked. That sounded lame considering the circumstances, but she didn’t know what else to say. So she just shrugged and waited for him to respond.
He turned toward her, his expression guarded. For a moment she almost believed she saw regret in his eyes, but then the emotion faded. She shook her head. Whatever happened between these men, it certainly hadn’t left a lasting impression.
“I’ll be glad to give your horse the rest of today off. We can go on ahead and make camp. You’re welcome to join us.” His eyes traveled slowly over her face, lingering on her lips. “But if you need time to yourself…we understand.”
“Thank you, but I really don’t mind.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Really? That’s interesting.”
A smile spread across her face. Now that she’d finally found someone willing to talk to her—without having to resort to her feminine wiles first—it seemed like a shame to break the spell. “Yes, it’s very interesting,” she said.
***
“I don’t understand how I could possibly have a daughter, Ben. You know that. I told you everything. And yet…” She stared into space for a moment before shaking her head. She didn’t want to tell him about the letter. What did she care if she had a half-brother, anyway?
If anything, her father had always made it clear he didn’t consider her worth the trouble of getting to know. She didn’t need to add insult to injury by mentioning the fact that her father apparently wanted nothing to do with him.
But Ben’s eyes grew darker as he listened. He leaned against the wall, watching her carefully. She couldn’t read anything in his eyes, so she decided to try another approach.
“Why would my mother lie?” Stephanie said quietly.
“Who knows why anyone does anything they do?” He didn’t look at her but stared straight ahead as he spoke. “Maybe she wanted to protect you somehow.”
“How would she ever do that by lying?” She stepped away from the bed, her voice rising in pitch. “There’s no way to shield me from the truth.”
Ben moved closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her close.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. All that matters now is figuring out what to do about this boy, and then we’ll figure out who our parents were,” he whispered in her ear. Then his mouth moved down, tasting her skin as he pressed his body against hers and breathed deeply. Her entire body trembled under his touch.
“Don’t forget what I said,” he added softly. “No more lies.”
She closed her eyes, unable to speak past the lump that formed in her throat when she thought of their kiss earlier today. No, she wouldn’t lie again—not when it came to her feelings toward him.
She might pretend she cared, or maybe not show any concern for his own welfare, but never again would she use her heart as bait in a trap that would ensnare him in its web. But the pain of letting him go was nearly unbearable.
When he took a step back to pull away from her, she opened her eyes and saw how dark and brooding his gaze looked. She reached up and touched his cheek with both hands as if to hold him there forever. “You should be angry at me.” She didn’t understand why she felt compelled to confess this now.
It wasn’t as though he’d ever been particularly nice to her anyway. Why would he start now?
He pulled away from her. “What?”
“Well, for one thing, I lied to you. When we first met I—”
He silenced her with a raised hand. “And what was that?”
“I said I didn’t have a mother.”
“So you’re saying you don’t?”
She nodded. “That’s right. My father told me the only woman he loved died giving birth to me.”
“Did he tell you about her death too?”
“No.” She paused. “Not until recently, anyway.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you mention it sooner?” He glared at her. “You knew all along what had happened to our parents and you just sat on that information?”
Her eyes widened and she stepped away from him, but she didn’t deny it. “We don’t have time to get into that now,” she said quickly, hoping he would change the subject. “The important thing is finding out where my son is being held so I can rescue him.”
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault, Stephanie. I should have figured out who your father was the minute I found out about this boy.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And I should have known something was wrong with that girl before we even got here.”
Stephanie shook her head. “That girl?”
“Yes, the one you tried to rescue from those men.”
“Oh!” Stephanie remembered that moment clearly—the gun pointed at her chest, the bullet in its chamber ready to fire. How foolish of her to think she could save her brother.
“She must be quite an actress because you seemed to like her at the time.” Ben laughed bitterly. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since you used to play the same sort of roles for me.”
“But I—”
“Don’t apologize to me, Stephanie. Just tell me why she attacked you.”
“She threatened to shoot me if you didn’t stay away from me,” she explained in a rush before he changed the subject again.
“I see,” Ben said. “And I suppose you’ve always hated me, right? That’s why you pretended you cared for me?”
“Don’t you dare put words in my mouth! I—”
“I’m not done yet. Don’t interrupt me.” His voice hardened with anger. “Tell me what else you feel toward me. Because I know exactly what I feel for you. You want to be with me. Not some other man. And I want nothing more than to be with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
He stepped forward and lifted his hand to cup her chin gently. “I can’t believe I’m hearing these words come out of your mouth. What happened between us tonight has made me realize that you love me. More than you’ve ever loved anyone—ever. So tell me, did I really say anything that hurt you?”
His fingers slid down to stroke her cheek. She stared back at him, shocked by his admission and unsure whether or not to give him the answer he wanted to hear.
“Say something, Stephanie. Please.” His tone was gentle, yet commanding, and she couldn’t ignore it anymore.
“Maybe,” she whispered. “It’s hard for me to admit how much I care for you. But I do. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “So you won’t marry another man?”
“That’s a very good question.” The smile faded from her lips and she swallowed nervously as she looked up at him. “You know, Ben, I have always felt so alone.”
“I know.” He cupped her cheek in his palm and kissed her forehead lightly. Then he brought his lips to hers. “You never had to be lonely. I was the one who kept you lonely all those years.”
She pulled away from him and pushed his chest with her hand. “Stop this now! We both know it’s just because we’re desperate to be with each other.”
“Desperate?” He laughed at her reaction. “If that’s so, then why don’t you marry me?”
“Because…” She took a deep breath. “I don’t trust myself around you and I’m worried you’ll get tired of me.”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “Are you saying you don’t love me?”
“Of course I do.” She paused. “More than anything, Ben, but—”
“No excuses, Stephanie! Tell me what else you’re afraid of.”
“How could you be so dense?”
“Just say it.” He grabbed her hands and squeezed them tightly. “Whatever you have to say, I already know it’s true, so spit it out.”
She hesitated. Was she willing to admit what they were feeling? Would she finally open up to someone? Or would she keep it to herself and continue to hide behind a mask of indifference?
She sighed heavily. “I’m afraid we’ll lose our child if you marry me.”
His eyes opened wide in surprise. “What?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant? You mean—” He broke off and frowned. “With my baby?”
“Yes. But I’m not sure who the father is.”
He blinked at her and slowly sank down on a chair. “This doesn’t change anything between us, does it?”
She nodded quickly. “Of course not.”
“I can’t believe it’s mine. We haven’t been together in almost a year.”
“It might not be yours.” She tried to reassure him but her words sounded hollow. “The doctor told me to wait three months before I got my period, which means—”
“Which means?” he asked in a low, dangerous voice.
“Nothing, I—”
“Then you should get married immediately. Otherwise, your baby will grow up without knowing me—or its other parent. Are you willing to risk that?”
Stephanie stared back at him in silence as he held her hands tight. She was too stunned by his sudden shift to thinking clearly. He’d never said anything remotely like that before.
“Please let me go, Ben!” She struggled against his grip until she found herself pressed between two chairs. “Let me talk to my sisters.”
His expression darkened as he stared down at her. “Why don’t you ask them to marry you instead?”
“You heard me.” Her eyes were welled with tears. “They’re both single and unattached—and they’ve both expressed an interest in marrying a wealthy rancher. You could make them happy.”
“And you?” He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Do you want to be the only unmarried sister in our family?”
“No,” she answered softly.
“There’s also a chance it’s mine, Stephanie. Don’t forget that. This could be the happiest time of your life or it could be the worst mistake of your life.”
She closed her eyes and tried to control her emotions. It was obvious to her that he was upset over their discussion. And she knew there was nothing she could say that would ease his anger. So why didn’t she give him some space? Why did she try to force herself to marry him when it wasn’t what she wanted?
Because she was selfish and didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of a woman raising children alone. Not after having grown up without a mother and a father who was rarely home.
“Ben—”
“Don’t tell me you’re still considering this,” he snapped. “We both know what we need to do.”
She shook her head. “There has to be a way to prevent this marriage from happening and that’s why I’m going to find it. Maybe if we work together, we can come up with another plan.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know yet.” She shrugged. “But I’m hoping for your sake and ours, we can come up with something.”
“You’re wasting your time.”
“I’m going to stay here tonight.”
“Stay here and what?” His face turned cold. “Sleep in your room, or are you thinking about sneaking into mine again?”
She bit her lower lip nervously and looked down at the floor. “It’s just…there’s no reason to rush the situation.”
He stared at her in disbelief and then laughed. “Is that all you’re worried about? That you won’t be able to sneak away with me?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” She glared at him. “If anything, I’d rather be caught sneaking out of your bedroom than being forced to marry you.”
***
Ben threw the newspaper onto the table and sat back in his chair with a loud sigh. After reading through the entire issue, he discovered there were five other men who claimed they also had slept with her on the night of the murder.
All of them were from Chicago, and none of them had ever met Stephanie prior to that fateful evening. They hadn’t even known each other, which meant there was absolutely no way they could have been part of any plot.
So he decided to call on every one of these men personally and get their side of the story. He knew the women in town would turn against Stephanie because of the scandalous nature of her relationship with a sheriff, but maybe he could convince them otherwise.
But he needed to keep a close watch on her so that he could catch anyone else trying to kill her. He was determined to protect her no matter what it took. No one was going to hurt Stephanie except himself.
“Where are you going?” Stephanie stood behind him, staring down at the front page of the newspaper.
“To see these men. There’s no point in asking around town since everyone is already talking about it.” He folded the paper and placed it carefully on top of his desk. “And don’t worry, I’m leaving the protection squad in charge until this mess has been cleared up. I’ll take care of my own problem while I’m gone.”
“Who knows what could happen while you’re away? What if someone tries to shoot you on purpose?”
“That’s why I’m taking you with me,” he said as he stood to retrieve his gun belt from the closet. “Someone might try to harm me and you could end up getting shot instead.”
“I don’t want to get shot.” She stepped closer to him and laid her hand on his forearm. “Please don’t leave me here alone.”
“I’m sorry but there’s no choice. We’re running out of time.”
“How much longer will you be gone?”
“At least until tomorrow night.”
Her shoulders sagged and she dropped her gaze to the floor. He knew how difficult it would be for her to remain at the ranch house alone when they weren’t even married. And he understood that it could cause an uproar among the citizens of Pine Haven and make matters worse. But he couldn’t help feeling like a coward by dragging her with him.
She stepped closer and ran her hand gently down his arm. “What will I do until then?”
“You could always read,” he suggested sarcastically. “That’s why I bought you a subscription to The New York Times.”
“I wouldn’t mind that,” she answered with a soft smile. “Reading is probably better than doing nothing at all.”
He smiled back at her before pulling her into his arms. “Good. Then we should start working on your reading skills right away.”
***
Stephanie was grateful Ben had agreed to let her stay in the house until he returned. She spent most of the day cleaning the kitchen, baking cookies, and washing clothes. Since it was summer, the weather had warmed considerably so she opened some windows and turned on the fans, which helped circulate air throughout the house.
As long as there was no wind, the mosquitoes never bothered her. She found them more annoying than dangerous, and it was rare for them to bite her anyway.
By early afternoon she was ready to put some meat in the oven and settle in to read, but then she heard someone outside calling her name. She hurriedly walked to the front door and looked toward the corral where the sheep were grazing.
A man dressed in black was standing at the entrance watching her. His dark hair shaded his eyes, but she still recognized him. “Who are you?”
The stranger didn’t reply and continued looking down at the ground. “You can come out now. I mean no harm.” He lifted his head slowly and then stepped forward to block the doorway.
She frowned as she eyed him warily and wondered why he felt the need to hide his identity. It wasn’t uncommon for a rancher or farmer to be mistaken for a hired gun, but he didn’t strike her as a murderer.
“Are you the one who left me messages last week?” He finally faced her, and his blue gaze seemed cold and unyielding.
“Yes, that’s me.” She stared up at him, wondering if she could trust him. “Why are you here?”
“I’ve come to ask a favor,” he replied after a moment of hesitation.
“No one asked you anything.” Stephanie stepped back and reached for the lock, not wanting to invite him inside unless he wanted her company. “It doesn’t look like you brought any supplies, and it’s only a short walk to town.”
“We have plenty of money and we’re not in need of food.”
She raised an eyebrow. “So you plan on living under my roof for free?”
“Don’t be foolish.” He glanced past her shoulder. “There’s plenty of room in the barn. We can sleep in the hayloft. You won’t even know we’re here.”
She shook her head, unable to believe what he was suggesting. “What makes you think I’d allow strangers to stay here just because they need somewhere to rest their heads? Why couldn’t you find shelter elsewhere?”
His mouth tightened. “We’re desperate to avoid the sheriff and his deputies searching every nook and cranny in this territory.”
She sighed. “They’ll search everywhere once they learn I’m missing, and they already suspect I might have been abducted by Indians or bandits.”
He nodded. “Then let me introduce myself. My name is Sam and I work for a private detective agency in San Francisco.”
“Private detective?” A light bulb went off in her mind. “Is that how you ended up in Pine Haven?”
“Actually, our client has an office in Pine Haven.”
“And you’re trying to locate my father?”
“That’s right.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “This is my business card. Please take a minute and study it closely before you decide whether you feel comfortable allowing us to stay here.”
She took the card from his hand and studied the name, J. C. Taggart & Associates. She remembered meeting the owner of the firm when she visited Washington, DC two years ago for another case. Mr. Taggart was also a member of The Pinkerton Detective Agency and she recalled being impressed with his professionalism and dedication.
“If you’re affiliated with Mr. Taggart, I see no reason why we shouldn’t welcome your presence here.”
“I appreciate your cooperation,” he said with a nod.
“Well, don’t expect me to make dinner for you tonight. We eat late around these parts and you can either help me clean the kitchen or cook yourself.”
Sam hesitated before shaking his head. “I’ll wash dishes.”
“Fine. Then after dinner, we can discuss what exactly it is you want me to do.”
For a moment she thought he would refuse, but then he gave her a quick smile and a nod. “Sounds good.”
Stephanie led him to the back of the house and showed him where the wash tubs were located along with the kitchen table. “I’m going to turn in now since I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow.”
“Good night.”
She returned to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Her pulse pounded rapidly in her ears, and her hands trembled slightly. It wasn’t until she was sitting on the edge of the bed that she realized what had happened. She’d given the stranger an answer without thinking.
She hadn’t expected anyone to show up at her door claiming to be a private detective who’d come all the way from California just to look for her dad.
Her throat suddenly felt tight, and she sat there staring down at the carpet in silence. She knew very well that the odds of finding him alive weren’t high, but still her heart ached at the idea of never seeing him again. She tried to swallow away the lump forming in her throat but failed as tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks.
When she heard his heavy footsteps enter the room, she rose and went to stand beside her dresser mirror. She wiped her face with a tissue and then turned around to face him, but she didn’t speak. For a moment neither one spoke, but then she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry about last night.”
His brow lifted in surprise. “You apologize for telling me to leave?”
“No.” She moved closer to him and touched her fingers to his chest. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant for what I did to your feelings. You don’t seem like the type to hold a grudge.”
“I understand, though I don’t agree.” He reached for her hands and pulled them away from his body. “You should realize that I have every right to be offended. You’re a grown woman and yet you treat me as if I’m some sort of child.”
She stared up at him in shock and slowly let out her breath. “What do you suggest then?”
He leaned closer to her, his voice low. “Let’s say we pretend for a while that I’m not a man, nor a detective. Just imagine for a second that I’m a stranger and that you’re my daughter.” His expression softened. “Would you let a total stranger stay in your home?”
A shiver ran through her spine, and she nodded. “Yes.”
He looked pleased. “Then you have nothing to worry about. What I’m offering is only temporary, until we find your father.”
“Why are you so eager to help me? It’s not as if it benefits you to have two strangers staying under your roof.”
“It does.” He reached for her hands, but she shook her head quickly.
“Don’t you need to tell me something first?”
“Of course.”
“And what would that be?”
“We’ve been hired by a client who has asked us to search for your father.”
“But he doesn’t know where I live.”
“I’m certain he will soon enough. And since we’re staying here anyway, maybe it would be better if you allowed us to stay until the investigation is complete.”
“Are you telling me that I can’t turn down your request?”
“I think we both know how this works.” His lips pursed into a thin line. “So what’s it going to be?”
“I—”
He cut her off. “This is your choice, Stephanie. If you want me to leave, then I shall. But if you don’t mind me hanging around for a few days until we get to Denver, I’ll sleep on the floor and use a separate room when needed.”
Her heart raced again and then sank. The idea of having someone else in her home, even temporarily, caused her stomach to tighten. “I—I don’t really have any rooms available for guests.”
“That’s fine, then. I don’t care where I sleep.”
“But—”
He lifted a hand, silencing her. “Please. Think about it. What kind of place would you have me leave you?”
Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard against the sudden dryness. “The attic. Or the basement.”
He smiled and nodded. “I’ll see to it then. Thank you.” He started toward the door but paused before he stepped out onto the porch. “If you change your mind, then send word.” With that, he turned back to her.
She watched him disappear around the corner, and then she turned away from the door and stared out at the night sky. She’d never thought much about the fact that she could hear the voices of everyone around her, but now she wondered why she had. Wasn’t the house big enough to provide privacy?
She sighed heavily and headed for bed, but her thoughts continued circling around inside her head. How was she going to deal with having another person sleeping under the same roof? Would she be able to relax enough to fall asleep in a strange bedroom?
Did it bother her that he didn’t know her family members’ names or where they lived? Did it bother her that he knew so little about her life?
She pushed away from the railing, walked across the room, and opened her top bureau drawer. She removed a white silk robe and put it over her shoulders. After tying the sash, she glanced around for someplace to hang it and came up empty.
There wasn’t a single hook on her dresser or anywhere else in the room. She shrugged and hung it on an old chair next to the window. Her hair fell forward, covering the front half of her face. It took her a moment to realize what she wanted.
“Damon,” she whispered.
He appeared a few seconds later. “May I help you with something?”
“I need some scissors.” She pointed to a wooden block on the floor. “Can you cut this tie? It’s too long.”
His brows rose, and then he bent and picked up the ties. “Is it necessary that I cut it?”
“Yes.”
He frowned, looking puzzled, but then he pulled out a pair of scissors and returned to her side. He handed the ties to her, and she held them tight to keep the ends together as he cut through each one. When he was done, she tossed him the ties.
“Thanks.” She turned away from him and went to the bathroom, where she washed and brushed her teeth. Next, she pulled down her nightgown, untied her hair and let it slip through her fingers to settle over her shoulders like a cloak. Then she slipped into the bed and lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.
She should be thinking about their future, but all she could imagine was how it would feel to share the attic with Damon. A faint smile tugged at her mouth, and she curled her hand beneath the blanket.
“Good night.” He sat on the edge of his bed, facing the opposite direction from hers.
She waited a few minutes to be sure that he’d fallen asleep before she closed her eyes. But it wasn’t the quiet sounds of nighttime that lulled her to sleep. Instead, it was his voice.
***
Stephanie stood at the edge of a field and looked at the herd of cattle gathered in a small corral near a ranch house. They were well-fed and fat, but it still surprised her that they hadn’t escaped the fence.
She glanced to her right, searching for a tall man with sandy hair standing beside another large cow, and her breath caught. It can’t be, she told herself. But there it was: Damon, smiling as he talked to the animal.
He spotted her standing on the hilltop and waved. She hurried across the ground, not wanting him to think she couldn’t handle the task ahead of her. She stopped short, however, just as he reached the corral’s gate.
“What are you doing here?” she blurted out before she could stop herself. “Shouldn’t you be—”
“—working,” he finished for her. His tone said exactly what she’d been about to say.
“Yes, working.” She nodded briskly, trying to control her breathing. “I’ve come to learn all about cows. I’m taking over my brother’s duties when he leaves for Montana tomorrow.”
Damon’s expression turned thoughtful as he studied her. “And how is your brother handling those responsibilities?”
“He’s leaving me with more than I asked for.” She laughed self-depreciatingly. “But since I’m a woman—or at least that’s what my family thinks—they’re willing to give me the chance.”
“Why?”
“My father believes women aren’t capable of doing a good job.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Your father may have given you the opportunity because he feels guilty for sending you off to college without knowing who you are.”
Her heart quickened. What was this man saying? She stepped closer to him but stopped before coming within touching distance. If she was wrong about how he felt toward her, if he found her unworthy of being loved by such a kind man, she could never bear the thought of losing the only person in the world who might ever love her.
“How do you know what happened between me and my father?”
His eyes grew warm and tender as he looked at her. “I saw him once in New York when I worked for a newspaper. He called out to me while I was walking home.”
“And you ran away from him?” She knew how she would react in this situation, but she didn’t understand why he’d left New York and followed the trail of his estranged daughter until he found her. And then stayed in San Francisco for months. Was it because of her? Or had he just wanted to find out about the child he gave up for adoption?
“No, I didn’t run away.” He grinned briefly. “I walked straight to my hotel room, but not before I took a detour through an alley where I picked up a young prostitute. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly for a number of hours, and then she dropped me off at the hotel.”
Stephanie’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she lowered her gaze. “You’re joking.”
“Not so much as a joke.” His voice was soft, and he reached out to touch her cheek. “When I saw how happy my father looked when he spoke to me, I realized that he must’ve always loved me.” He paused. “That was the only reason I could think of as to why he’d given up a baby girl.”
“Then why didn’t you speak to him after that?” Stephanie asked softly. “Didn’t you want to know more about me or your child?”
He shook his head. “I never did.” A shadow darkened his handsome face and he looked back at the herd. “Until now.”
Her throat tightened as she stared down at him and wondered why he’d stayed away from his family for so long. “Is there anything else you want to ask me about?”
He glanced quickly at her. “Why haven’t you spoken to your parents? Have they tried to reach out to you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really know how to answer that question.” She turned to look away from him, but he touched her chin gently.
“Answer me.”
She sighed and met his searching brown eyes. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Try,” he said quietly.
“There’s nothing to say.” Her voice trembled, and she dropped her eyes again. “We never got along well enough for them to try and reach out to me. I suppose I’m afraid of rejection like I’d been rejected by my father years ago.”
He nodded. “And yet you came here today even though you know they’ll hate you.”
“They probably already do.”
“You’re sure?” He sounded surprised.
“Absolutely.” She smiled wryly. “And I’m not worried about their feelings. I’m concerned for your sake.”
“Don’t be.”
“I am,” she retorted. “I’ve come to learn all about cowboys and ranching. I’m going to take over my brother’s work when he goes off to Montana, but what happens when he comes home? They won’t believe I’m capable of doing a good job when they hear how I spent most of my life in New York.”
His lips curled into a smile. “I’ll tell you what I told my wife. You should stop worrying about the opinions of others and start thinking about yourself instead.”
“What?”
“If you’re happy in San Francisco, you shouldn’t let anyone or anything make you feel otherwise.”
She blinked slowly. “Are you speaking to me as if I were your wife?”
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Just listen.” He took hold of one hand and placed it against his chest, right above his heart. “This is the place where you will find true happiness. Right here.” His finger moved to her neck and then trailed across her shoulder.
Stephanie gasped as desire shot through her. How had he learned how to use her body like this? The heat of his fingers seared her skin, and the strength and power in his hands made her knees weak.
The kiss continued, and she moaned as he pulled her closer. When he brushed his lips over hers again, she opened her mouth instinctively to let him explore her senses with his tongue.
A thrill coursed through her when his hands slid around her waist to caress her hips and thighs. As his lips closed in on her own, the intensity increased. Pleasure rushed through every inch of her as they kissed passionately.
She felt him press firmly against her and knew he could feel how aroused she was. That gave him permission to move his hand beneath her dress, and she groaned when his palm pressed against her mound.
He drew his mouth from hers reluctantly when she whispered, “Please!”
“Let me have you,” he whispered urgently. “I want you to know what it’s like to be completely taken care of, to know that someone will always watch over you and protect you.”
“But—”
“Now, Stephanie.” He tugged her closer again, but this time his lips skimmed down her neck. He bit gently, and she jumped as pleasure surged through her. “No buts.” His mouth closed over hers again. “Do you remember telling me that you liked rough sex?”
She shivered as his tongue danced seductively over hers. “Yes, but—”
“I’m going to show you exactly what that means.” He lifted her onto her toes and brought her hand to his groin. “Touch me.”
She couldn’t help herself, but the instant she wrapped her fingers around his erection, she moaned aloud in shock at its size. It seemed impossible to fit such a huge appendage inside her, yet something within her stirred as she stroked him. His cock grew harder as he watched her touch him.
When he lowered her foot to the ground again, she slipped away from him, only to feel his lips against her earlobe.
“Did you see how big I am?” His breath teased her skin. “That’s because I eat a lot of red meat.”
Stephanie laughed as he took her hand in his and led her up to his cabin.
The End