“What the hell was that about?” Julie’s tone is ragged, and I know I should step back and let her be angry. Maybe she was interested in Cody. I don’t know how. He’s a total slimeball, but it’s not my place to judge what she’s into.
“I can’t stand the looks of him some mornings. Sorry.” I’m hoping this is enough to shut down the conversation, but she keeps going.
“Why? He seemed like a nice guy. He has a ranch. He’s working hard. He’s—”
“A total piece of shit. Just trust me, the guy is a con artist. You don’t want to be mixed up with him.”
“Or apparently have one conversation with him,” she mumbles under her breath before heading back toward the bedroom, which makes no sense. She was right in the middle of making breakfast.
“I guess I’ll finish this up,” I say, watching her as she storms away.
“Have at it. I’m heading back to town.”
I drop the spatula on the counter and walk behind her. “Back to town? Why? You were going to stay out here for a while and relax.”
“Forgive me if this isn’t relaxing.”
“Well, it was before Cody, right?”
She stands in the hallway, her nightgown taunting me with its low-cut seams. “Yes.”
“Well then, he’s gone now. Let’s get back to relaxing.”
She gazes down the hallway with a far-off expression that’s filled with pain. “I shouldn’t stay here anymore. I need to get back into town and face that room of baby stuff. I also need to prepare for this speech, then give Angie some relief from her worry. Besides, you’ve got things to do too. I haven’t forgotten all your secrets. Which, I think you owe me, considering I told you mine.”
“And if I tell you my secrets, they’ll only serve to chase you off, and I’ve started to like having you here.”
Her cheeks blush as she glances back at me. “Yeah right. You’re a loner. Everyone knows that. You can barely hold a conversation. I’ve seen you in town.”
“I know,” I say, staring at her full pink lips. My heart races as I imagine brushing against her, holding her safe from everything and everyone in the world. Heat rises from my stomach and into my chest, the hypnotic scent of her skin like a forbidden flower drawing me in. “That’s why this is so fucking weird that I want to do this…” I lean into her lips and kiss her with unbridled need, brushing my hand against her soft cheek as she falls into my chest with abandon.
I hold on to the kiss as long as possible, fully expecting her to pull away, but she doesn’t. She leans into me further, running her hands through the back of my hair. Her breasts push against my chest and a soft sigh escapes her lips into mine, turning my body to fire in less than a second.
My cock grows hard at her touch and for the first time in my life I’m breathless.
She drags her hand down my arm, then settles it over my heart. “What are we doing?” Her voice is gentle as her gaze sits on mine.
I wish I had an answer, a concrete one, something not nearly as sappy asfalling in love, but that’s what it feels like. It feels like a missing piece of the puzzle is falling into place. I can’t say that, though. Fuck. She’s been through so much in the last forty-eight hours. Getting her to buy into some insta-love bullshit is the last thing she needs. Besides, it’s probably hormones, anyway. She’s hot, and I’m horny. It makes sense that I’d try and put a feeling to it.
Except it doesn’t make sense. I’m not one to put feelings to anything. I’m a ‘see things for what they are’ kind of guy. And right now, I see Julie in a light that’s just about as bright as they come, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she is the woman I want next to me as I ride toward the sunset.
“Maybe I should go,” she says, when I don’t answer.
I reach out for her, running my hand down over her shoulder. “No. Please… I… I’m not good at all this feelings shit. I’m having them though…feelings.”
She grins. “Oh yeah? What kind of feelings?”
I look down, then up again, catching her pretty gaze. “Feelings like I want to keep you. Like I want to be the one to give you those babies you so desperately want. Like I want to take care of them with you and… fuck! I’ve had a thing for you since I first saw you a few months ago, but I didn’t know you were this person too.”
“Who’s this person?” she asks, softly.
“I knew you were strong, and that you kicked ass all over town. I saw that, and I thought that was attractive as hell, but seeing the vulnerable parts of you last night was a different level. I could’ve held you like that until the end of times if it made you feel better.”
“I liked it too,” she says, her voice so soft I barely hear her words. “It scares me how much I liked it.”
I grip her hands in mine and pull her against my chest. “It scares me too because it’s been my experience that love isn’t usually reason enough for people to stay.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was four when my parents put me up for adoption. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a nice lady like you trying to give me a home. I was bounced around through the foster system, always because some younger, cuter kid came along and well… as tough as I try to be… that does a number on a child.”
She stares back at me with soft comfort. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that. You’re—”
“I’m fine. I’m a grown man now and I choose who I am, but it made childhood very difficult.”
Her hand moves back up toward my heart and stays there for a long while as we stare at each other, our eyes speaking a language I’m not sure our minds understand. Our bodies, though, are fully aware.
She looks deeply into my eyes. “I promise that if we fall in love, I’d never let you go, Maverick. I’d love you so hard you’d be begging me to ease up.”
I can’t help but smile at the passion in her tone. “And I’d love you right back, sunshine. Nothing in this whole fucking world could stop me.”