Oh, sweetheart...
Upon seeing him, her hand slipped, and for a second, he was worried about her head taking a dive before she righted herself. The light in her sleepy eyes brightened as did the smile playing across her beautiful face. “Uh-oh, somebody’s in trouble.”
He felt his lips twitch as he strolled over. “Hard to say which one of us, isn’t it?”
She grabbed him by the shirt and laid her head against his chest. “Hello, cowboy,” she lazily drawled.
God, to find her like this tonight, so easy and relaxed—so much like she used to be with him. The sight burned like salt in a wound. How was he supposed to step back and encourage her to go?
Gathering her to his chest, he held her close and pitched his voice lower, saying, “Hello, buttercup.”
She gave a delightful laugh. “You remembered!”
“Of course I do,” he managed hoarsely. “I could recite all the special nicknames you drew up for me to call you way back when.”
She pushed back and settled her hands on her thighs, looking serious. “Let’s see if you pass the test with flying colors. Go.”
He almost winced as he steadied her when she wove in the chair. “I’m supposed to call yousweet peawhen you’re being especially cute.You little spitfirewhen you’re being fiery or fit to be tied.Rosie poseywhen you’re dithering or making us late.Sugarplumaround the holidays?—”
“And when I’m being especially sexy?” she asked with an adorable hiccup.
He muffled his laughter. “You’re my hot little mama.”
She clapped. “You get an A plus, Ben Montgomery. Nowthat’s a report card you won’t be scared to bring home, and I didn’t even have to tutor you.”
An ache knotted his throat, thinking about her being a teacher and him planning to give her the school she’d always wanted.
“How about you and I head back to the ranch?” he asked gently.
“I had too many margaritas,” she whispered, putting a finger to her lips. “Shh…bad example for the boys. Jolene made them go upstairs when they got home from a movie.”
“You could never be a bad example,” he told her, caressing her back.
“Maybe you’re right.” She yawned and gave a sleepy stretch. “That horrible billionaire even said he admired me. Can you believe it? He liked me being a healer and a tough girl. Of course, he was probably buttering me up to leave town after threatening my parents. Ben, he’s got devious plans.”
He stayed silent. Hannah was a smart cookie, even tipsy.
“Ben, I like feeling this way. I’ve been so worried and scared.”
Jolene had been wrong. Because she could always tell him everything. “You have cause.”
“Even Roman chamomile, lemon balm, and passionflower tea hasn’t helped like Jolene’s margaritas.”
Helping her to her feet, he kissed the top of her head and did his best to rearrange her ponytail. “You remember that if your head hurts in the morning, all right, sunshine?”
She grabbed his face and grinned. “I love it when you call me that, and you have, but I like it best when we wake up together. Ben, I think we’re destined for the hayloft.”
Her voice was so aggrieved, he almost laughed. “I was planning something a little more romantic, but let’s get you in the truck, shall we?”
“Not before I tell you what that James Taft did!” Shegrabbed up a manila envelope and thrust it under his nose. “He got me back into Scotland. Can you believe that? An apology and the path to citizenship. He mustreallybe powerful. Of course, Neil offered to help me stay too, but I couldn’t marry him.”
Should have expected that. “Because you’re honest.”
Her head fell to his chest as she rubbed it against his shirt. “Never could love Neil like I did you, cowboy.”
She was tearing him apart here. “Yeah.”
Feeling her body go limp, he swung her into his arms and walked to the entryway. Jolene shot out of the chair she was sitting in next to the sofa in the living room.
