Page 85 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

‘We’re doing good to have shelters in the city. We don’t have the staff or facilities to have horses and land.”

They were both quiet, letting the warm water lap against their skin.

He broke the companionable silence to say, “You have a nice family. And your folks have a good marriage.” He combed her long hair back from her face.

“My parents have the best of marriages. They’re very happy.”

“My family had more money—your family had more love. Too bad things can’t balance out.”

“We’re all there for each other. When I quit my New York job and came home, I had everyone’s support.” She paused. “Blake, I’ll ask again—have you ever thought about talking to your dad as an adult? It might be different now. You might find out that you really don’t want to pursue a course of revenge.”

“Don’t try to reform me,” he said, brushing light kisses on her neck, his breath warm against her.

“I wouldn’t think of it. I imagine you’re way too stubborn for me to reform,” she teased. He wound his arms around her and cupped her breasts gently, caressing her, making her close her eyes and gasp with pleasure.

“You’re starting something again,” she whispered.

“I hope I am,” he answered.

“Please remember I have to get up early tomorrow to fly to New York.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered in a polite tone of voice that made her smile briefly, until he twisted her around. When he looked into her eyes, his teasing expression vanished. He pulled her up to kiss her hard and then reached for a condom before he moved her over him. She straddled him as he held her hips and thrust into her, filling her, making her cry out with pleasure while she moved with him until they were in a frenzy of need.

When she climaxed, ecstasy shaking her, she held him tightly and felt his wild, thrusting response as he shuddered with his own release.

She didn’t know how much time passed before he spoke softly. “When you finish this job, I want to see you again.”

“When that time comes, I’m guessing you’ll change your mind,” she whispered, her head against his shoulder. “We’ll say goodbye. You’ll see.”

The words were easy to say when they were locked in a warm embrace after loving. At the moment, telling him goodbye didn’t seem to loom in the near future, but she knew parting and not seeing him again was reality.

When he didn’t answer, she assumed he agreed with her.

It was early morning when she slipped out of bed and went to the shower. She glanced back once. Blake was sprawled in bed, one muscled arm flung across a pillow and the sheet around his waist. His hair was a tangle.

For a moment, she longed to go back and kiss him awake, but she had a flight to catch. Two hours later, as he drove her to the airport, out to his waiting private jet, she wondered again how long it would be before she forgot him. She knew time would give her the answer.

When Blake opened the car door and she stepped out, he moved close and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“This isn’t very private,” she said, watching a breeze tangle short locks of black hair above his forehead.

“I don’t care about that. I want to hold you close.”

“You still don’t want to be involved in all the details?”

“I still don’t,” he said, smiling. His gaze lowered to her lips, and her heart beat faster at the desire in his eyes.

“I may not take another job with an alpha male.”

“That would suit me just fine,” he said, smiling again. “I’d have you all to myself.” Their smiles faded as she gazed up at him. “I’m going to miss you,” he said, his voice lowering a notch as his gaze shifted to her mouth.

She forgot their surroundings. She was telling him goodbye, and it might be a long one. His arm tightened and he leaned down to give her another possessive, fiery kiss that made her want to get back in the car with him and go back to his house.

“Don’t stay away too long,” he finally said as he released her. He was breathing hard, looking at her intently with desire clear in his warm brown eyes.

“Hurry back, darlin’,” he whispered. The endearment shook her because he didn’t say it often. She reminded herself that he meant little by it.

“Goodbye, Blake,” she said, a chill sweeping her.