Page 4 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

“Here are your keys,” he said, reaching out, lifting her hand, and putting them in her palm. “Dinner is in an hour at the big red barn with the white shutters.”

“No. Um, I think I’m going to call it a da—”

“I can come to get you myself, or I can just bring you a plate of food.”

His voice indicated, without words, she had two choices, and that was it. She could come on her own, or he would make sure she ate a different way, but she would eat, period.

Emily’s downcast eyes burned with embarrassment and shame. She cleared her throat. “Yes, of course. I’ll be there.” She jerked when a heavy hand landed on her slim shoulder.

“Easy. I’m sorry if I scared you. I’m not going to hurt you. Not ever,” Cole whispered as he stood looking down at the top of her head.

“I’ll see you soon?” he asked gruffly.

At her nod, he walked out and quietly closed the door behind him.

Emily took a few shaky steps toward the sofa and sank down, putting her head in her hands. God, what a fool I made of myself. He looks at me, and I melt, and he touches me, and my insides quiver uncontrollably. Her stomach tightened when she thought of his laughs and the mirth in his voice.

She shook her head. It was her own fault she acted in a way he found humorous. He must have women throwing themselves at him all the time. She would be the last woman he’d ever want to be with. She’d learned the hard way. She was not the type of woman that inspired lust in a man.

Her first inclination was to put her bags back in the car and take off. She didn’t care at this point that she’d lose her three-month cabin rental. Emily couldn’t imagine seeing him again, and she would. Probably a lot. She just needed to find the resolve to ignore him as much as possible because she didn’t want to leave.

Being there, on that beautiful ranch that felt so much like home, was a dream that she’d had for so many years she couldn’t remember. Did she really want her foolish behavior to ruin this?

Emily wiped the tears from her cheeks and straightened her shoulders. Damn, she was stronger than that. She could stay away from him. She would be spending a lot of time in her cabin writing anyway. She was also planning to make some of her meals in the cabin’s small kitchenette and had brought food for that purpose. When she was out of the cabin, she would be riding or eating with the rest of the guests.

Heck, he’s the owner of this place. He had to be so busy running a place this size, maybe they would never see each other. She could do this, she thought.

Emily felt a warm trickle of tears fall again. Besides, she guessed he probably had already forgotten her. He wouldn’t have paid any attention to her if he hadn’t found her funny. What was funny was that she forgot what her ex-husband had been telling her for years. There was nothing special about her. Nothing exciting enough to keep a man’s attention. Never again would she forget that lesson.

Chapter Three

Cole couldn’t remember ever having that instantaneous feeling of attraction for a woman that strongly before. Ever. The second he’d walked through the doorway into the foyer where the front counter was, his body had frozen mid-step. The heat of arousal immobilized him and took his breath away.

The cascade of dark brown hair that had flowed over her shoulders looked as soft as satin but had an untidy appearance about it, making it look like a lover’s fingers had combed through it. Her slim body, although a foot shorter than his own, was curvy and luscious. Exactly the way a woman should look. Her profile was delicate and feminine, with a small nose and wide, puffy lips. When he’d finally seen her eyes, he felt even more unbalanced. Her eyes were so dark they were almost black, with the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen.

He fought the urge to reach for her, throw her over his shoulder, and take her somewhere he knew she’d be safe and his. He’d had enough of a mind left to pull himself back from frightening the hell out of her. Is this what his friends had talked about, the overwhelming possessive feeling they got for a certain woman? He’d always made fun of them, but now that he understood the irresistible need for Emily, he’d have to take back all the comments he’d made over the years.

A soft pink flush had filled her facial contours, and the tension that stiffened her shoulders showed she had been just as aware of him as a man. A strong chin, a delicate neck, and slim, soft hands had finished it for him. Cole had to ball his hands into fists to keep from reaching out for her and kissing her right then. He shook his head. Jesus, that would have been great, dumbass. Scare the woman off before you’ve ever had a chance to get her to know you.

He had been thrilled when he realized she seemed as intensely focused on him as he was on her. The flush of arousal on her face made even more blood pool in his groin than what was already there, making him slightly lightheaded.

Cole had chuckled at the expressions that ran across her face. She was so incredibly easy to read. His smile died instantly when she showed shame and acute embarrassment. He wanted to comfort her and tell her everything would be all right. There was nothing to be ashamed of. He wanted to make sure that would be one of the first things they discussed.

He had gotten absurdly irritated over the fact she didn’t want him to help her. He wanted her to want to lean on him. Let him care for her, but they’d only just met.

Cole had been amused and aroused when she couldn’t focus on what he was saying.

What had hit him the hardest was the warmth of her flesh under his hand. Yes, it had only been her shoulder and top of her arm he’d touched, but if there really were soul mates out there, that one touch had told him he had just found his.

He was glad he had at least three months to get her used to him—plenty of time. Hell, if he had his choice, she would be under him before the week was out, but he knew that wouldn’t happen. Some of the shadows in her eyes held such sadness and insecurity, he knew it would take time to earn her trust.

Cole watched Emily arrive in the food barn. He leaned back against the far wall, a beer in one hand and halfheartedly listened to what Neil, his foreman, was saying to him. His eyes scanned her. She still wore the large short-sleeved blue shirt and jeans she had on earlier. Heat seared when he caught sight of the curves she tried to hide behind the baggy clothes.

He watched, frowning, as she warily walked toward the buffet line, keeping her head down. She picked up a plate and, from what he could see, chose mostly salad. He expected her to get more, but she walked past the main dishes to the drink counter and snatched up a bottle of water.

His frown turned to a scowl. That shit didn’t slide with him. His ex-wife had hardly ever had a full meal. She was so absorbed with being skinny and what she and Hollywood perceived as beautiful. Lisa was always ordering fashion and diet magazines, trying to emulate the models.

The problems in their marriage had started soon after the wedding. Lisa’s obsession with being beautiful and having all his attention had angered him. She had known from the beginning he had a ranch to take care of, and it took a lot of his time.