Page 21 of Home to the Cowboy

For a moment she thought he was going to ignore her.

“Damn, woman, you’re killing me, you know that?” Growling, he cupped her head and pulled her close. “Kissing you is all I’ve been thinking about.” Warm, hungry lips closed over hers.

With a sigh, she slipped her fingers in his hair. This—the assault on her senses, the ravishing of her lips, the heating of her blood—had been all she’d been thinking about as well. For another moment she sank into the kiss, enjoying the sensation of his stubble against her skin.

Only when breathing became a problem, she lifted her head. Stroking his face one last time, she moved back. “Drive safely.”

His smile buckled her knees, and she quickly put a hand on his truck to steady herself. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“What about Daisy?”

“She’ll be fine for an evening. I can’t wait to see you again.”

He put the truck into reverse and with a last longing look, he moved away. Could she run after him again? Invite him in?

At that moment another car drove by slowly, pouring cold water over her overheated senses. Very bad idea. She could just hear the stories going around by tomorrow.

*

Carson’s truck was parked in front of Dylan’s house as he stopped. As Carson got out of his truck, Dylan unlocked his front door. Doing her happy little dance, Daisy ran toward him. Crouching down, he laughed as he picked up the puppy.

“I’m just checking if you’re okay,” Carson said. “What happened to you?”

“I had a stop to make,” Dylan answered.

“The sexy editor?”

Dylan got up again. “Yeah.”

“I thought she was dating other people?” Carson asked.

“I’m taking her to dinner tomorrow night.”

Carson angled his head. “You’ve never been like this about any woman.”

“Like what?”

“Look at you—suddenly all gooey eyed and smiling.”

“She’s different.”

Frowning, Carson stared at him. “You getting serious about her? You do know she’s going back to Seattle soon?”

“Nobody is getting serious,” Dylan said. “And I know this is temporary, it’s not as if I’m planning on marrying …”

The moment he uttered the word marrying, an image of June in a silky white dress, blue flowers in her hands, ran through his mind.

“You’re falling for her,” Carson said as he turned back to his truck. “You’ve obviously forgotten what marriage looks like on our side of the family.”

Reality finally crashing over him, Dylan stared at his brother’s back as he got into his truck.

Carson was right of course. What the hell did he know about women? About relationships? About how to treat a woman?

Everything inside him wanted to be with June. Hell, driving away from her tonight took just about all of his self-control. But whether he wanted to know it or not, he should stay away from her as far as possible. She deserved a great husband who would give her a home, would give her children, shower her with love. He couldn’t do that, he didn’t even know what love meant.

Chapter Eight

The shopping spree Wednesday morning in Bozeman was a blast. While they tried on dresses, her friend Abby had phoned from Seattle. Everyone wanted to talk to her, and by the time Abby ended the call, she’d been invited to visit The Weston Ranch.