Kissed by a Rancher Read online

  She would never feel the same about any other man now that she had known Josh. His fiery kiss had changed her world, making her reconsider her relationship with Lamont. She was glad she had talked to Lamont. They could be cheating themselves by limiting themselves to such a dry, emotionally lacking relationship. After Josh’s kiss, she didn’t want to keep the status quo with Lamont.

  She sighed as she contemplated how Josh had so swiftly changed her views of life. It was a good thing Josh would soon leave. Otherwise, she would fall in love—deeply in love—for the first time in her life. Josh was excitement, passion, dreams. How long would it take her to forget him?

  * * *

  Sunday morning Abby stirred to sunshine showing around the edges of the shutters that covered her windows. Stretching, she climbed out of bed to open the shutters and look out a partially frosted window at sparkling white snow. The sun was brilliant, dazzling on the glistening white. She smiled and hurried to shower and dress and start the day.

  By the time she got to the kitchen, Josh already had the table set in the dining room, and he was outside, shoveling snow along the drive and walk. She stared at him a moment, shaking her head, thinking that Lamont would not be shoveling snow or setting a table. Her cell buzzed, and she saw it was Lamont, which surprised her. She read his text message and saw that he would come by to see Mr. Hickman tomorrow morning.

  Soon enough, Mr. Hickman arrived, greeting Abby as he came through the buffet line in the kitchen.

  “Good morning. It’s a beautiful day even though everyone will still be snowed in.”

  “You’re chipper this morning,” she said, smiling at him.

  “I’m thinking about the fishing trip Josh has promised. That’s an exciting event in my life. I love to fish, and the thought of dropping a line in a Colorado stream—I can’t tell you how marvelous that is. He’s a remarkable young man to take me fishing. By the way, where is he this morning?”

  “He’s shoveling snow off the front drive. I’d tell him to stop since he’s a guest, but he’ll just go ahead, so I didn’t even bother. If he’d waited, I could have called to get some boys to shovel it later.”

  “According to the news, everything in town is still closed, including the roads, so there’s not a rush. The highway is shut down because of high drifts. It won’t open until they can get it cleaned off.”

  “I suspect it’s useless to tell Josh to stop.”

  “Ah, he’s a good person. I would go help him, but I’ve reached a point in life where I can’t.”

  “He wouldn’t let you help. I wouldn’t want you even to try, so don’t think about it. He’s doing what he wants to do, and neither you nor I can talk him out of it.”

  “I’m not about to talk him out of it. I just regret I can’t join him.”

  “You’re nice, too. Enjoy your breakfast. I’ll bring coffee.”

  She was serving the coffee when she heard Josh come in the back door. Eagerness to see him made her smile. He had done one more thing to win her heart.

  Four

  “Thank you, but you shouldn’t have cleared the drive. I could have found some kids to shovel it. Tomorrow Lamont is coming over if he can, but he would never think of shoveling the drive.”

  “He doesn’t shovel for himself or his mother?” Josh asked as he pulled off snow-covered boots and removed his thick jacket. He had on his heavy knit brown sweater and jeans. Once again, he hadn’t shaved, and it still took Abby’s breath away to look at him.

  “He pays a neighbor kid to shovel their walk and drive,” she said. “Tommy is eleven years old and it takes him a while, but he gets it done and doesn’t charge much.”

  “So Lamont is a tight accountant?” Josh asked.

  “I guess you’d say so, yes. He’s also Mr. Hickman’s and my aunts’ accountant, and that’s why he’s coming here.”

  Josh paused in hanging his gloves on a hat tree. “He’s not coming to see you?”

  “No,” she answered, smiling. “We’ve grown up seeing each other. He’s got some papers about taxes for Mr. Hickman. This is Lamont’s busiest time of year.” She headed toward the kitchen. “Come get breakfast. Everyone else has eaten or is finishing. You can sit in the kitchen with me if you want while I finish cleaning. Thanks again, Josh, for doing the drive. It’s big, and that’s a major job for anybody.”

  “I work out, and I don’t mind. You’ll need it clear tomorrow if people start leaving.”

  “You’re right there,” she said, walking into the kitchen with him. “Help yourself. I’ll be back in a minute,” she said as she went to the dining room. Everyone had finished eating, so she cleared the table and returned to the kitchen as Josh sat.

  She rinsed dishes to place them in the dishwasher, washed and dried her hands and poured herself a cup of steaming coffee, which she carried to the table to sit across from Josh while he ate breakfast.

  “Josh, Mr. Hickman is so happy about the fishing trip. He even sounds younger and peppier this morning.”

  “I’m glad. I’m looking forward to getting away for it myself.”

  “Oh, I meant to ask, did you buy the horse you came to Beckett to get?”

  “Yes, I did, from Jim Lee Hearne.”

  “I know Jim. He recently married.”

  “Right. He and his wife are selling their horses and moving to California. He has one really promising cutting horse, and I bought it from him.”

  A woman appeared in the doorway. “Abby, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but do you have a small bandage? Micah cut his finger on his broken toy.”

  “Sure,” Abby replied, standing. “Excuse me, Josh,” she said, leaving to help her guest.

  When she returned, Josh had gone and had put her empty cup and saucer into the dishwasher. Of course, he had.

  * * *

  During the morning, Abby did chores, talked at length with her mother on the phone and then spent her time getting lunch ready. As soon as she started, Josh appeared. She was happy for his help and acutely aware of him.

  In the afternoon, people played games while Josh helped her get dinner ready. He played checkers with Mr. Hickman and spent some time talking to various guests. She realized Josh had made a point to meet and talk to everyone staying at the inn, including the kids. One more facet so different from Lamont, who would have kept to himself.

  Again, Abby was aware of him as he helped her with dinner. The more she knew him, the more the awareness grew, instead of diminishing as she kept expecting.

  Finally, after all the chores were done, the food eaten and the kitchen cleaned, he turned to her. “Let’s sit in your suite like we did last night. I’ve been with your guests and Edwin all day. I’m ready for some time with you where we’re not working.”

  She smiled at him. “Sure. You’ve been great help.”

  “Let’s go to your room and you can show me your appreciation,” he said, leering at her in exaggeration and making her laugh.

  “I’ll give you a very nice pat on the back.”

  “A pat on the back isn’t what I have in mind,” he said, getting a beer from the refrigerator. “We’ll build a fire and have peace and quiet, just the two of us.”

  * * *

  They sat talking in front of the fire with only one small lamp turned on. Josh was certain he would be able to leave tomorrow, and he kept thinking about telling her goodbye—something he didn’t want to do.

  Was his perspective warped because of his isolation, the storm, the full moon, the pressure he had been under for the past two weeks, the relaxation of being stranded in Beckett? Or was it her kisses that he couldn’t stop thinking about?

  His gaze ran over Abby, the blue sweater clinging to tempting curves, her low V-neck even more tempting. He’d like to take down her ponytail, but he didn’t think she’d let him
.

  Goodbye seemed way too final.

  “I hear the weather should clear tomorrow, so you may be able to go home.”

  “Now I have mixed feelings about that. This has been an unexpected holiday.”

  “Ah, that’s good to hear. It’s wonderful to sit back and enjoy life.”

  “I agree. It’s also good to get out and really live,” he said, touching her hand lightly with his fingers, even the slight contact electrifying.

  When her lashes fluttered and her cheeks grew more pink, his pulse jumped a notch because of her instant response to his casual touch.

  “Go to dinner with me Friday night,” he said. The words were out as if the voice had come from somewhere besides himself, but once they were said, he wanted her to accept his invitation. He wanted her in his arms, and he wanted to kiss her again. He was traveling down a road he might regret, but he had no regrets about asking her out. She turned to stare at him with wide eyes and a slight frown. If he hadn’t wanted her to accept so badly, he would have laughed over her expression—a disbelieving reaction he could not recall receiving in his adult life.

  “You’re coming back to Beckett?”

  “Only to pick you up and take you someplace. You’ve worked hard these past days—why not enjoy a change? You get to relax for once.”

  “That’s nice of you to ask. Where did you want to go?”

  “You’ve rarely been out of Beckett,” he said. “We can go to Dallas. We can go most anywhere you want to.” They were silent a moment while he thought about where to take her that would be different for her.

  “I have a new hotel opening this weekend in New York. I’ll pick you up and we can fly to New York for the weekend. I can show you a tiny view of the city on Friday night, Saturday and early Sunday.”

  She laughed. “Me go to New York with you for the weekend? I think not, but thank you very much anyway.”

  “Wait a minute. Don’t be so quick to say no,” he said, deciding he had hit on something that would open up a whole new world for her. And give him a lot more time with her. “Think about it—I’ll fly you to New York. I’m going anyway,” he said. “You’ll get to see things you’ve never seen before, and it’ll be fun for both of us. No strings—just fun and getting to know each other better. You’ll have your own suite, I promise. You’ll be farther from me than you are tonight.”

  “Thank you, but I can’t even imagine going off for the weekend with you or going to New York. You’ll go home tomorrow and get back to your life, and you won’t want to return to Beckett to take me to New York.”

  “Don’t be so quick to turn me down,” he said quietly, although a part of him thought she might be exactly right. “Get out and do something different for once and see if you like it. This might be the only time in your life you’ll be in New York, the only time in your life you’ll get out of your routine. I’ll get you back home whenever you want. You can trust me.”

  She shook her head. “Our lives are too entirely different. I’m not the woman you want to take to New York for the weekend.”

  “You let me decide that one,” he said. “The question is, do you want to go with me?”

  The pink in her cheeks deepened, and he wondered if she blushed that easily all the time or if her blushes were only in reaction to him. “Give Lamont something to think about,” Josh said, smiling at her. “C’mon, Abby, take a chance and live a little.”

  A faint smile flicked across her face. Impulsively, Josh reached over to take her cup of cocoa out of her hands. Her eyes widened as he set the cup on the table and turned back to pick her up and set her in his lap.

  She opened her mouth, probably to protest. He kissed her before she could say anything. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tightly against him. His heart pounded the minute his mouth covered hers. How could she turn him inside out like this? The question flitted through his thoughts and was gone. He wanted her. She responded instantly to him. She wound her arms around him and held him while she kissed him in return, a hot kiss that fanned the flames that had already been blazing.

  As their kisses lengthened, desire thrummed, building to a heart-pounding need. He slid his hand beneath her thick sweater and up her smooth back, then around to her breast, caressing her so lightly through her bra. He cupped her full, warm breast, her softness making him hard. He was afraid to move too quickly because he didn’t want her to stop him. He stroked her, shaking slightly with wanting her.

  Her moan, her hip shifting against him, her softness and her wet, scalding kiss drove him to the edge. It took control to keep from peeling away her sweater or slipping his hand into her jeans—all moves that he suspected would end what she allowed right now.

  Seduction, slow and sensual to build her need, was what he intended. As he kissed her he leaned away, slowly, caressing her with feathery strokes, her full breast a fiery temptation. She was warm, her skin smooth as velvet.

  She tore her mouth from his. “Josh, you’re going way too fast for me. I’m not ready for this. I can’t—”

  He raised his head to look at her. Her blue eyes were half-lidded, sultry, ready for sex. Again, she had a slight frown as if struggling with her own inner battle. He wanted to draw her back into his arms, hold her tightly and end her protests, which he suspected he might easily do.

  He also wanted to please her, and he wanted her trust. He wanted her aching to make love as much as he did, so he sat quietly. He couldn’t understand himself and his reaction to her. She shouldn’t interest him in any way, for any reason. Her hair was in a perpetual ponytail and she wore no makeup. She had hardly been out of Beckett, never out of Texas. If she agreed to go to New York, she might not want more than a few kisses—hardly the sensual weekend he was hoping for. He couldn’t understand his own actions—something totally uncharacteristic for him. Why was he so attracted to her? Was it only the passionate kisses?

  And yet he couldn’t think of any other woman he had known whose kisses had had the effect on him that hers had. Plus, he liked to be with her.

  She turned to face him. “My hot cocoa should be rather cold now, and your beer is probably warm. I’ll go get some more.”

  He nodded and let her go, wanting to get some space between them, hoping to cool the strong urge to reach for her again.

  He got up finally to go help her and met her as she was coming through the door. She carried a tray with cocoa, beer and popcorn and he took it from her, setting it on the coffee table and pulling it close as they sat on the floor in front of the fire again.

  For a few minutes they made small talk. Then he lowered his beer. “You didn’t give me an answer about the weekend. Go with me to New York.” He leaned closer to her and caught her chin lightly in his hand. “Live a little, Abby. Life is a blast, so don’t let it pass you by.”

  “Josh, it’s crazy for me to think about going to New York with you.”

  “Why not with me? We have a good time together. It’s just a weekend. No strings, Abby.” He gazed into wide blue eyes filled with uncertainty.

  “I promise you I will not sleep with you,” she said in an earnest tone. “Knowing that, do you still want to take me to New York?”

  He held back laughter that was as much at himself as her reaction. How did he get entangled with her? Worse, he was getting himself more involved by the minute. He had a chance right now to back off.

  “I said no strings. We’ll go and have fun.”

  She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward to stare intently at him. “Why do I suspect you of ulterior purposes?” she asked.

  Amused, he leaned closer to her so their faces were only inches apart. “Because you like to kiss me, and you know I like to kiss you. I think you have to suspect yourself of ulterior purposes as well,” he said softly, his gaze drifting down to her mouth.

  “I guess I walked int
o that one,” she said in a breathless voice. She sat back and gazed at him, looking as if she were thinking it over, so he remained quiet for a short time.

  “Are you going with me?” he asked finally.

  “Yes, I will,” she said in a tone that sounded as if she had just agreed to rob a bank with him. “Friday night?”

  “If you want to get in a little extra sightseeing, ask someone to cover for you and let’s go Thursday. I’ll bring you back when you want.”

  “Let’s go Friday. That’s long enough, and I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  He felt the same way, but he wouldn’t tell her, ever. He smiled at her. “If you change your mind, that’s fine, too. I’m adaptable.” He sat back. “What would you like to eat on our first night there? Steak? Fish? Something foreign, exotic?”

  She thought a moment. “Something French. French dishes always sound so delicious, and you know there’s nowhere to eat any in Beckett. Cooking something from a recipe in a magazine doesn’t always work out like I think it will. Something French would be fun, since you asked, but I can go anywhere you want.”

  “My house instead of New York?”

  She laughed. “Now, that I hadn’t thought about. I don’t believe your house is on this trip’s agenda. That one I’m not doing. It would be too intimate.”

  “I’m eating at your house this week.”

  “You and thirty-plus other people—that’s a bit different. Only this weekend with you in New York. That’s the same as if you’d told me you’re taking me to the moon. It’s just as unreal to me. I will be the talk of Beckett.”

  “They know you, and they know you’ll still be you whether in New York or here.”