Branded for You (25 page)

Megan looked up at Ryan. “It’s amazing how incredible the place is doing,” she said.

“Considering the award-winning cuisine and nightlife, it’s not surprising at all,” he said as they reached the entrance of the Hummingbird. “And the peach pies.” He grinned down at her. “Your mom’s peach pies are the best ever.”

She nodded. “The Hummingbird and Nectars deserve the success.”

Ryan opened the door and held it open as Megan walked through. She greeted the hostess as they passed by and headed for the kitchen. Servers took care of their full tables and the restaurant was filled with the clinking of silverware and conversation.

When they reached the kitchen, Megan spotted her mother moving through the place, keeping an eye on everything. Margaret was as hands-on as an owner could get, and still dove in wherever needed.

“Mom.” Megan caught Margaret’s attention.

Margaret smiled and dried her hands on a dishtowel as she walked across the kitchen to where Megan was standing, Ryan at her side.

“How are you doing, Margaret?” Ryan asked when she reached them.

“A little worn out, but otherwise just fine.” She tucked the dishtowel into a pocket of her apron. “What are you two doing tonight?”

Megan raised her hand and showed her mother the sparkling diamond on her finger.

Delight lit up Margaret’s face. “That’s wonderful!” She hugged Megan then held her by her shoulders and said, “You couldn’t have found a better man.”

Megan looked up at Ryan. “I know.”

“I couldn’t have found a better woman.” Ryan hugged Margaret. “She means everything to me.”

Margaret and Ryan parted, her mother still smiling as she looked from Ryan to Megan. “I wish your father was here to see you both. I think once he got to know you, he would have welcomed you into the family just as much as I do.”

“I would have liked getting to know him,” Ryan said and rested his arm around Megan’s shoulders.

“Are you going anywhere to celebrate?” Margaret asked, her hands clasped in front of her.

“We thought we’d celebrate right here.” Megan gave a nod to the dining room before turning back to her mother. “We couldn’t think of a better place to be.”

“Wonderful.” Margaret looked away from them. “Tess,” she called out.

Tess came out of the back office and grinned as she came toward them. “I see you’ve got a little sparkle there.”

“Good job keeping a secret.” Megan raised her hand so that Tess could get a good look at the ring.

“It’s gorgeous.” Tess hugged Megan then Ryan.

“They’re celebrating here,” Margaret said with pride.

Tess gave a broad smile. “Then you shall have the best seat in the house and the best champagne we have.”

Even though Megan knew every seat in the place, she and Ryan followed Tess to a corner table and Tess gestured to it. “Order anything you like and the chef will make it for you.”

Megan laughed as Ryan seated her. “You might regret that offer.”

“Never,” Tess said before she smiled and left.

When Ryan had taken his seat beside her, he grasped her hand in his and looked at the ring before meeting her gaze. “I love seeing my ring on you. It can’t begin to say how much I love you.”

She squeezed his hand and smiled. She wanted to get up and dance and dance. She felt like a million stars were inside her, glittering through her whole being. She wouldn’t be surprised if she glowed with it.

She leaned forward and kissed him, letting him feel her glow in the magic that seemed to surround them.

When they drew back but a breath, she smiled against his lips. “I love you,” she whispered and kissed him again.

# # #

Also by Cheyenne McCray

“Riding Tall” Series

Branded For You

“Rough and Ready” Series

Silk and Spurs

Lace and Lassos

Champagne and Chaps

Satin and Saddles

Roses and Rodeo

Lingerie and Lariats

Lipstick and Leather

“Altered States” Series

Dark Seduction

“Dark Enforcers” Series

Night’s Captive

Lexi Steele Novels

The First Sin

The Second Betrayal

The Temptation

From St. Martin’s Press:

“Night Tracker” Series

Demons Not Included

No Werewolves Allowed

Vampires Not Invited

Zombies Sold Separately

Vampires Dead Ahead

“Magic” Series

Forbidden Magic

Seduced by Magic

Wicked Magic

Shadow Magic

Dark Magic

Single Title

Moving Target

Chosen Prey

Anthologies

No Rest for the Witches

Real Men Last All Night

Legally Hot

Chicks Kick Butt

Hotter than Hell

Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romances

Mammoth Book of Special Ops Romances

Cheyenne writing as Jaymie Holland

“The Auction” Series

Sold

Bought

Claimed

Taken

“Taboo” Series

Taking it Home

Losing Control

Alluring Stranger

Taboo Desires: three Tales of Lust and Passion

Playing Rough: three Stories of Sensual Submission

Paranormal Single Title

The Touch

Come to Me

Excerpt…
Lingerie and Lariats

Cheyenne McCray

When they’d finished dinner and washed up the dishes, she walked with him to the living room. They paused and stood in the center of the room as he studied her and she met his eyes. Her belly flip-flopped at his intense gaze. He looked her as if she was a treasure he wanted to protect.

But at the same time he looked at her like a man who wanted a woman. A look of passion and need was in his gaze that couldn’t be disguised.

He reached up and ran strands of her long hair through his fingers. “I want to kiss you, Renee.”

She bit the inside of her lip as her own need expanded inside her. She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and offered him a smile. “I want you to.”

His warm breath feathered across her lips as he lowered his mouth to hers. The intensity of the moment was filled with a kind of fire that made her burn inside.

Her eyelids fluttered closed as he brought his mouth to hers, and it was like magic sparked between them when their lips met. She felt as if her mind was spinning and stars glittered behind her eyes. She fell into the kiss, her head whirling, her heart pounding.

His taste made her want more of him and she made sounds of need and pleasure. He deepened the kiss and she gave a soft moan.

She reveled in his embrace, the feel of his hard chest against her breasts and the warmth and comfort of his arms around her. She strained to somehow get closer to him, to become a part of him.

A deep, rumbling groan rose up in him and he kissed her hard before drawing away. He still held her in his embrace and she loved the feeling of security she experienced in his arms.

She opened her eyes and stared up at him, her lips moist from his kiss, her breathing a little fast.

He gently brushed hair from her cheek as he looked down at her, and his expression turned serious. “I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment I first saw you at the Cameron’s place, but I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want to take advantage of you in a vulnerable state.”

For a long moment she looked up at him, studying the sea green of his eyes. “When I was a young girl, living with the Camerons, I had the biggest crush on you.”

The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “Is that so?” he said in a lazy drawl.

She returned his smile. “When you saved my life, you became my hero as well as my crush.”

 “I thought you were pretty cute.” He slid his fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head. “And you’ve grown up to be one hell of a beautiful woman.”

She placed her hands on his chest, reached up on her toes, and kissed him. His lips were firm and he returned her kiss, his kiss as hungry as hers. Searching, longing, and filled with desire. She gripped his shirt in her hands as she pressed her body tight to his. She didn’t think she could get enough of him.

Judging by the hard ridge she felt against her belly, she knew he was as affected as she was by the moment.

He drew away again and she felt his rapid heartbeat against her palm and his chest rose and fell with the increased pace of his breathing.

“It was a mistake to kiss you because it only makes me want more. A lot more.” He slid his fingers through her long, glossy hair. “I want so much more of you than that. But it’s too soon.”

She closed her eyes, letting her breathing slow. When she opened them again she found him watching her. Her voice seemed a little shaky. “You’re right, it’s too soon. All of this with Jerry has been so emotional. I’m feeling everything right now… Hate and anger for him, and strong feelings for you. But I shouldn’t take things so fast no matter how right it feels with you.” She brushed her fingers along his shirt collar. “And Dan, it feels so right.”

“It feels unbelievably right.” He lowered his head and gave her a firm, hard kiss then stepped back. Her palms slid down his chest and then he took her hands in his. “How about watching a movie and getting our minds off of certain things?”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Not that she thought she could get her mind off of wanting to experience more with Dan. She gestured to the front door. “Why don’t we watch the storm first?”

He took her small hand in his big one and they went outside onto the covered porch and closed the front door behind them. Patches of warm yellow light spilled from the house onto the porch.

The sky was dark, the occasional crack of lighting illuminating the trees and outbuildings for seconds before everything went dark again. The air smelled fresh and clean as wind pressed her clothing against her body and her hair rose up off her shoulders. A gust of wind sent a mist of wetness onto the porch and she smiled at the feel of warm summer rain on her skin.

As they watched the storm, he squeezed her hand and looked down at her. She met his gaze and smiled. They stood on the porch a while longer and she watched bolts of lightning slicing the sky as thunder rolled across the valley.

Excerpt…
Roses and Rodeo

Cheyenne McCray

“No thank you.” Danica turned down yet another offer from a cowboy to buy her a drink.

After she declined, she dismissed the cowboy with a genuine smile. She moved away to search the room with her gaze for Kelsey. She held onto her beer bottle as she moved through the crowd.

The bar was packed with men and women in western attire and a country-western band had been playing familiar tunes all night. She liked that the slot machines were outside the bar and the constant ringing and cha-ching of machines wasn’t competing with the good music.

She’d caught herself lightly tapping her boot since she’d come into the bar, but she hadn’t been in the mood to dance. Usually she did, but tonight she had a headache that alcohol hadn’t been able to kick. Thank goodness smoking had been banned from bars and restaurants in Las Vegas or her headache would have magnified.

Her gaze slid past Creed who had three women around him. Kelsey had called the women buckle bunnies, female groupies. From what she’d seen, the groupies tended to wear tight jeans and boots with skimpy tops and bright, flashy accessories like a belt with a big buckle that had lots of dazzle.

She moved her gaze away from the cowboy and groupies then spotted her petite friend who was leaning against Darryl, her hand on his chest, looking into the tall cowboy’s eyes. It was a sweet, romantic picture the way he was looking at her. Danica hoped Kelsey wouldn’t get her heart broken. She’d been through far too much and she deserved a good guy. Danica had met him earlier in the night when Kelsey had introduced them. He seemed okay, but she’d reserve judgment for later.

Her cell phone had vibrated in her pocket three separate times. She was sure they were messages from Barry, so she didn’t bother to look.

From the corner of her eye, she found herself looking at Creed. This time a woman who looked upset was talking with him and the buckle bunnies were gone. He reached up and brushed something from beneath her eye with his thumb. He said something to her and she nodded, then turned and walked in Danica’s direction. The woman bumped into Danica, nearly making her drop her beer bottle.

Danica took a step back and shook her head. She looked at Darryl and Kelsey again. They really did look like a cute couple. She glanced away from the pair to check her watch. It was still early but she really wasn’t in the mood to party. Maybe she’d tell Kelsey about her headache and that she was going to head up to their suite in the casino resort hotel that was on the strip. She wouldn’t mind a bath in the amazing jetted tub.

“Heading off so early?” The deep drawl caught her attention. She immediately loved the male voice and turned to find herself facing Creed McBride.