Cowboy's Bride (18 page)

"You don't know anything about running a
cattle ranch.
Why don't you go home and let him have it?
Then he'd
stay home more."

"Once I know enough to manage on my own,
he'll be able to stay home more," Kalli said gently.

Becky flopped down in a chair.
"Are all the
brownies gone?" she asked nonchalantly.

Kalli smiled in relief.
The child wasn't
going to pursue why her father hadn't come home last night.
"No.
I'll get us some.
Do you want some milk, too?"

"Sure." Becky shrugged.
"You're not on
crutches today?" she asked as Kalli slowly limped across the
room.

"No.
My ankle feels lots better.
I've kept
it strapped, but can manage just fine now without the crutches as
long as I walk slowly.
I'll be right back."

Kalli wondered how much of Trace's time she
was taking from his own work.
Too much, if his daughter was to be
believed.
Was the girl missing her father?
She'd come over here a
couple of days looking for him.
From what she'd said, Kalli
suspected they ordinarily spent a lot of time together.
Especially
during the school vacation.

Becky joined her a few minutes later,
hesitating in the kitchen doorway.
"It's stupid for you to carry
all that to the office.
We can eat here if you like," she said.

"Good idea.
Without the crutches, I'm a
little shaky on this ankle.
The platter of brownies is on the
counter.
I have the milk."

Soon they were sitting across from each
other at the table, Kalli feeling her way in their conversation.
Becky seemed nervous, not as comfortable around her as she had
yesterday.
Had knowing her father stayed the night made a
difference?
Did she disapprove?
Or was she hurt her father hadn't
come home?

And how was she going to feel if Trace
stayed over tonight?

Casting her mind around for something to
say, all Kalli could think about was Trace coming to dinner,
staying the night with her again.
She felt awkward and unsure
around his daughter.
Maybe they should take things easier, slower.
She was in for the long haul, no need to do everything immediately.
And maybe it would show Trace she was here for good.
Show him she
was interested in a future, not just a fast night in bed.

If she made a friend of his daughter, maybe
he'd be a little more flexible in seeing what good could come of a
marriage between them.
Kalli knew he felt something for her.
She
only hoped it was enough to build a future on, that it wasn't only
lust.
She loved him and wanted to spend her life with him, share
their lives.

One stumbling block to that sat before
her.

"Would you like to go shopping one day?
When
my ankle's better?" Kalli asked.

Becky looked up, surprised.
"I guess so.
But
aren't you going to be busy?
Dad said you were going to have your
spring roundup soon."

"Yes, I'll be busy, though how much of the
actual work I'll be able to do, I don't know yet.
But it won't take
forever, then we can steal away one day and go shopping.
Jackson
seemed to have a lot of stores."

"Yeah.
Most of them cater to the tourists,
but some of than are really neat." For a moment the spark of
enthusiasm flashed through her expression.
Then she dropped her
gaze.
"I'll have to ask my dad and let you know what he says."

"That’s fine.
Any time you want."

When Becky left a short while later, Kalli
began preparation for dinner.
She wanted to take a short nap.
She
hadn't gotten all that much sleep last night and wanted to be wide
awake when Trace arrived.
And her ankle was hurting just a little.
She knew she should keep off it as much as possible.
As soon as
everything was ready for dinner, she'd take a quick nap.
She had
plenty of time before Trace arrived.
Just thinking about him had
her heart beating faster and the anticipation building.

9

Kalli awoke from her nap refreshed.
She took
a quick shower and donned a dark green sundress.
The thin straps
revealed the fading bruise on the back of her left shoulder, but
she liked the way it fit and the sexy way she felt wearing it.
She
didn't wear a bra—the fitted top negated the necessity.
Since her
ankle was still strapped, she decided to remain barefoot.

Brushing her hair, she let it hang down her
back, clipping the sides up in combs.
A touch of makeup and she was
ready.
Scarcely limping, she wandered out to the kitchen.
It was
almost seven.
Checking on everything, she set the big pot of water
to boil on the stove and glanced out the window.
Trace's truck
shimmered in the late afternoon heat.
He must have arrived while
she was in the shower.
Where was he?

"Trace?" She pushed open the screen door and
looked in the yard.

"Kalli."

She spun around.
He came from the front of
the house into the kitchen.

"Hi, when did you get here?
I didn't hear
you." She smiled and limped over to greet him.

He dropped a light kiss on her lips.
He
smelled of after-shave, and she drew her fingers against his smooth
cheek.
Glancing quickly over him, she noted he'd put on fresh
clothes, shined his boots.
A happy warmth pervaded her.
He'd taken
care to dress up for her as she had for him.
It augured well for
the evening.

"I brought you some stockmen's journals,
left them on your desk.
You can read up on cattle," he said, taking
a deep breath.
"Something smells good."

"It's dinner.
I've had the sauce simmering
all day.
Sit down and keep me company while I finish.
What did you
do today?"

"Wait into town to do some banking, checked
up on a few things.
How about you?"

"I finished on the computer!
After dinner
you can show me how to run the reports, and tell me what they
mean." She glanced sassily over her shoulder.
"I want to know
everything about the ranch, good and bad."

"Mostly it's a good operation.
Philip knew
what he was doing."

"Mmm.
I bet he never expected me to keep the
place.
It's been years since I visited.
Everything was so hectic in
Boston, and I always thought I had plenty of time."

"Would it have made a difference to your
coming if you'd known about me, about the offer to purchase?" he
asked curiously.

"Nope.
I did know.
Richard wrote me and
called a couple of times to keep me apprised of what was going on.
But once I heard the Triple T was mine, I knew I had to come out.
I
love it here.
What kind of dressing do you want on your salad?"

"Italian?"

"Not ranch?" she flirted.

He chuckled.
"Italian."

She set the table, served up their plates
and soon sank opposite him.
Watching anxiously as he took his first
bite, she visually relaxed when he smiled and nodded.

"It’s great."

"Thanks.
I wanted you to like it."

Dinner was pleasant.
During the easy
conversation she mentioned Becky's visit and requested his
permission to take her shopping.

"To buy what?" he asked, surprised.

"Who knows, maybe nothing.
We just want to
go shopping."

"Now I know you're crazy, but who am I to
stand in your way.
Go, by all means.
I hate shopping myself."

"Mmm, so I heard.
She still wants me to
leave, did you know that?"

He looked puzzled.
"Why?
You just said you'd
take her shopping."

"She says I take up too much of your time.
She knows you stayed last night."

He frowned.
"I didn't think she'd find
out."

Kalli wanted to ask him if that would make a
difference in the future.
If that would hinder any thoughts of
something between them tonight.
But she kept silent.
Let him make
his own decisions and tell her what he could do.

"Is your ranch suffering because you're
helping me out over here?" she asked.

He smiled and shook his head.
"Nope.
Everything on the Flying Cloud is running fine.
We're ahead of you
on branding and repairing our fencing.
I've got the time to show
you what you need to know."

"Tell me more about the roundup," she
invited.

He told her what to expect, how Philip had
run things in the past.
He told her about various roundups he'd
been on at his own ranch and at neighbors' spreads.
His stories
conveyed all the hard work, yet gave insight into the different men
who raised cattle.
Their mutual love of the land and the west was
evident in all his words.

Their conversation ebbed and flowed as they
found different topics to explore together.
Trace didn't see many
movies, unless shown on TV, but he read extensively and they had a
lively discussion on the merits of his adventure books versus her
favorite westerns.

"Ready for dessert?" she asked, rising to
clear their plates.

"Depends on what you're serving," he
replied, reaching for her as she came close.
Pulling her into his
lap, he smiled at her, one hand brushing against her flushed
cheeks.
She looked so pretty.

"Brownies, what else?
Even with giving a
bunch to the men, we have lots left.
Having had ample evidence of
your appetite, I'm sure you have room for a few."

"Saying I eat a lot, short stuff?"

"Stop that or I'll sic my brothers on
you."

"And are they as short as you?" he asked,
his hands molding her dress against her back, tracing the thin
straps on her creamy shoulders.

"They're all big.
Especially Tony."

"Should I be afraid?
Especially sleeping
with their baby sister?"

She laughed.
"Sleeping?
I don't recall
getting much sleep last night."

"Well, there was a certain amount of
foreplay before sleep."

"Foreplay?
That came before making love.
Which came before sleeping." Her eyes were sparkling, her smile
infectious.

He paused and looked at her, his heart
clutching at her teasing words.
Making love.
She was right.
They
had made love.
Hell.
The last thing he wanted was to fall for this
woman, for any woman.
The last thing either of them needed was an
emotional tie.
She'd be leaving soon.

But as he held her, he realized all the
reasoning in the world didn't matter.
He would not fall in love
with the woman.
Despite the fact she felt right in his arms.
Despite the fact her sunny outlook charmed him, her enthusiasm made
him examine his own outlook on the world.
Suddenly he realized he
didn't want her to leave.
He knew she would, but he wished she
wouldn't.
He wasn't ready to think much beyond the next few days,
but he wanted her to be with him during those days.
And nights.
Then she could return to Boston.
He'd be ready then.

"Are you going into a trance?" she asked,
puzzled by his expression.

He shook his head and lowered his mouth to
hers.
Drinking deeply, he kissed her long and leisurely, taking his
time, reveling in the sweet sensations that crashed through his
body at her touch, at her taste.
He lifted her easily and strode
toward her bedroom.
Time for food had passed, now it was time for
love.

Her silky skin heated beneath his touch.
Her
shiny hair spread across the white pillow like black velvet.
Her
luminescent eyes gazed up at him trustingly as he petted her,
stroked her, made love to her petite body.

He stretched out his loving as long as be
could stand it.
Bringing her to the brink of the cataclysm over and
over, but holding back, cooling her off and starting again.
She was
frantic with need, but he delayed the final coupling.
He never
wanted the night to end.
He wanted to suspend time, hold the moment
forever.
He was afraid he would never recover from her loss and
yearned for time to stop.
To capture and freeze this one
moment.

Finally, when neither could endure the
tension any longer, be pushed his way home.
She was ready, past
ready, and didn't hesitate to set a pace that ignited him.
In sync
with each other as if they'd been lovers for years,

they moved together, pleasure and exquisite
sensation that flung them into rapture.
Slow, long moments of
spiraling sparkles and then it was over, gloriously over.
He was
fevered and sated.
His heart pounded as he tucked her closer, his
hands still relishing the feel of her damp body.
His breath taking
in her scent, memorizing the fragrance that emanated from her
alone.
He never wanted to move.

"Oh, Trace," she breathed, her chest rising
and falling beneath his as she sought air.

He kissed her neck, her soft shoulders.
His
teeth bit her gently, his tongue soothed the skin his lips never
left.
She was as sweet as the strawberry scent of her hair, as soft
as a baby chick, and as passionate as any man could wish for.

His body craved hers.
His soul craved hers.
He wanted to lose himself in her and never leave.
But he knew
better.
He had to stay away.
If he spent any more time with her, he
wouldn't want to let her go.
Wouldn't be able to let her go.
Then
they'd really be in a fix.
He couldn't take that kind of pain
again.
He had to start pulling back to save himself when she left.
He'd only known her a few days.
He could still pull away.

Rolling over, he lay flat, drawing her with
him.
They'd have this one night, then he'd cool things off.
Back
off.
Let her stumble around a little more, find out how difficult
ranching was.
He knew she'd leave, time she learned it, too.
Without his help, she'd find out much sooner that she wasn't suited
for ranching.
She'd be gone by summer's end.

Kalli's heart was still racing.
She had
never before reached the heights she had tonight.
It had been the
most exquisite delight to draw so close endless times, only to be
denied the final sunburst of pleasure until she thought she would
explode.
But it had been worth the wait.
The summit had been higher
than she'd believed possible.
Last night had been wonderful.
Tonight had been glorious.
She snuggled against his hard chest,
wanting desperately to stay awake and savor this quiet moment with
him.
Relish the feel of his hard body, let her fingers smooth over
his tight skin, feel his blood pump against his pulse points.
But
she was exhausted.
Her eyes closed and she slept.

***

The next morning Kalli awoke to a warm kiss.
She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Trace.

"Nice way to wake up," she murmured, turning
to press her bare chest against his.

"Mmm." It could become addictive, if he'd
let it.
He had to back off.
He'd made the decision last night, now
he had to carry it out.

"Why don't you shower and I'll fix
breakfast," she said when he made no move to do anything besides
hold her.

"Fine.
I have a lot to do today."

As she watched him head to the bathroom she
wondered if he was more distant than yesterday.
Or was she
imagining it?

Shrugging, she rose and crossed the hall to
the second bathroom, bathing quickly and dressing.
Once in the
kitchen, she stacked the dinner dishes and ran hot water in the
sink.
Then she drew out eggs and began to prepare their breakfast.
She liked cooking for others.
And Trace seemed to appreciate her
efforts.