The Cowboy's Surrender (24 page)
Dallas promptly kicked it off. "Not going modest on me, are you?"
Gillian laughed. "No, just force of habit, I guess."
She caressed the broad expanse of chest, running her fingers over the corded muscles. "How did you find me? How did you know where I live?"
"Harold told me. I saw him at the diner a couple of days ago." He twirled a strand of her silky black hair around one finger. "I wondered why he was hanging around. Thought he would take off now that the rig closed down."
"Harold is staying in Salt Fork," Gillian said.
Dallas's finger stopped twirling. "Sarah Sue?"
Gillian nodded.
Dallas whistled under his breath. "Well, I'll be damned. She's finally got herself a man. Now, maybe she won't be so busy trying to be a matchmaker anymore. What's he going to do? For a living, I mean?"
Gillian snuggled closer. "He says he's going to buy one of those tool-selling businesses and drive a truck all over the countryside. Says he'll still be a tool-pusher, only pushing a different kind of tool."
"Well, I'm happy for Sarah Sue," Dallas said.
"Me too." Gillian propped herself on her elbow. "You don't hold a grudge against Harold, do you? You'll be seeing him in town a lot, you know. He's sorry for misjudging you. He truly is."
Dallas let out a sigh. "I'll make my peace with him, I promise. I don't want to be on the outs with Sarah Sue's significant other."
Smiling, Gillian kissed him, before settling back down.
They lay together in companionable silence. Dallas realized he felt content for the first time in years.
Maybe for the first time in his entire life.
Gillian made him happy. And she loved him. In spite of all his faults, she loved him. And he loved her. He couldn't live without her.
Wouldn't
live without her. He hugged her tighter against him. "You'll marry me, of course."
"Is that your idea of a proposal?" she asked. "Sounds more like an order to me."
"I'm not a 'get down on my knees' kind of guy. And yes, I'm asking you to marry me. Will you?"
Gillian propped herself up on an elbow and stared down at him. His blue eyes searched her face, hope and wariness warring in their depths. She suddenly realized this big tough cowboy was as vulnerable to her as she was to him. Leaning over, she kissed the tip of his nose. "Of course, I'll marry you. Good thing I'm between jobs. That'll make it easier to move and all."
He looked surprised. "Between jobs? What do you mean? What about Copper River Oil?"
Gillian shrugged. "I quit. I'm looking for a new position. Think I have the qualifications for a rancher's wife?"
Dallas grabbed her and pulled her to lie on top of him. "All the qualifications that I need. You're beautiful, sexy, fun to be with--"
Gillian punched his chest. "Get real. I'm pretty much a city girl, you know. Do you honestly think I'll make a good rancher's wife?"
"The best. You've worked with roughnecks for years, bossing them around," Dallas said. "There's twenty or more ranch hands on the Diamondback. Same breed of man. Or close enough."
"That's right," Gillian said, getting into the spirit of the discussion. "And I have experience with spreadsheets, word processors, data bases. I could help you with your accounts and bookkeeping."
Dallas nodded and nuzzled her ear. "That's not all you can help me with."
"And I adore your mother," Gillian continued, trying to ignore him, scooting back down his chest. "There wouldn't be a problem living with her."
He kissed the top of Gillian's head. "We won't be living with my mother."
"We won't be living in the big house?"
Dallas shook his head. "Well, at first we will. I think it'll be better if we build a house of our own."
"You don't have to do that."
"Yes, sweetheart. I do."
Gillian thought about it. They
were
starting a new life together. Putting their pasts behind them. Beginning anew.
She propped herself on an elbow again and looked deep into the crystal blue eyes. "Maybe, you're right."
"Of course I'm right. And I know just the place."
"Where?" She traced the strong jaw line, loving the feel of the rough skin.
"There happens to be nice piece of land with newly planted grass. And a road that still goes to the main highway."
"You can't mean the drilling site?" she asked. "You have bad feelings associated with that place."
"I also have good feelings, believe it or not. That's where a certain lady tool-pusher lived for the last couple of months. You know--the one who was driving me out of my mind?"
Gillian poked him in the chest. "
I
was driving you out of
your
mind? I thought it was the other way around."
Dallas caught her hand and brought it to his lips. "I guess it went both ways, sweetheart. I want to build the house facing the rocky overhang. I like that particular view. What do you think?"
"It
is
beautiful," she agreed. "And it
would
be nice to have our own place. Although, won't your mother be lonely in that big house all by herself?"
"I don't think Mom will have time to be lonely. Tyler's there most of the time, and Tori comes home from college between semesters. Besides, we'll be just down the road from her. Mom won't be lonely."
Gillian ran her fingers down his shoulder and arm. "We'll probably be needing the extra room, too."
Dallas frowned. "Why do you say that?"
"I didn't want to mention this before, didn't want to break the mood. It completely slipped my mind. And yours too, now that I think about it."
"What are you getting at, Gillian?" Dallas twisted a lock of the dark satin hair. He didn't think he would ever get tired of touching her gorgeous hair . . . or touching her.
"Babies."
Dallas's hand froze. "What do you mean? You can't be--? Ah hell, we didn't use any protection, did we?"
Gillian shook her head. "You do want babies, don't you?"
The thought of Gillian round with his child made his stomach clench. Dallas stared at the lovely woman looking at him with those beautiful big brown eyes. Why had he resisted her for so long? He envisioned the future with Gillian by his side and babies. Lots of babies.
"Forget it," she said, biting her lip. "We don't have to decide right now. I'm probably okay. I just thought--"
Dallas grabbed her shoulders. In one fluid movement, he flipped her beneath him. Her sleek body molded itself to his. He eased himself into her waiting heat.
"I
want
you to have my babies," he whispered in her ear. Rocking them against the mattress, he gently kissed her. "And if you aren't pregnant yet, I propose we remedy the situation as soon as possible."
Gillian's heart swelled with happiness. She loved him so much. She knew living with Dallas wouldn't be easy. There would be fights and disagreements. But there would also be kisses, making up, long nights filled with love, and little McCades running all around.
"How do you
propose
we do that, Cowboy?"
"Not by talking, that's for sure," Dallas said.
"So, shut up and kiss me," she said, pulling him down.
"Yes, ma'am. Always happy to oblige."
###
For more eBooks by Anne Marie Novark
Go to
Amazon.com
***
The Diamondback Ranch Series
Book Three:
A Match Made In Texas
When Austin McCade’s wife dies, a vital part of him dies, too. The sexy single dad devotes himself to his motherless daughter and his work on the Diamondback Ranch. For twelve years, he ignores life and women . . . until a new pretty schoolteacher moves to town.
From the moment Theresa Rogers arrives in Salt Fork, Texas, people warn her about the lonely widower. He’s a hopeless case, a lost cause. But Theresa sees beneath the crusty exterior of the man to the deep emotions and his enduring loyalty. Can she pierce the impenetrable wall surrounding his broken heart? Will she be able to vanquish the ghost who keeps him from loving again?
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***
For announcements on upcoming releases:
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Alex often wonders why Damien betrayed their special friendship. His kiss awakened her to passion, but she knows better than to give her heart to a libertine. Or does she? When the viscount offers to stay and help nurse her brother back to health, Alexandra discovers her heart has always belonged to Damien. But this time, she wants more than his friendship. This time, she wants it all.
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