Page 26 of My Billionaire Cowboy Protector

He looked into her eyes. A sexy smile spread across his face. Lane gently pressed his lips to Taylor’s. The world around them disappeared as Lane explored her mouth.

He put his hand on the back of her neck as the kiss became more intense. The heat from their bodies collided with the coolair around them, creating a storm that thundered in Taylor’s soul.

Bolts of electricity coursed through Taylor’s body. Embers kindled to life as Lane made love to her through the kiss. She trembled as he held her close to him.

Taylor was disappointed when Lane ended the kiss.

He smiled at her and said, “I think that I should go now before we go down a road neither of us is ready for.”

She nodded, although she wasn’t entirely sure she really did want him to leave. Lane hesitated as though he was waiting for her to ask him to stay. It took all of her willpower not to.

After locking the door behind him, Taylor called Melissa and told her about the day. “I can’t remember when I last felt so relaxed and contented as I was when we were cuddling on the couch.”

“It’s been a while,” Melissa said. “It sounds to me like you are falling in love.”

“I think I’m working on it,” Taylor said. “I didn’t think it was possible after Carl died. I knew I would never find another man like Carl. Lane is completely different than him, but I know that I could love Lane just as much.”

“Carl would like that,” Melissa said. “He would want you to be happy.”

“I know,” Taylor replied. “You and everyone else have told me so a million times.”

“Does Lane know how you feel?”

“I haven’t talked to him about it,” Taylor said. “I think he is starting to feel something for me, too. He spends a lot of time with me. And those kisses… Wow.”

“I think that you guys need to sit down and talk about how you feel. Put your cards on the table, so to speak,” Melissa said.

“I know. You’re right. I’m just afraid that he might not feel the same and is just passing the time.”

“You just told me that you thought he did care about you,” Melissa said. “Go with your gut.”

“You’re right again.”

“I’m always right,” Melissa replied in a mockingly haughty voice.

Lane left right after breakfast the next morning for a rancher’s conference in Kansas. He’s gone Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. He texted her a couple of times, which she didn’t get until the evenings since she was working all day.

Tuesday morning, Robert approached her with a huge smile. “There is something in the barn you need to see.”

One of the ranch dogs had puppies. They were border collie and blue healer mixed.

“They are so adorable,” Taylor gushed. “I love them.”

She petted the mom, who looked both tired and very proud.

“You did such a good job, Mama,” Taylor cooed. “You have six beautiful babies.”

The dog, Athena, wagged her tail and swiped Taylor’s face with her tongue.

After dinner each night, Taylor worked with Diablo. She managed to get a saddle on him, and leaned against the saddle, getting Diablo used to the weight on his back. At first, he fought it, but he calmed down and accepted it. Taylor talked to him in low calming tones and fed him apple chunks.

If it wasn’t for the upcoming celebration, Taylor would have been completely happy with her life. Her stomach twisted itself up in knots every time she thought about the charade.

Taylor was in the field fixing another section of the fence when Lane returned Thursday afternoon.

“I swear you do this on purpose,” she told the bull as she used the wire stretcher. “You don’t even try to get out. You just knock down the fence.”

“Do you always talk to the animals like that?” a deep voice laughed behind her.

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