Page 15 of Stranded with a Bossy Rancher

She shakes her head as if she’s really trying to figure it out. “No, really. How are you single? I don’t get it.”

All I do is stare back at her. She’s smiling at me, waiting for me to answer her, but I’m speechless as I look into her big brown eyes. I’ve been here before, but it’s never meant as much as it does right now. I know at some point I need to tell her, but I was hoping to keep it under wraps for a little bit longer.

She frowns when I don’t say anything, and she pulls her knee away from me. “Forget it, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosy or anything.”

I wrap my hands around Camille’s to keep her from moving away from me. I blow out a breath as I start talking. Every muscle in my body is pulled tight. “When our parents died, I was taking care of my sister and trying to keep the ranch afloat. My life was crazy, and I didn’t have the time to date really…”

I let my voice trail off, and she reaches over and puts her hand on my cheek. “I’m sorry about your parents, Bear. I’m glad that you and Maddie had each other.”

And that’s when I remember one of our conversations where she confessed to me that she was from foster care and didn’t know her parents. She had no one.

“Me too. It was hard, but I know it would have been harder if I didn’t have Maddie depending on me.”

She lets her hand fall from my cheek, and I catch it in my hand. “There’s more.”

Her eyes widen, and she nods her head. It’s the last thing I want to do, but I can’t look into her eyes as I say this. I get up from the couch and move to the other side of the coffee table. I stand with my legs shoulder width apart and cross my arms over my chest. I know before I even start that I’m in defensive mode, but after my past, I can’t really blame myself. I clear my throat and repeat it again. “There’s more. Uh, and I’m sure I should tell you anyway.”

When I don't continue, she asks. “Tell me what?”

I blow out a breath and blurt out, “I can’t have kids.”

Her eyes get even bigger than they already are, but she’s looking at me curiously, and I begin to tell her the whole story. “It was an accident. In my younger days, I was a bull rider and well, because of an accident, I can’t have kids.”

She’s still quiet, and it takes everything inside me to stay where I’m at and continue the story of my past. “So, uh, anyway, that’s why I’m alone.”

Her forehead creases. “What do you mean?”

I start to rock back and forth on my boots. “Well, there was one woman I was pretty serious about, and I thought we had something. I probably should have told her in the beginning, but I didn’t, and when she found out, she didn’t want to be with me anymore. In her words, the money is nice but it’s not enough.”

My jaw ticks because even though that was years ago, it still sucks. “And well, after that, it was the first thing I started tellingwomen when I thought I might want to date them or anything. It started a steady stream of women that walked out the door.”

She stands up, her face grim. I stand solid as a statue as I wait for her to respond. She comes over to me and puts her hands at my waist. “It’s their loss, Elliott. They didn’t deserve you.”

“But…” I start, and she lifts her finger to cover my lips.

“Shhh. No, there are no buts. They didn’t deserve you. There are so many options, and maybe they weren’t right for them. I can imagine how much that hurt you, but I’m glad they didn’t stay.”

My voice is barely a whisper. “You are?”

She nods and smiles as she looks up at me. “Yeah, because if they’d stayed, I wouldn’t be here with you now.”

She comes up on her tiptoes, and when she presses her soft lips to mine, I forget everything about my painful past and focus on the beautiful curvy woman that is standing right in front of me. I put my hands at her waist, pulling her flush against my body. She comes against me easily and moans as I push my already hard cock into her belly.

I pull back and look into her eyes. “I want you, Camille, but if you’re not ready—”

She cuts me off. “I want you, too.”

I waste no time, afraid she’ll change her mind. I sweep her up into my arms and carry her up the stairs. She sighs and presses her cheek into my chest. “I’m too heavy for you to carry, Bear.”

My whole body shivers at the endearment. I remind myself of its meaning and promise myself that I’m going to treat her righttonight. I want her to the point of obsession, but I’m willing to take my time and make sure everything is just right.

I walk past her bedroom door, and she lifts her head. “Where are we going?”

I keep walking. “I want you in my bed.”

She tightens her hold around my neck. “I like being in your arms.”

My heart starts to race, and I try not to read more into what she’s saying. “I like having you here.” I silently add,where you belong.

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