Page 21 of The Cowboy Takes A Bride

Everything she knew about being kissed was either from watching television or what she experienced in high school. By college, her father was restricting her time in the company of others, specifically men. She’d been sheltered far too long and now, before her, was a man who could do more with her than a chaste kiss in front of his hometown.

He was her husband.

Please let him be a good kisser.

Meredith swallowed. Her hands shook from both the anticipation of his touch and the realization of what she’d done, so she clutched the bouquet harder.

What did she know about how to have a healthy relationship with a man? One who she was growing increasingly attracted to. One who left her mouth dry and her palms wet. Yes, she’d been kissed before. She’d even contemplated second base with a boy in her trigonometry class, but that was high school, and this? This was the big league. In actuality, this could be for keeps. More importantly, she had every right to him.

Thinking that made her feel antiquated and prudish. Just because they were married, she could now touch him? Perhaps, though, this was important since their situation was unique. She was his wife. He was her man, and when his soft lips pressed to hers, the earth on which she stood trembled, and she lost the ability to breathe. Kissing him was better than any book she'd read or love scene she watched. Her heart accelerated as every nerve ending sizzled, and she was consumed with the urge to pull him closer, deeper.

“Meredith?” he murmured as he drew back. “What are you thinking so hard about?”

“I, uh…” She felt as if a fireball exploded before her, her skin hot and damp.

Jace chuckled. “Yeah, me, too.” He popped his hat back on his head, took her hand, and then turned to the crowd.

“If you all will excuse us. Thank you for coming.”

Meredith was certain she was about to expire from the intense burning coming from within her.

“Aren’t we going to celebrate?” someone called from the pews.

“That’s the plan. As soon as I can get her back to the ranch.” Jace stepped down from the altar, pulling her with him.

The crowd laughed. Her knees wobbled.

“Now come on, son. You know we all want to share this day with you.” Marjory turned away from them and faced the crowd. “Since we were given virtually no notice, I’d like to invite you all to the diner for some coffee and dessert.”

The crowd cheered and began to shuffle toward the parish doors, leaving Jace and Meredith stuck at the back of the line.

Jace sighed. “Looks like we’ll have to revisit those thoughts later. Mom will never let us escape.”

If she was good at one thing, it was working a crowd, pretending she had nowhere else to be when she really wanted to be anywhere else.

With his hand now resting on the small of her back, he guided her down the aisle and back into the church classroom. “Let's grab your coat.” He opened the closet and gestured to the long cream-colored coat hanging inside.

After taking it from the hanger, he held it open for her to slip on. Though layered enough to offer warmth, it was too pretty for the rugged country. It would go in the closet with his suit, only to be used if she went with him to Texas for auctions and not likely then, as it was too heavy for that climate.

“You do have other coats?” The lack of knowledge that he possessed about her was astounding. He’d already learned some important things, like she fit perfectly against his side, her lips were uncharacteristically soft, not yet chapped from the change of seasons, and she sighed deeply when he’d kissed her. A sound so becoming he’d wanted to keep at it and see what other noises she’d make.

She slid into the coat and smiled at him over her shoulder, her blue eyes bright and sparkly. “I was just thinking I might be unprepared for here.”

He nodded to the two suitcases stacked against the far wall. “I’m assumin’ both of those are yours.”

“Yes.” She held the lapels of the coat closed.

“I’ll put them in the truck. Take a moment and enjoy the silence. It’s gonna be chaos at the diner. I’ll do my best to hold back the rush, but they’re all gonna want to get close to you and pump you for information, hoping it’ll be them that gets the juicy tidbit of gossip.” He adjusted his hat on his head.

She raised a brow. “Should I drop little things here and there? Take this story to a new level or stick to the basics? We met at the stockyards in Ft. Worth, and it was love at first sight?”

Jace rolled his shoulders. What did love at first sight look like? He rubbed his hand down his face. In college, when he’d fallen for a girl, he’d been all in. Meaning, he’d had a hard time keeping his hands to himself. There was no question he’d like to do the same with Meredith, but the circumstances were different here. He’d have to tread lightly, make her feel comfortable, and try not to scare her away. The remoteness of the lifestyle had always handled that for him.

“Ah…”

“Other than the real reason why we’re married, what else explains our actions other than instant love?” She bit her lip, looking adorable as hell. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s up to you how this is handled.” She looked down.

Jace was puzzled by her apology. “This is your story as well. You need to be comfortable with it.”

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