Page 78 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

"Don't."

She shifted in her seat. "I don't know if I want to hear this—-"

"I bailed on you this morning," he interrupted flatly, "because I needed space to think about what I did and said—-"

"Are you saying you didn't mean any of them?" Blake automatically braced herself for the worst as soon as the words were out. If Thornton said yes, she'd take it. She was a big girl. She could take it. She would take it.Right?

The play of expressions on Blake's pretty face was painfully easy to read, and he didn't like it, knowing how insecure he had made her. The old Blake he knew had been ridiculously but adorably confident that she could get him to fall in love with her...and he wanted that old Blake back.

"Blake."

"Mm?"Don't let him know what you're thinking. Don't show you're hurt once he tells you last night's drunken confession meant-

"Everything I said last night was true."

What...was...that...he...had...just...said?

"I just didn't like that you had to see me drunk while saying them."

"Really?" she whispered.

"Really."

More seconds passed.

And then—-

"You're really perfect."

Thornton groaned.

"I mean it. You really are perfect—-"

"No."

"Yes."

"I'm not."

"You are."

But by this time, she was laughing, and even Thornton couldn't keep his lips from twitching.

I love you.

The words were begging to be said again. But she couldn't. She just couldn't. So instead, she ended up doing the next best thing.

Thornton was just about to start the car when he felt her fingers tap his arm, and he glanced at her—-

Mmph!

A cheeky smile on her face was his only glimpse before she had his face between her hands and her mouth had covered his.

Aaaaah.

Even as his desire surged, and his body instantly responded to the sweet, seductive brush of her lips over hers, even as her tongue shyly slipped into his, he just couldn't fucking stop his lips from slowly curving into a smile.

Blake felt this, too, and a rare wave of embarrassment swept over her at the thought that he was laughing at her possibly clumsy attempt to kiss him. She started to pull away, feeling self-conscious, but then she felt his hands suddenly holding her back—-

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