Page 16 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Cowboy

We have a plan.

Zane’s words ring through my mind. And not just the ones from this morning. The teasing, sexy words after our kisses yesterday.

The way he curled around me in my sleep, too. I haven’t slept that well in years.

Taking a deep breath, I grab the hanger the sundress is on and hold it up. “Would it be too cliché to wear this as a hopeful bride-to-be?”

Zane crosses to me, his gaze searching my face. “That depends.”

“On what?” My question is breathless, my heart in my throat as he nudges the hanger aside and takes me in his arms.

“On how serious you are about being a bride-to-be. Because if you wear that in front of the judge today, I’m going to be hard pressed to not ask him to marry us right then and there.”

I stare up at him.

“So the question is,” he murmurs as he lowers his mouth to hover over mine. “Just how hopeful a bride-to-be are you, Daisy?”

He doesn’t let me answer him. He kisses me instead, slow and confident and easy. His tongue sweeps into my mouth and he groans, as if in our kiss he’s found his answer, because I’m kissing him back, because my tongue is as eager as his.

I haven’t been hopeful about anything since my father died when I was twelve and my mother re-married just six months later. I’ve had hope drummed out of me, because I’ve never met their expectations for me.

But Zane?

This wild cowboy who stumbled into my life and made me do something extraordinarily reckless?

He makes me hope for more than I ever imagined.

He makes me think anything is possible.

With a soft little sound of consent, I ease away from his kiss and lift the hanger up between us. “I think I will wear this today, yes.”

The approval that sweeps over his expression is all I need to see to know this is the right decision.

“So I’ll just take a quick shower…” I step back, legs shaking. Wanting to invite him to shower with me, but not knowing how.

His burning gaze promises he wants to join me.

I open my mouth, but then close it again.

One thing at a time.

First, we’ll get married.

Then we’ll have the rest of our lives to explore being naked together.

I laugh to myself as I back up into the bathroom.

Zane tips his head to the side. “What?”

“My mother thinks I’m a slut,” I say, the truth spilling out of me more easily than ever before. I think I could tell Zane literally anything and it would be fine. “But the truth is, I’ve never done more than kiss anyone, and in a few hours, I’ll be your wife.”

“You’re damned right you will be.” He braces himself against the bathroom doorframe. “Never thought of myself as a traditional man until I met you, Daisy. But I’m looking forward to consummating our marriage.”

“So you don’t mind waiting?”

“Mind?” He huffs a breath. “It might be the hardest thing I ever do. But it’ll be worth it.” His gaze rakes down my body. “I never want you to worry for a second that anything we do is bad. I know you’re pure, angel. I know that’s important to you. And I will wait until you’re properly mine to take what I crave.”

As I stare at him in shock, he catches the handle and pulls the bathroom door shut, leaving me alone to wonder how the heck he read my mind so clearly.

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