Page 7 of Embracing Hope

After getting dressed, she tried to finger-comb through her tangled hair. She leaned under the faucet and gulped down some water to quench her thirst. Once she felt somewhat presentable, she opened the door and stepped back into the other room. She glanced over at the bed, where her one-night stand rested on the edge. He had shown her mercy by at least getting partially dressed. Although she had paid close attention last night, she couldn't help but admire his fantastic body. There wasn't an ounce of fat on his frame, and he had long, toned legs. A triangle of crisp, dark hair covered part of his chest, and a line of thicker hair led from his deep navel, disappearing under the waistband of his boxers.

She dragged her gaze away but could feel his on her, watching her move about the room looking for her boots. One was hidden under his jeans and the other under the bed. She didn’t waste time putting them on and headed straight for the door.

“No goodbye or even a kiss my ass?” came the deep, husky voice that sent a tingle of awareness through her.

Swallowing against the tightness in her throat, she spun and tried her best not to be hypnotized by his looks. He reminded her of a sleeping god who’d had a woman’s hand running through his hair all night. In fact, he had. Remembering how they’d spent most of the night pleasing one another made a honey-sweet sensation spread from her roots to the tips of her toes.

“I was trying to avoid an awkward situation,” she said.

“I gathered that,” he said sleepily.

In the daylight, she looked closer at the scars on his torso. What happened to him?

He cleared his throat, and she brought her gaze up to meet his. The corners of his mouth lifted into a sleepy smile that erected the soft hairs on her nape. The man had charm, and he knew how to work it. “I’ll get out of your hair now so you can go back to sleep.” She tightened her grip on the doorknob feeling like a racehorse ready to speed out of the gate.

“Would you like some coffee? Or one of those fufu drinks most women like?”

The offer took her aback. “Even if I didn’t have a business meeting in an hour, I would decline.”

“You don’t like coffee or after-sex conversation?”

Hope wished she didn’t feel that telltale sensation down in the apex of her thighs. “I wouldn’t want to wear out my welcome.”

“What time is it?” He scanned the room and found his phone sticking out of his boot at the end of the bed. “I have somewhere to be in an hour myself. Could I interest you in a quickie? Breakfast, that is.”

Her knees quivered. “Thanks for the offer, but I should run.”Leave while the getting is good, and you don’t take him up on that quickie.“Thank you for an…amazing time.”

“You too, Hannah. It is Hannah, right?”

“No…I mean yes.”Oh no.She’d forgotten that she’d lied about her name. “That’s me. Hannah.” She felt like she was standing in front of a firing squad.

“Nice meeting you, Hannah,” he said her name in such a way that caused sweat to bead between her breasts.

She pulled open the door and closed it with a gentle thud. His chuckle followed her out onto the crumbled sidewalk surrounded by dead flowers.

What did I just do?

Hopefully, the cowboy's business would be done today, and he’d be gone from Sagebrush Pine.

Sure, she’d had a good time—a great time—but she didn’t have time for a man. The countdown was on for her to find a husband. She half guessed that was the reason for the family meeting this morning. Sam Rose could interrogate Hope on why she hadn’t found a doting husband and had bread in the oven. Or was the saying “baby in the bread basket”?

She took her walk of shame to her Mustang, grateful that it was still early and mostly everyone was still sleeping at the hotel so she could sneak away.

Clicking the unlock button on her key fob, she was almost to her car undetected when she heard, “Hope Rose? Is that you?”

Oh no!

Now she wished she would have taken the time to put on her boots.

Slowly swiveling on her bare feet, she faced none other than… “Lanah Turner, what’s the coincidence that we’d run into each other here.” After the entire debacle of Lanah being kidnapped by Rigs Fletcher as his way of getting to Freedom, Hope and her sisters had laid to rest the childish animosity between them and the perky blonde.

“I’ve been staying here for a few nights while the flood damage is being repaired at my house. I’ve decided since I have the builders at my place, I should have them make things a little more baby-friendly. Staying in this dump another few weeks will be worth it to have my home ready for the bundle of joy.”

Lanah had recently announced her pregnancy but hadn’t shared who the father was. However, Hope knew it was Rigs’ baby. “How are you feeling?” she asked politely, even though she was eager to leave the parking lot before more people noticed her.

“Surprisingly, I have no more morning sickness, and the cravings have subsided, mostly.” She leaned in slightly. “I still get a hankering for mustard sardines and pimento cheese sandwiches on occasion.”

Hope cringed. “Sounds…wonderful.”

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