She did. She let go. She let got and tumbled into the best orgasm of her life. When her body stopped quaking with aftershocks, he drew her close and just held her. Since she had never been one to cuddle after sex, she waited for the antsy feeling that always prompted her to pull out of a man’s arms and leave. But it never showed up. As she watched the sliver of moonrise over the trees and listened to the strong beat of Reid’s heart, she had no desire to be anywhere but right where she was.

He kissed her shoulder. “Thrilling enough?”

She shrugged. “Not as thrilling as pulling pranks on the townsfolk, but close.”

He chuckled. “I tell you what. I’ll let you paint aton my butt anytime you want.” He turned her around and kissed her leisurely, his hard erection pressing into her stomach. “You want to come back to my trailer?”

“I’d love to go back to your trailer.”

He continued kissing her as he scooped her into his arms and walked out of the water. Unfortunately, as soon as they reached the shore, his cellphone started ringing. It turned out to be Sophie needing a ride home. Once he hung up, he looked at Sunny with disappointment in his champagne eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I have to cut our evening short.”

She pinned on a smile. “No worries.”

He walked over and tipped her chin up. “Oh, no. You’re not going to hide behind that smile with me anymore, Sunshine. Say what you feel.”

She looked into his eyes and let her smile slip. “I wish this night would never end.”

“Ahh, baby.” He lowered his head and kissed her with enough sexy suction to pull a moan from her. When he had her drooping against him like a piece of overcooked pasta, he drew back. “There will be other nights. I’m going to make sure of it.” He gave her another quick kiss before he turned her in the direction of her car and gave her a swat on the butt. “Text me when you get home.”

She drove back to the bed-and-breakfast in a daze. A month ago, she’d wanted nothing more than to climb Reid Mitchell like the Alps. But now that it looked like she was going to get to, she was having second thoughts. Not because she didn’t desirehim. She desired him more than she had ever desired a man in her life. If he had been any other man, she would take what she wanted and go on about her business.

But Reid wasn’t just any other man.

Somewhere along the way, he’d become her friend.

A friend she had shared more with than even Cory or her Secret Sisters. She’d never cried in front of anyone, and yet, she’d sobbed her heart out with Reid. And he hadn’t become upset or tried to fix it like she knew Corbin and Jesse would have. He had just held her close and let her cry. After he had given her that, how could she take what she wanted and just walk away?

And she knew that’s exactly what she’d do if she started something up with Reid. She was her parents’ daughter, after all. An emotional wreck who had trouble making commitments. Which was why she steered clear of them.

She needed to steer clear of Reid until she left town.

Chapter Seventeen

Reid had experienced a lot of spring-branding days in his cowboying life. But none compared to spring branding at the Holiday Ranch. When he and Sophie arrived at the branding corral that Saturday morning, he was taken back by all the trucks and trailers . . . and people. He had known the Remington men were coming to help. He had not known that their wives would be there too. Along with the other Holiday sisters and their husbands and babies. But even with all the folks scurrying around getting ready for the day, Reid’s gaze had no problem zeroing in on Sunny.

He hadn’t seen or talked to her since Cooper Springs. Yesterday, he’d been busy getting ready for branding. By the time he got back to the trailer, he’d had to help Sophie with a school project she’d put off until the last minute. By the time they’d finished, it had been too late to call Sunny.

But he intended to talk to her today.

And hopefully, more than talk.

Someone had set up a canopy next to a straggly mesquite tree. Under it, Sunny was cuddling a chubby-cheeked baby in a pink bow headband. Sunny’s hair was braided in a long red-tinted rope of gold that hung over one shoulder and she waslooking down at the baby in her arms with a soft smile on her lips.

Reid didn’t know why he felt like someone had sucker punched him in the gut. It wasn’t a bad kind of pain. It was more an aching kind of longing. He had never given much thought to kids. His mind had always been too wrapped up in his dream of owning a ranch. But the sight of Sunny with the baby made him realize that he wanted kids.

He glanced over at Sophie sitting in the seat next to him.

He wanted more kids.

“Wow,” Sophie said as she looked around at the chaos. “This is crazy.”

Reid smiled as he parked his truck behind the others. “This is family.” He jumped out to help Jace finish unloading some horses from a trailer.

“Where’s Hallie?”

Jace glanced at a straggly group of mesquite to their left with a concerned look. “She’s not feeling so hot this morning.”