Page 38 of The Rancher's Addiction

Chapter Fifteen

Another busy week passedfor both, so they hadn’t been able to see each other except in passing.That was all right with her.The more she thought about the two of them in a relationship, she decided things were going too fast.They needed to get to know each other better before she spent the night.

Jenny dragged herself into her house and into the bathroom.It had been one call after another, and she was beat.All she wanted was a hot shower and her bed.

It helped her to know that, unless there was a major emergency that required both her and Charles, she had the next two days off to rest.

The hot spray beat down on her head, loosening up knotted muscles and the slight headache she had had most of the afternoon.She washed, dried her body, and blow-dried her hair before pulling on a long t-shirt and panties to sleep in.

The blinds were closed, so she turned off the light and fell into bed.She didn’t know if it was five minutes or an hour before she heard pounding at her door.She almost ignored it, but there was always a chance it was someone who needed help.

She fumbled, getting the lock open, and then cracked open the door.Her pulse immediately spiked when she caught sight of a glowering Mac.

“Hi.”

He tilted his head forward, but his expression didn’t soften as he studied her.

“Did you forget about the weekend, Sweetheart?”

A shiver skated up her back.“I ...oh, not really.”

“Then do you mind telling me why your little ass isn’t on the ranch like it’s supposed to be?”

“I had a really long day, and I came home to shower.”

“You could have done that at the ranch.”

“But I also thought it best if we backed off a bit.”

“Backed off?”

The words were spoken softly, yet with an underlying tone of menace.

“I was going to call you earlier, but the day was crazy, and I forgot.I’m sorry.”

“Back off?”he asked again.

She cleared her throat.“It’s just we really don’t know each other...”

“We don’t know each other?”he asked.

She swallowed.His voice grew rougher, and his scowl darkened.

“I...”

She squeaked when he gently pushed on the door, making her back up.Her heart felt like it was going to gallop out of her chest when he closed the door and then took a step toward her.

Her hands came out.“Wait.”

“I’ve been waiting, Baby.I can’t anymore.”

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