Page 5 of Big and Bold
There’s no way I could have eaten a thing. My stomach was going crazy, and I just shook my head. “I’ll take a beer. Whatever is on tap.”
He sat down next to me and pushed a piece of hair off my cheek. “I want you clear-headed.”
“What?” I stuttered.
He smiled softly at me. “No alcohol. I don’t want anything to impair your judgment.”
I tilted my head. “Impair my judgment?”
He nodded, and I looked at him curiously. “You think I’m going to be making some important decisions tonight, cowboy?”
He looked at me with all seriousness. “Yeah, because I plan on taking you home with me tonight, and I need you clear-headed when you say yes.”
I laughed, and I can still remember the flirtatious feeling inside me. “Oh, you think I’m going to say yes?”
He leaned forward, and our lips were so close to touching. “I’m going to kiss you now, Annie Johnson.”
I gave him a brief nod, and he pressed his lips to mine. There was nothing tentative about that kiss. With just his lips, he made me feel things I’d never felt before. He ravaged my mouth, possessing it, and when he finally released me, we were both staring wide-eyed in surprise at each other. He took in a shaky breath, and I blinked at him. “Ask me.”
His forehead rose, and his eyes got bigger in surprise, but he asked me, “Go home with me?”
It was more of a statement than a question, but my answer was easy. “Yes.”
He didn’t hesitate. He pulled me off my seat, walked me to his truck, and helped me in. The whole way to his ranch, he keptlooking over at me like he couldn’t believe I was sitting there next to him. I should have known that my life would never be the same after that.
My phone dings, bringing me from my daze, and I go in search of it in my purse. The way my pulse is racing, I know exactly who it is, and I’m not surprised when I see Dustin’s name on the messaging app.
I tell myself to ignore it, but I can’t. This is exactly why I left the phone. I knew when I left, I had to cut all ties or else I’d be tempted to try and contact him or something else.
I read the message. “I’ll be by in the morning.”
That’s all it says. I wait for another text to come through, but when it doesn’t, I quickly type out a text. “Why? If I left something at the house, just keep it.”
The bubbles start, and I’m staring at my phone, waiting for the next text. When the bubbles stop, letting me know he stopped typing, I suck in a breath.
A few seconds go by, and the text comes through. “You didn’t leave anything. You took something.”
My mouth drops open. I didn’t take a damn thing. Is he really accusing me of theft right now? Filled with anger, I jab my fingers on the phone keyboard and type out a message. “I didn’t take one thing from you, Dustin Clay. I took my clothes and that was it.”
I drop my phone on the coffee table and pace back and forth in my tiny living room. The nerve of that man. I can’t believe he’s accusing me of stealing something. If he believes that, he doesn’t know me at all.
My phone dings again, and I stop mid pace, staring at the phone that is lit up with a text. I glare at it, like it’s the phone’s fault and then stomp over and pick it up.
I read the text and then read it again. “My heart, Annie. You stole my heart.”
I press the phone to my chest, and the tears start to fall. I’m sobbing when another text comes through. “Please. I just want to talk to you. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I sit down on the couch and lay the phone on the coffee table. My eyes are blurry from tears, but it doesn’t stop me from picking up the phone and texting him back. I’m not sure if it’s smart or not, but I text him anyway. “Okay. I’ll see you then.”
CHAPTER 5
DUSTIN
I’m a damn fool.
I’ve been married to the woman of my dreams for a full year, and somehow I never told her I loved her. Hell, obviously, I didn’t even show her. I fucked up, and I was up all night trying to figure out how I’m going to fix this.
I was in town way too early, so I went straight to Glaze Bakery. I knew it was too early to see Annie, so I went to the bakery, ordered a cup of coffee, and waited for the sun to fully rise. As soon as daylight came, I ordered Annie’s favorites, a caramel latte and a chocolate croissant. I make my way upstairs and knock on the door.
