Page 31 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
“You will not blame yourself any longer.”
“But I am to blame–”
“As much as I am,” he finished. “As much as Frank and even the vet. Since we’ve all been taking care of her, we share responsibility. But to be honest, I don’t think anyone is at fault. Sometimes these things just happen, and it’s good we caught it in time. Jasmine is fine. She’s going to be okay.”
Ciara couldn’t help herself. When he opened his arms, she walked straight into them. She allowed him to hold her, in a possessive grasp beyond the threshold of friendship. The world turned blurry, as Rowan softly caressed her back, whispering words of support.
How strange to lean on someone – no, not just someone, but Rowan, her oldest friend, her first love, her current…something. She looked up, up, up to his handsome face, where sapphire eyes gleamed. When he leaned down, she couldn’t move.
He took her lips.
He moved with deliberate slowness, caressing her lips, stealing her breath and infiltrating her senses. She pushed forward, desperate to get closer, to be nearer to the source of power. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her further into his grip.
She moaned softly, showing her own strength, even as he coaxed her to surrender. With a sigh, she parted her lips, giving him access to sensitive spots, needy and raw. Sensation seized her, readying her, preparing her. She wanted more. Needed more.
It was that thought that gave her the strength to pull back.
She heaved a breath deep into her lungs, starving for both air and clarity. Pulling back was more difficult with every kiss, but this couldn’t progress. She couldn’t let her heart get entangled again. “We shouldn’t,’ she whispered. “We can’t.”
Desire burned bright in his eyes, silently urging her to surrender, to take this further,wayfurther. “Ciara–”
The chorus to “We Are Family” rang out, startling her and silencing him. Ciara mouthed a silent thank you for the interruption, amongst inexplicable disappointment, as she gripped her cell phone. “It’s my sister. I have to take this.”
It was sort of a truth, sort of a lie, but she couldn’t talk with Rowan right now, not when her emotions were so raw. Yet as she walked away from the man who was upending her life, one truth burned bright:
She would not be able to escape forever.
CHAPTER 6
“How about a contest?”
“Sure, Davey.”
“The proceeds can help the horses.”
“Sure, Davey.”
“So it’s okay if we do it?”
“Sure, Davey.”
“We’re going to auction off your hand in marriage.”
“Sure, Davey.”
“He didn’t hear you, Davey,” Spencer drawled. “He’s too busy spying on Ciara.”
“That’s not true.” Rowan jerked his head away from the window where he’d been, well, spying on Ciara. He sat back in the firm chair and fought the urge to look out the window again. Failed.
He focused his attention back to the parlor and its bemused inhabitants. The air that drifted through the window was warm and pure, sweetened by the roses that bordered the estate. The room was decorated as an extension of the natural world, with emerald and sapphire brocade sofas that emulated the lakes and shores of Ireland. The wood furnishings were sustainably sourced, a natural dark shade the perfect complement to themajestic outdoors. Inside and out, the world was peaceful and calm, set to soft Celtic music playing through crisp speakers, a sweet backdrop to the bluebirds’ melodic tweets.
Unfortunately, his brothers were not quite as taken by the scene, or his excuse. Quinn smirked. “Then what were you looking at?”
Rowan gave in to his urges and looked outside again. But only because he had to formulate an excuse. Unfortunately, besides Ciara looking beautiful in a white eyelet blouse and curvy blue jeans, the view showed little more than an open field under a flawless cerulean sky. “The grass.”
Spencer snorted, Quinn chuckled and even Davey grinned. “The grass?”
“Precisely. I was deciding whether we should water it today.”
