Page 44 of Falling For Her Cowboy
“Then I’m going to stay with you. Let me run up to my house and grab a bag,” he said.
If she wasn’t going to come to him, then he’d stay with her. It didn’t sit right with him that someonehad been in the house when she’d been vulnerable. Anything could have happened to her.
“What? No, you are not going to stay in the bunkhouse. You have an entire house here on the ranch?—”
“That you can stay at! Aimee can come, too.”
“She already said she’s not leaving, and I’m not abandoning her there to be alone.” Melah folded her arms.
There was a stubborn tilt to her chin when she met his gaze. There was no reasoning with Melah, he could clearly see that.
“Fine.” Ridge exhaled. He knew when he was fighting a losing battle. He ran a hand along his face and nodded. “If you’re sure you will be okay, then I’ll trust your judgement.”
“Aimee and I will be fine. I promise you, the next time someone enters the house uninvited, they will be leaving in a body bag.”
Ridge’s cock immediately stiffened. His woman was no damsel in distress, and that was what attracted him to her the most. He stepped forward and gripped the back of her neck. His lips curved up as he stared down at her.
“And what if a certain person kidnapped you fora few hours and took you back to his house? What would happen to him?” he growled.
She leaned toward him, erasing the distance between their bodies. Her curvy frame fit his perfectly.
“The brave man better at least let me shower first since I’ve been working all day or he might get hurt. After that, he can take me away for a few hours since this certain person promised me dinner tonight.” Her grin was wide, and she stared up at him.
Ridge barked a laugh. Hell, he didn’t care that she’d been working all day. He wanted her just as she was. He’d worked a ranch his entire life, but he knew he’d better concede.
“Very well then. I’ll take you home for a quick shower, then I’ll make good on my promise.”
Chapter Fourteen
“This was so good.” Melah patted her stomach and sat back in her chair.
As promised, Ridge had taken her home so she could shower. She’d jumped in quick to wash the long day from her skin. He’d waited in the common area speaking with Aimee while she’d gotten ready. With the promise that she’d be back later that night, they’d left.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He reached for his longneck bottle and took a swig from it.
They’d arrived at his house where he’d grilled out on the deck. They were currently sitting at the small dining table on the deck enjoying the warm weather. Melah was in love with the home. Having alarge pond and nature literally at the back door was an amazing thing to have.
She could get used to it.
“I did. It’s so relaxing out here.” She glanced at the sight of a hawk flying. Its wingspan was spread out wide as it glided through the air. One thing she loved about South Dakota was the open skies and land. The air alone was different. She inhaled and swore it was fresher than where she’d grown up.
“If you want, I have dessert in the house.” He stood and began clearing the table.
She pushed back and reached for her plate.
He motioned for her to hand it to him. “I’ve got it. You can sit out here longer while I start the dishwasher.”
“Absolutely not. If you cooked, then I clean.” She ignored his outstretched hand and picked up her dirty dishes. She was never one to sit down while someone else did things for her. Pierce had not been able to boil water. It was a wonder he was able to survive on his own. It was nice to think she had a man who could cook and was willing to clean. She turned to the house and froze for a second.
She had a who?
Was there any reason for her to keep fightingthis? Ridge had made it clear he wanted her. She was here now. For how long, she didn’t know.
She bit her lip and continued on to the door. Ridge arrived before her and opened it. The warmth in his eyes set off a chain reaction in her body. Her breath caught in her throat, her nipples hardened and pushed at her bra, and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered overtime.
No, there was no fighting this. She tried to think of not being with Ridge, or him moving on, and she immediately wanted to do damage to whatever woman tried to catch his eye.
Ridge was her man.
