Page 29 of Falling For Her Cowboy
She glanced at herself in the mirror in the bathroom. The only bathing suit she’d brought with her was a two-piece she’d picked up on the spur of the moment before coming to Ironhaven. It was bright pink and orange and showed off her ample curves. It looked really good on her, and now that she was seeing herself in it again, she remembered why she’d picked it up.
She was sexy as hell in it.
“You can’t hide in here forever.” She snagged her bag and draped it over her shoulder. She navigated through the house until she came to the kitchen. Her breath was immediately snatched from her as she saw the view. The floor plan was open with the kitchen flowing into an eating area and then the living room. Windows stretched from wall to wall, showcasing the alluring, vibrant South Dakota landscape that included the crystal-clear lake the house was built along.
The scent of hickory and wood filled her nostrils. She inhaled sharply, and her stomachgrowled.
“Something smells good.” Melah stepped out onto the wide cedar deck that stretched out over the water and shut the door behind her.
The late afternoon sun basked them in warmth. Ridge was dressed in swim trunks and a t-shirt. He shut the lid to the grill and turned to her. He paused, his heated gaze raking over her.
Something inside her clicked.
She liked the way he looked at her. She held her head high and walked over to one of the multiple cushioned loungers and dropped her bag down. Her skin prickled from Ridge’s stare. He’d set towels out for them to use for the pond. He hadn’t been playing when he’d said there was a pond in his yard.
She admired the scenery, captivated by the emerald shoreline on the other side of the water. A few birds flew overhead while the water rippled slightly. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of pine and summer. Ridge’s place gave the sense of healing, and it was no wonder the man was able to smile so often.
“Ready for a dip?” Ridge’s voice came behind her.
She turned and found him standing without his shirt, a towel perched on his shoulder and one in his hand. Her mouth went dry as she caught sight of thefine planes of his muscular physique. She swallowed hard, her gaze sliding down to his abdomen that had distinguished lines and a sprinkle of hair that disappeared underneath his shorts.
She tore her gaze from him and cleared her throat. Her core pulsed with the thought of what waited for her beneath those shorts.
“Yeah.”
He grasped her hand in his and led her to the stairs that took them directly down into the water. It had been a while since she’d swum, and she looked forward to it. She’d learned at an early age, thanks to her father. With the hard work she’d been doing on the ranch, a swim was just what she needed to relax her muscles.
“We can hang the towels here. I put these hooks?—”
“Oh, what about the food?” Melah glanced back over at the large black grill with smoke coming from under the lid. What if the food burned? As hungry as she was, she honestly wouldn’t care about eating burned food. It wouldn’t be the worst thing she’d eaten.
“I just lit it. I want the coals to settle down. We can go for a swim first, then I’ll throw the steaks on.” Ridge smiled and brought her flush to him.He must have seen the longing in her eyes. He pressed a kiss to her forehead then tipped her chin up to meet her eyes. “Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of you.”
“You better,” she teased.
A small smile appeared on her lips. His eyes darkened with something she couldn’t read, and her stomach quivered with anticipation. She had a feeling he wasn’t speaking of food, and neither was she.
Her heart skipped a beat at his confident smirk. He tossed their towels onto the large hooks on the railing. He turned quickly and lifted her by the back of her knees. She squealed and held on to his broad shoulders as he took a leaping bound and jumped into the air over the water.
“Ridge!” she shouted, but then they hit the water.
Even though it was warm outside, the water had a nice chill to it at first. She moved her arms through the water as she broke the surface. She turned and found him laughing. “Hey, you could have at least warned me.”
She couldn’t help the smile that formed on her lips. She leaned back and allowed herself to float on her back while gazing at the lovely sky.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Ridge snickered.
He dove underneath the water out of sight. Her heart rate skyrocketed as she flipped over and tried to find him. She swam a few strokes away. Where the hell did he go? A hand snaked around her ankle and tugged her underneath.
“Hey!” Melah yelped.
She sank underneath, and arms wrapped around her. There was no sense of fighting him off. If anything, she wanted to move closer to him. She hadn’t felt this safe with a man in a long time. Melah didn’t know what to think. Instead, she decided to live in the moment. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but she was going to accept the inevitable between her and Ridge. They broke the surface with her still in his embrace. Her smile widened at the look on his face. This man was a goofball. How did she get so lucky to meet someone like him?
“Having fun?” she asked.
“I am now.” He grinned and brought her closer to him, not leaving any room between them.
Melah leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t want to leave the warmth of his embrace. A shiver rippled through her at the feel of his naked chest against her. She inhaled and basked in the moment.
