Page 28 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“I am.”She smiled into his eyes, feeling a little dizzy, a little dazed.She loved his arms around her, loved the tingle in her skin, particularly her neck, a tingle that made her shiver against him.“The weather here might be tough, but I’m tougher.Remember, I’m a Texan.We’re born strong.”
He kissed her then, the most lovely of kisses, so full of tenderness and hunger, heat and pleasure and she just melted into him, arms wrapping around his neck, pressing closer, savoring the hard muscular length of him.He was strong, like she was, and it crossed her mind that she’d been waiting for him her entire life.She’d been waiting forthis.
In the middle of the scorching kiss, her phone rang, vibrating in the back pocket of her jeans.Rye’s hand covered the phone in her back pocket, his fingers warm on her butt.“You’ve got a call,” he said, against her mouth.
She laughed and drew back, but couldn’t let go of him completely, not when her head was spinning.“You do that too good.”
“As long as you like it.”
“Oh, I do.”She took another unsteady step back and drew the phone from her pocket.It was her mom.She sighed.“My mom.I’m going to need to call her right back,” she said, letting the call go to voice mail.
“I should go anyway.But I’ve enjoyed myself.”
“Me, too.”She moved in to press a kiss to his mouth.“Thank you for a wonderful dinner and even better conversation.You’re very good company.”
“I feel the same about you.”
She waited while he climbed down the ladder, and then she glanced around her loft, making sure everything was okay and then followed him down, and turned off the switch at the wall before securing the barn for the night.
Outside, the sky was very dark, a swath of purple black with faraway stars.It looked as magical as she felt.Ansley’s throat ached, and she swallowed against the knot of emotion.If only Rye lived closer.She hated to think that tomorrow after the rodeo he’d leave, and she didn’t know when she’d see him again.“Thank you for driving here for dinner,” she said huskily.
He glanced at her, his gaze skimming her face.“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“You say the nicest things.”
“You’re one of a kind, Ansley Campbell.”
She didn’t know what to say and wasn’t sure she could speak even if she had the words.In just twenty-four hours he’d changed her world.In just twenty-four hours he’d captured her heart, which wasn’t a simple thing.She was independent, and ambitious.She had plans and a dream and love weren’t part of any of that.
“You know your way back?”she asked.
“I do.”He stepped forward and pressed a lingering kiss to her brow.“Good night, babe.”
Babe.No one had ever called her that, and she hadn’t thought she’d like it.But from him, it sounded perfect.“Good night, Rye.I’ll be there cheering you on tomorrow.”
She watched as he got into his truck.She waved goodbye as he pulled away, her heart having fallen somewhere between her knees and feet.Once his taillights had vanished, she entered the old farmhouse and slowly locked the front door.Her eyes burned and a whisper of fear pulsed through her veins.Love had been the last thing on her mind and yet suddenly ruggedly handsome Rye Calhoun meant everything.
*
He’d made amess of things.
Rye knew it from that smoldering kiss in the barn loft.It was a different kiss than the night before.It was a kiss with emotions, with intentions.It was a kiss that told him things… like Ansley wanted him.Not just in a physical, gratify-my-craving sort of way, but in the big-picture, real-world way, and it made him feel protective of her.She was so open, so transparent.Her feelings were in her eyes, her face, her voice, her touch.
She liked him, and normally this wouldn’t be a problem, because he liked her.But they weren’t in the same place, they had different pressures, she only had to worry about herself, while he still had his whole family looking to him to provide for them and make the right decisions for them.Yet his admiration for her only grew.He respected her goals and dreams, respected her determination to be free… autonomous.He respected her talent, and her drive.She knew what she wanted, she knew what she wanted to be, and she knew where she wanted to live—but that vision left no room for him.Her future in no way resembled his.
He’d never live in Marietta.He could never afford to own something as extravagant as an art gallery.He’d never have the freedom to take the same risks.
He was happy that she could choose her life and path.He was proud of her for working so hard to achieve her dreams.But he didn’t have options.He lacked freedom.Their two worlds were as different as could be, and while he supported her dreams, he felt a pang that he’d never been able to dream.And the last thing he’d ever do was tie an independent, successful woman to him.If together, Ansley’s creativity would suffer.Her freedom would disappear.And Rye didn’t think he’d ever resent Ansley, but he suspected she’d grow to resent him, and that was the worst outcome.It was every bit as bad as Hannah chaining herself to Ron for the rest of her life.
*
In the house,Ansley locked the front door, and called her mom back, filling her in on everything Dr.Maida had said that afternoon.“It looks like Mr.Wyatt was right.Uncle Clyde wasn’t just lonely.He is having cognitive issues, and it’s only going to get worse,” she concluded.“Mom, we’re going to need a plan for Uncle Clyde’s care and the ranch.If no one in our family wants this place, maybe it’s time to sell it.”
“Your uncle owns half.Your dad can’t sell it without Clyde agreeing, and I don’t think Clyde would agree.That’s the only home he’s ever known,” her mom answered.
“But he can’t take care of it.He can’t even take care of himself.He’s going to need ongoing physical therapy, probably some occupational therapy.I’m happy to help him, but I’m not a nurse.I can make meals and make sure he’s safe, but I’m not comfortable bathing him, or helping him with the toilet stuff.”
“Your dad and I don’t expect that of you, either, Ansley.I’ll begin investigating a home health nurse tomorrow.It is Sunday though and I might not make a lot of progress until Monday.”
