Page 50 of Mountain Rescue
“I’ve never had a pet. Maybe I’ll take Blue home with me.”
“Something to think about. What can I do to help with dinner?”
“You can set the table.”
“On it.” That only took a few minutes. “Wine, water, or something else?”
“Wine would be nice.”
Normally he’d go for a beer, but he decided to pour himself a glass, too.
She had her back to him as she dished up the pot roast and vegetables. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and it had been teasing him on their run. The temptation to wrap it around his fist while he kissed her soft skin had been there all afternoon, and he finally gave in.
He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You can stop me at any time, but I have to do this.” He fisted her ponytail, then pressed his lips to the skin below her ear and paused, giving her a chance to stop him. When she bent her head, inviting him to continue, he sighed in relief.
Musk from their run mixed with her apples and vanilla scent, and for some reason, that was hot as hell. Like sex combined with innocence and cookies. He swallowed a chuckle at that thought.
How did this girl turn him on like no other ever had, make him laugh when he’d not expected to ever laugh again? “Rachel,” he murmured.
There were things he wanted to say to her, but he wasn’t even sure what those things were. He was straddling a fence, not sure which way to go. While he belonged to one of the wealthiest ranching families in Montana, he was lost. Being lost meant he had nothing to offer her. But he could show her how special she was, how much a man could want her. So, as long as she would let him, while they were together, that was what he would do.
He slipped his arms around her, resting his hands on her stomach. He wanted—was dying—to go lower, but she hadn’t given him that permission yet. He nipped his teeth across her skin.
“If you want dinner, you have to stop,” she said.
“Hmm, a choice of dinner, which smells amazing, or kissing you? You drive a hard bargain.” He pressed one last kiss just below her ear. “Let’s eat, then get back to kissing. That work for you?”
She leaned her head back on his chest and peered up at him. “Sounds like a very good plan.”
“I have my moments.” He stepped to the side, picked up both plates, and carried them to the table. He took his first bite of the pot roast, closed his eyes, and sighed. “This is good.” It was great to have his appetite back.
“Thanks. I don’t cook much, but it’s one thing I can cook pretty good. Hard to mess up a pot roast.” She took a sip of her wine. “So, tell me about your family. June said the dude ranch was awesome, and that your sister was really nice. Cheyenne, right?” He nodded. “She said Cheyenne and her husband were models for a cowboy romance cover. What book? I need to check it out.”
“I’ll find it after dinner. The author is a friend of Cheyenne’s and talked them into modeling for the cover. Cheyenne’s husband said never again.”
“I’ve watched photoshoots for movie posters and stuff. It really isn’t fun.”
“Yeah, he said he’d rather stick his arm up a cow, and believe me, that’s saying something.” He almost laughed at how wide her eyes grew.
“You have to do that?”
“Sometimes during birth, but that’s not good dinner conversation.”
“True. What about the rest of your family?”
“Mom’s Bonnie, my dad’s name is Laramie, then from oldest down, Austin, Denver, Cheyenne, Phoenix, Shiloh, then me.” He waited for the question he knew was coming.
“You all are named after places?”
“It’s a generations-long Manning family tradition.”
“I think it’s cool. I love those names. And they all work at the ranch?”
“All but Shiloh and me. She’s a Coast Guard rescue helicopter pilot.”
“For real? Wow. That’s awesome.”
“I think so.” He told her each of his siblings’ roles at the ranch. “My dad stepped back from the day-to-day operation a few years ago, but he still has opinions on how things should run.” He chuckled. “His expertise is with the cattle side of the business, so he and Denver lock horns the most.”
