Page 50 of A Match Made in Montana

Her heart skipped a beat, she closed her eyes, swallowing the groan in her throat. Damn. She’d gone and fallen in love with him. It probably happened the first time he and Riley had visited and he’d pulled her into a hug.

How could she have known then what her heart had been trying to tell her?

It hadn’t been lust at all… well, okay, of course lust had to take some blame, but that wasn’t the only thing she’d experienced in Craig’s arms over the last few hours.

Time and time again, he’d woken her up, ready for her, and each time she’d eagerly turned to him. They only had the one night. They would be able to walk away afterward, the itch scratched, the beading and the throbbing finally sated.

She looked down at their tangled limbs. However, the beading and the throbbing were very much still happening. Only now she understood why. She loved him. Her body had known it way before her heart was ready to acknowledge it. And it wasn’t a love that one night with Craig would be able to still or stop. It was the forever kind.

Turning her head, she pressed her lips against his warm flesh, inhaling his scent. She would always be grateful for this night. She hadn’t known what love was until he’d showed her all the ways there were to love.

A movement against her leg, made her smile. Her lover was awake.

*

Annie walked himto the front door. She was quiet. It was just after five in the morning and still dark outside. He’d have given anything to have stayed with her for one more hour, but he had nothing to offer her. He had to leave. Say goodbye. The next time he would see her, they’d just be friends.

She unlocked the front door, he stepped out on to the porch before he turned back to her. “Annie…”

Shaking her head, she touched his face. “We’ve said all there is to say. Thank you for all your help with the B and B and thank you for last night. I hope you’ll be happy. Talk to your parents, tell them how you feel, discuss your feelings, however uncomfortable. You don’t know how long they’ll still be around.”

“Riley told me how your parents died. I’m so sorry about that.”

She nodded. “Life is so very short. You deserve the best, Craig. You deserve to marry, have lots of kids, and make some woman happy.” The door began to close.

Quickly, he stopped the door. “One more kiss?”

Her eyes were bright with tears as she opened the door wider.

“You’re crying.”

“My heart is breaking,” she got out before his lips closed over hers.

And immediately the fire was back. Slipping his hand into the front of her dress, he cupped her breast, kissing her until she shuddered against his body.

Only then he lifted his head. “Beautiful Annie,” he whispered, caressing her cheek.

Annie swallowed, her eyes roaming over his face. “Goodbye, Craig.” She stepped back and, without looking at him again, closed the door.

Pressing his forehead against the door, he waited for her footsteps. Around him, sounds penetrated. The day had started, people were going about their usual morning routines while his heart was breaking.

After a while, he turned away and walked to the road in front of Annie’s. He was doing the right thing. Annie might not know it yet, but she deserved a husband. She’d be a great mom. As a natural nurturer and caretaker, her kids would never have to wonder if their mom loved them, they’d know.

Little girls with their mother’s big, brown eyes, her smile, his light red hair. For a moment the picture was so clear, he could touch it. He blinked and it was gone. It wasn’t real, though.

Looking over his shoulder once last time, he got into the car. A hole opened up inside of him, one that grew bigger and deeper as he drove away from Annie’s front door.

He needed a drink. Surely even a town as small as Marietta would have a bar that was open at all hours?

Chapter Sixteen

Late Wednesday afternoon,Annie stepped warily into the kitchen. She’d managed to avoid seeing her sister or brother since Craig had left early this morning, but at some point they’d want answers.

Craig, she’d discovered, might not talk much but he was a loud lover and she had an idea she hadn’t been very quiet either. Although they’d been in her office on the ground floor, she was sure everyone in the house had probably heard something.

She was doing her best not to think about their lovemaking, a difficult task since everything in her office reminded her of last night. Every single line she’d ever read in a romance novel seemed to pop into her head the moment she walked in there.

Lingering kisses, hot flesh, ravishing her bodyand words likesuccumbing, passion, plundering, surrenderingand her favorite?Exploding.She’d exploded quite a number of times, if memory served her right.

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