Page 42 of The Rancher's Secret Son

Warmth filled her as she wrapped her arms around him to kiss him in return. Even though she knew the folly of kissing him, she wanted to love him until he never wanted to let her go.

Ten

In the throes of an erotic dream, she realized she was getting poked in the arm by a small finger.

She opened her eyes to look at Cody. “Get up, Mama. It’s morning. Dad said it’s time for everyone to get up.”

Smiling, she hugged Cody. “I’ll get up and have a little talk with your dad. And where is your dad?”

“In the kitchen cooking. He said I could wake you, that you’re a sleepyhead.”

“Is that so? I’ll be right there. You can go eat your breakfast while I get dressed.”

As he ran out of the room, she got up to close the door. She realized then it was no erotic dream she’d been having. Instead she’d been reliving last night with Nick. Her thighs still throbbed deliciously from a night of lovemaking. They’d made love, showered together, and made love again, twice, before she’d come to her room. Sated and well loved, she’d slept like a baby.

Knowing her son awaited her, she showered and dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved red T-shirt, and hurried to the kitchen.

“Miss Sleepyhead has arrived,” she said, walking into the kitchen. Dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, Nick was seated at the table across from Cody. Nick came to his feet when she entered and smiled at her as his gaze raked over her, sending fiery currents in its wake.

“I can think of a lot of other names that would be more appropriate,” he said.

“You better not say them now,” she threatened, smiling at him. “Thanks for feeding Cody.”

“I’m getting the hang of it.”

“Dad said we’re going to build a snowman if the snow is wet enough. We’ll go out after breakfast.”

“And you are more than welcome to join us,” Nick told her.

“Maybe for about ten minutes to take pictures.” She laughed. “I’m going home with five thousand more pictures.”

As Nick smiled, his gaze skimmed over her and her breath caught at the look in his eyes. She felt as if his fingers had drifted over her instead of just his eyes. She was susceptible to every glance, every touch from him, too aware of him. This had to stop or she’d never make it through the day.

“My images are in here,” he said, tapping his head, his voice dropping a notch.

She knew what images he was referring to. Ones that would never be shared on Instagram. “And they better stay there and we hear no more about them,” she said, and he grinned.

“This morning, with your permission, I’d like to take Cody out with me and let him see the men working. They’ll break ice on the ponds and tanks so the animals can drink and put out hay for them. We’ll be in the truck. I’ll take good care of him.”

“Do you want to go?” she asked Cody, knowing what he would answer.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, looking at Nick.

“Fine. I’ll definitely pass on that one, though.”

“I figured you would.”

After breakfast she had fun with Nick and Cody as they made a snowman, and then she watched them as they left to go out onto the ranch. A tall cowboy holding the hand of his small son. When they returned she heard about their day in great detail and Nick showed her pictures of Cody he’d taken with his phone. Her son looked ecstatic out there with the cowboys.

After dinner that night Nick played games with Cody, lying on the floor with him and letting his son climb on him. She watched them and wondered whether Nick seemed so happy and relaxed because they were at the ranch or because he had Cody with him. Either way, his appeal heightened. There was no denying it. He was a marvelous dad for Cody.

But what kind of man was he for her?

She wanted to love someone who returned that love. What Nick felt for her was lust. He was sexy, virile, filled with energy, and he desired her and lusted after her, but he wasn’t in love with her. He could walk away tomorrow, run for the US Senate, live in DC and seldom see her without it tearing him up.

He would miss her for sex, certainly, and maybe for how she could be at his side to help him in his career.

Not that that was going to happen, she told herself. Her grandfather was going through physical therapy in hopes he could return in a limited capacity to his office. She didn’t want to get someone to run it and walk away, marry Nick and abandon the business and her grandparents.

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