Page 26 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

Did she want to make love? Well, she wasn’t exactly saying no to him. And she’d kissed him into a frenzy. That was not the action of a woman who didn’t want to make love.

He felt better about seduction, kisses and having Meg at his house. He even felt better about the fake engagement, which had worried him at first because he didn’t like the deception and hadn’t thought they could convince anyone they were engaged.

Her parents already didn’t like him. What would they think if they saw him as a potential in-law? As a kid, when his dad and Meg’s dad had worked together, he had enjoyed spending time with her family because they were very loving. He didn’t have that at home and it had been an eye-opener to be with them.

Mostly, he hadn’t thought she could convince anyone they were really engaged so quickly. That had been before tonight, when the spark of that kiss had suddenly ignited into a full flame with the magic of her makeover. She had looked gorgeous, sexy and sophisticated. Put that kiss together with her lifelong honesty and he thought she probably could carry off a fake engagement.

The seduction of Meg. He remembered her stepping close, throwing her leg across his and sitting astride his lap, facing him, challenging him with a kiss that was instant heat. Just thinking about that incident made his temperature climb.

The fact that Meg would be a challenge in bed and sexy still stunned him. He wondered if he’d ever get over the shock of going from seeing her as a child to viewing her as a desirable woman. A hot, appealing, breathtaking woman. A woman he hoped and dreamed of seducing and having hours with in bed. A fantasy come to life.

Right now, when she wasn’t even with him and the house was quiet, he should be relaxed after a fun evening with the best-looking woman in the county and a delicious dinner with his family. He should be mellowed out, happy.

Instead, he was on fire with wanting her, aroused, breaking into a sweat while he tried to think how he could get her into his bed.

Or was that just a fantasy? What if she didn’t want seduction and he had to do the honorable thing and stay the close friend he had always been?

He felt as if he was spinning himself in circles. She had sent his life spiraling into chaos. He couldn’t even think straight anymore.

He groaned and went to the bar to get a beer when he heard her approaching. His pulse raced and eagerness gripped him. It was Meg, he reminded himself. Meg, his friend who trusted him, counted on him to come through for her in all sorts of ways that a best friend would.

She walked through the door and all his good intentions flamed into ashes as his gaze swept over her. He smiled at her and watched her cross the room toward him, remembering her with the black dress pushed to her waist, the lacy bra tossed aside and her soft, full breasts filling his hands.

She wore a bulky blue T-shirt, skintight jeans and leather moccasins. Her beautiful blond hair gave her glamour that she had never had before. The makeup she hadn’t washed off just added to it, emphasizing her big, dark brown eyes. He was tempted to take her into his arms and kiss her right now.

“Wow, even dressed down you look good,” he said, meaning every word. “I can’t wait to take you out tomorrow night. I should have asked you out long before now.”

She laughed and squeezed his hand. Locks of his dark hair fell on his forehead and she pushed them gently back off his face. “You’re being ridiculous. You don’t really want to take me out, but that’s nice. You’ve had years to invite me out and you had no interest. We are not well suited and you know it.”

“We’re well suited enough to have a great time together. We’ve always had a good time together. Right now, let me get you something to drink and something to go with it. What would you like?”

“A glass of iced tea. But I’m not hungry, so I don’t need anything to eat.”

He stepped close. “I’d like to eat you up,” he said, leaning forward to nuzzle her throat and kiss her ear. He grabbed her wrist and felt her racing pulse.

She pushed lightly against him. “Whoa, cowboy. Get my tea and pull yourself together. Remember, this is a pretend engagement and you don’t have to pretend when we’re alone.”

“I’m not pretending,” he said, gazing intently at her. “You’re stunning, Meg,” he said quietly. “I’m still in shock and I can’t get used to the change.”

“I’m still me and you’ve never wanted to kiss or hug or dance with me before this, so rein it in, my friend, because you and I aren’t going anywhere together beyond this brief favor you’re doing for me. Then it’s adios and we’ll probably go another year before we cross paths again. I’m not your type and you’re not my type. Now, if you can comprehend all that, let’s have a drink,” she said, heading for his kitchen and his fridge.

He stood and watched the sway of her hips as she walked. He wanted to go after her, grab her around the waist and haul her back into his arms.

“Damn,” he whispered. He needed to get her out of his hair and out of his life as soon as possible. She was right—they didn’t have a future together and she wouldn’t go to bed with him. She’d only keep him tied in knots in the meantime. His initial gut feeling of dread, when she first asked him for the fake engagement, had been on target. The lady was going to mess up his life for a little while and he needed to guard his heart. He had never before worried about falling in love with someone, but he worried now. He damn well didn’t want to fall in love with her, but could he avoid it?

“Have a seat, Meg, and I’ll get everything,” he said, taking over getting drinks. She moved to the kitchen table, pulled out a chair and sat to watch him.

When he had drinks and crackers and slices of Muenster and sharp cheddar cheese ready, he sat across from her and sipped his cold beer.

“I’ve been thinking, Gabe. How about getting engaged tonight?”

He swallowed hard. “That’s damn quick.”

“Maybe, but we’ve known each other all our lives. We’ve gone out together. It’s feasible. We can plan for a wedding far in the future. This is July. How about a spring wedding, like the first week of April, and a wonderful cruise for a honeymoon? That’s so far away, so no one will do anything concrete right now. In the meantime, everyone will think we’re in love because I’ll be living with you.”

“Until April?” he asked. If he had to live in the same house with her for months, he’d have to take her to bed. Either that or he’d surely go crazy.

“No, not until April.” She gave him a sassy look, as if she wasn’t sure whether he was teasing her or not. “We have a deal. One month and then you’re off the hook.” She sipped her iced tea. “I’m sure it won’t take any time for Justin to find a new girlfriend, and I’ll bet he does a better job of picking one out this time. Whoever she is, she’ll have his parents’ approval.”

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