Page 33 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

“I agree,” she said. “And I’ll try to control my gratitude and my excitement.”

“You can bottle up all that gratitude and excitement while we eat and then uncork it when we’re in the privacy of my house.”

* * *

It was two hours later when they left the restaurant and he drove them to his Dallas home in a gated community.

Turning to go through the big gate that opened automatically for his car, he entered the subdivision. In minutes he went through another gate that surrounded his place. Finally, he slowed and stopped at the back of his house and went around to open her door. Before he could, she hopped out and kissed his cheek.

“Thanks a million, my friend. Don’t forget my offer. I’m ready, willing and able to do something for you.”

She instantly regretted her words when she saw the flare of desire in his blue eyes. She felt heat climb into her cheeks at her unwitting innuendo. Which was so unlike her. She’d never been embarrassed in front of Gabe.

“Besides going to bed, I mean,” she clarified, smiling at him.

He laughed. “Meg, in some ways you haven’t changed at all. At the same time, you have changed in the most delightful fashion possible. Darlin’, I’m glad to be of help to you. Even though you’ve made a wreck out of me, I wouldn’t have missed this week for the world.”

“I’m so happy, I can’t be still.”

He reached out to draw her into his embrace, leaning close to kiss her, a possessive, demanding kiss that made her forget her resolution to avoid kisses and sex. Gabe held her close, kissing her into scalding desire.

She wanted more, so much more.

Did she want to keep saying no and maybe miss the most dazzling sex ever?

What they did to each other was amazing—she wanted to pursue that and make love with him because it had to be fabulous. But if it was that awesome, could she keep from giving him her heart, her love, along with her body? Could she make love with him and then just walk away, heart intact, the way he would?

That was the big question she faced and she didn’t have an answer.

“Gabe, I’m still thinking about this,” she whispered. “I can’t resist kissing you but I’m not ready to go to bed with you. That’s just the way I am. It’ll be complicated if I make love with you.”

“Will it ever, darlin’,” he said, his gaze roaming over her.

“Let’s go change. I’ll get the rest of my things I want to take and we can leave for the ranch,” she said.

Together they went upstairs and then parted, each to their suites.

She entered hers, closed the door and saw the vivid reflection of her eyes in the mirror. Could Gabe see what she detected so clearly there? Desire.

It was no secret that she wanted him. Whether she should act on it was the real issue.

If she refused to sleep with him and they parted, would she always feel she had missed something special? Would she regret not making love with him?

Someday she hoped she would fall in love and marry a man who was similar to her, who wanted what she wanted. Someone who led a regular life and didn’t raise bulls and ride them, fly his own small plane, do all the wild things Gabe did. But for now...was she about to pass up something special that she would always remember?

Would she fall in love if she went to bed with him tonight at his ranch? She had to be able to answer no to that question or else say no to him. She’d have to lock her heart away and enjoy a physical time with him and then leave him the way he would leave her. No strings, no ties, no commitment, no love. Could she do that, especially when it was with her best friend and the sexiest man she knew? Or would she open herself up for heartbreak?

Eight

It was late afternoon when his ranch house came into view. She looked at the long, one-story stacked-stone house with rustic wood columns along the wraparound porch and a large porte cochere to the east of the building. She admired the landscaped, fenced-in front yard with berms of mature oak trees.

“You have a beautiful place,” she said. “Great landscaping with your berms.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He parked in the shade beneath the porte cochere and walked around to hold the car door open for her. Desire kept her acutely aware of him and her gaze raked over his broad shoulders covered with a navy cotton shirt that was tucked into jeans and one of his wide, hand-tooled leather belts, complete with a big silver belt buckle she assumed he had won riding a bull or accomplishing some other rodeo achievement. Ironically, they had both changed into jeans and navy shirts, and they had laughed about dressing alike.

“Come in and let me show you around,” he said when she stepped out of his car. He picked up her bag and retrieved her carry-on and as they walked in, she was aware of him beside her.

She entered into the kitchen, well equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and a tan-and-white decor. As they walked farther into the house, she glanced at rooms off the wide main hall, and finally he showed her to the suite where she would stay. It had a separate sitting room with a wall of glass and sliding glass doors that opened onto the back porch. A few steps led down to a wide patio with an outdoor carpet, cushioned chairs and sofas, tables, a fire pit, a large television and an outdoor kitchen. Beyond it was a curving swimming pool with a waterfall and two slides.

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