Scarlet was quiet for a second or two, then one black brow arched. “For what? Leaving in the wee hours of the morning without saying goodbye after several hours of hot, steamy sex?”
“Um, yeah. That’s about it.”
“Save it,” she snapped. “I don’t want any damn apology from you, Nash, so just hop back into that big black truck of yours and head on down the road.”
Anger whipped hot and strong through him. No, he wasn’t mad at Scarlet, but he was damn sure mad at himself. He’d blown it. She didn’t want anything to do with him. He slammed his hat on his head and stomped off toward the front of the house. She was right. What kind of man would do such a thing?
A coward. That’s who!
Nash started for his truck when he suddenly stopped cold in his tracks. He was blowing it. It was time for him to fight for what he wanted most in the world and that would never happen if he left now.
He turned around and headed back, his long stride eating up the distance. Nash rounded the corner and slammed to a stop.
Scarlet was crying. He could hear her now. Great tearing sobs shook her as she leaned against that old tree. Nash reached up and rubbed the heel of his hand over his heart. It pounded furiously as he went to her.
Her body shook with sobs so Nash settled his hands on her shoulders until she want still and turned her head slightly. “Go away,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be hurt anymore.”
“Ah, honey, you’re breakin’ my heart.” Nash pulled her against him, wrapped her up in his arms and sighed against her hair. “How about I make you a promise here and now?”
“What promise?” she whispered. He felt her breath warm and soft through the fabric of his t-shirt and his arms tightened.
“How about I promise never to leave you again? That is, unless, you want me to go.” Breathlessly he waited for her answer.
“No.”
“No?” Nash drew back and looked down at her. His back teeth clenched as nerves bounced around in his body. “What do you mean?”
Scarlet sucked in a breath and looked up at him. She was so pretty, he wanted to kiss her and never stop. Reaching up, she dashed the tears from her cheeks. “I don’t want you to go, Nash. Thing is, do you want to stay?”
“I’m staying put. Right here, darlin’.”
She shook her head. “You have to tell me why.”
“Because this is home. I didn’t know it when I first came into town. I’d been looking for so long.” Nash stroked his thumb over her bottom lip. “Then I met you.”
Scarlet leaned back against the tree and looked at him. Her eyes were filled with emotion, sparkling. Nash swallowed hard, knowing she was finally listening and he was finally talking. “I left without saying goodbye because, honey, I just couldn’t stand it. I didn’t want to say the words. It hurt too much.”
Nash moved to her and leaned in. He rubbed his lips against hers, breathing her in, dying for her. “I went back to the Rocking R Ranch, had a little talk with Mama Rose.”
She went still. “What did she say?”
“She gave me a good talking to. That’s what she did.”
“Good for her.”
“I complained about looking for a ranch to buy and having the money to afford it. I talked about you. Talked about you quite a bit and I told her that it made me sick to leave you. I told her it hurt. Damn it, I told her it hurt a lot.”
Scarlet’s expression went soft. “Is that right?”
“Mama’s a smart woman, you know. She straight-up told me to wake up and smell the coffee. Said she figured I’d already found my home but I was too dumb to realize it.”
“Well now.”
Nash looked her square in the eye and thought he’d drown in the emotion swimming in her eyes. “You’re my home, darlin’. Maybe I’ve known it since the minute I saw you saunter up to me at the Hot Damn Saloon. You fill this empty space I have right here.” He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “I want to stay here in Sweetridge if you’ll have me, Scarlet Ballew.”
“Oh yes. Yes, yes.” Scarlet’s whispered words rolled over him. Her arms went around his body as she held him close. “I love you, Nash. I know it’s dumb and it’s crazy, but I feel I’ve known you forever.”
“Me too. Same. I’m crazy about you, sweetheart.” They had so many things to say, to talk about. He didn’t know where to start.
“Still looking for a ranch?”
“Yeah.”
“How about this place?”
He looked out over the land then at Scarlet. She wore a tiny smile. “The bank got this place back a few days ago, Nash. It’s for sale. Good land, decent house and buildings. I just happen to know the loan officer at the bank—although she might have to pass this off to someone else. Conflict of interest and all that.”
“Conflict of interest, huh?” He grinned and saw her answering smile bloom wider. “Why don’t you show me around later?”
“Later? Why not now, cowboy? All you’ve talked about since I met you was finding your dream.”
Nash reached out to Scarlet and simply reeled her in. He kissed her lips, drank her sigh. Need burst through him along with happiness and all the other good things. “I’ve found my dream, darlin’, and its right here in my arms. I’m in love with you. I want to stay with you and love you every night and then I want to take you dancing at the Hot Damn just so I can hear you laugh. Then, I want to bring you home and make love to you until you beg me to stop.”
Scarlet’s hands cupped his face and she stared deep into his eyes. Her smile was sunshine bright, thrilling and warm. To him she represented home and love. She always would. “Then let’s go to the house, honey, get you moved in and we’ll get this party started.”
“I love you, Scarlet.”
“Yeah, Nash. Me, too.”
Nash held her tight. She felt so good, so right. That hollow, yearning place in his heart suddenly filled close to bursting. He knew this feeling wasn’t about land or houses or cattle and horses. It was all about love, the promise of happiness, and the woman he held tightly in his arms.
About the Author
Regina has always been a small town girl. Born and bred in Northeastern Oklahoma, she eventually moved to Texas where she lived most of her life, raising a family and penning tales about Southern men and the women who love them. These days she lives in central Florida where she enjoys sunny days with family and friends.
Find all Regina Carlysle books at Amazon and other e-tailers or visit her website
Http://www.reginacarlysle.com
She is also active on facebook and twitter and loves to connect
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