"What are you hiding behind your back?" she asked. The fluttering in her stomach increased. Her heart pounded even harder than before.
"I brought you something." Extending his left hand from behind his back, Dallas presented his gift with a flourish.
"Cotton Candy? I don't understand." She searched his face as he handed the bag of pink fluff to her. His hand brushed her palm. An electric charge jolted up the entire length of her arm.
"Remember at the jubilee?" he said, his voice deep and husky. "We called a truce that day."
Gillian nodded, feeling tears crowd the corner of her eyes. "You want to call another truce?" She looked at the sugary confection, thinking about the wonderful time they had shared at the Founder's Day Jubilee, wondering if they would share more good times.
Bringing his right hand from behind his back, Dallas waved a small white flag under her nose. "Not a truce, exactly. More like a treaty--a complete and total end of all hostilities between us."
Gillian swallowed the lump in her throat. Hope and desire struggled deep inside. "But you swore you would never be the one to surrender."
Dallas gently placed the flag in her hand. His fingers closed over hers, before he gathered her in a fierce embrace. "I was a fool," he said. "I'm surrendering my heart to you, if you'll have me." He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers.
"Oh, Dallas! Yes!" Gillian dropped the candy and flag and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her enthusiastic response warmed Dallas's heart and soul. He cupped her bottom and hauled her closer. Once again he was amazed at how perfectly her body fit his. Her softness complimented his hardness. Damn, he'd missed her.
She smelled wonderful and felt even better. Plunging his tongue deep inside her mouth, he tasted her sweetness. She opened to him and he deepened the kiss. The sexy little sounds erupting in the back of Gillian's throat made his heart hammer in response.
Gillian snuggled into the embrace, adjusting the fit of their bodies, rubbing against his aching-hard shaft. He groaned when she pressed her firm breasts to his chest. Her nipples teased him through the filmy material of her gown.
His hands roamed over her supple body, rediscovering every swell and curve. He brushed a thumb across one nipple, swallowing Gillian's moan with another kiss.
"I want you, Gillian. I need you. It's been too long."
She pulled back, and stared at the man who had captured her heart. His rugged face was so dear. She'd missed him dreadfully. "It's been much too long," she said. Taking his hand, she led Dallas to her bedroom. They would talk later. For now, it was enough to know he was here. That he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
Stopping by the foot of the bed, Gillian began unbuttoning Dallas's shirt, following the path of bare skin with soft kisses. Dallas toed off his boots, reveling in the sensations of Gillian's touch, digging his fingers in her silky hair. Gasping for breath when she dipped her tongue in his navel.
She pulled the shirttails from the waistband of his jeans, standing so she could push the fabric over the rigid muscles of his shoulders. Unbuckling his belt, chocolate-colored eyes met deep ocean blue ones. With gazes locked, Gillian unsnapped the jeans and slowly pulled the zipper.
Kneeling on the floor, she peeled the denim down his legs, caressing his thighs and calves with feather-light touches. She waited for him to step out of each pants leg.
Glancing up, she caught his eyes again. They burned with desire and yearning. He placed his hands on her head, burying his fingers in her silky hair. Thrilling tingles chased down her body as she stroked his hardness through the thin cotton of his boxers. His shaft flexed in reaction; his fingers tightened on her scalp.
Gillian traced the rigid length with her tongue, cupping him down below with her hands, feeling him tremble with need. She pulled the shorts down, kissing the velvet steel, taking him gently in her mouth.
Dallas almost collapsed in a heap. He locked his knees so he wouldn't fall, enjoying Gillian's sensuous caress and wondrous touch. He was extremely close to the delicious edge of release. It wouldn't take much more for him to explode. But he didn't want it this way. He wanted to be inside Gillian's sweet warmth. Feel her clutch him with her inner muscles. With a feral groan, he pulled her up and pushed her onto the bed.
He followed her down, pressing her into the soft mattress. Pulling her gown up over her head, he tossed it aside, then covered her body with his own.
"I can't take it slow this time," he said, nuzzling the silky column of her throat.
"I don't want it slow." She slid her arms around his neck, lifting her body to meet his. "I want you inside of me." She pulled him down and kissed him hard on the mouth, as he plunged his shaft deep within her.
Together they rode the crest of passion. Hanging, hovering over the brink. Dallas buried himself in her, pulling back only to thrust deeper still. He clasped both hands on either side of her head, watching her as he drove into her again and again.
Gillian held on to the powerful biceps, meeting each thrust with a lift of her hips. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in deeper on each downward thrust. Her nails bit into the muscled arms. She closed her eyes as she reached the summit, her body splintering into tiny shards of exquisite sensations.
Dallas heard her call his name. It faded in and out as if coming from far away. He felt her convulse around him. With one last push, he collapsed on top of her as he reached his own shattering climax.
Neither spoke for several minutes. Gillian could hear Dallas's labored breath in her ear. She almost cried from the gladness in her heart. She hugged the big powerful body to her, relishing the weight bearing her down.
Closing her eyes tight, she felt hot tears on her cheeks. She couldn't help it. She had to say it. Tell him.
"I love you," she said, punching him on the shoulders to emphasize her words. Bucking her hips so he would be sure to get her meaning. "I'm sorry about what happened at the rig. I love you, damn it. And you better love me back!"
Dallas pressed her down even further into the mattress. He kissed the tear-drenched lashes. Hugging her tighter, he rolled over until she was on top of him. "I came after you, didn't I? I surrendered, didn't I?"
Gillian leaned on her elbows, kissed the firm chin. "Say the words, Dallas. I need to hear the words."
"I love you." He pulled her closer for a quick hard kiss. "I can't believe how much I love you, how much I need you. After the crew cleaned up and pulled out, I should have been happy, but I wasn't. You were gone. I realized then that I'd fallen in love with you."
Gillian snuggled next to Dallas, her head on his hard chest, his heartbeat loud in her ear. She pulled the sheet over them to cover their nakedness.
Dallas promptly kicked it off. "Not going modest on me, are you?"
Gillian laughed. "No, just force of habit, I guess."
She caressed the broad expanse of chest, running her fingers over the corded muscles. "How did you find me? How did you know where I live?"
"Harold told me. I saw him at the diner a couple of days ago." He twirled a strand of her silky black hair around one finger. "I wondered why he was hanging around. Thought he would take off now that the rig closed down."
"Harold is staying in Salt Fork," Gillian said.
Dallas's finger stopped twirling. "Sarah Sue?"
Gillian nodded.
Dallas whistled under his breath. "Well, I'll be damned. She's finally got herself a man. Now, maybe she won't be so busy trying to be a matchmaker anymore. What's he going to do? For a living, I mean?"
Gillian snuggled closer. "He says he's going to buy one of those tool-selling businesses and drive a truck all over the countryside. Says he'll still be a tool-pusher, only pushing a different kind of tool."
"Well, I'm happy for Sarah Sue," Dallas said.
"Me too." Gillian propped herself on her elbow. "You don't hold a grudge against Harold, do you? You'll be seeing him in town a lot, you know. He's sorry for misjudging you. He truly is."
Dallas let out a sigh. "I'll make my peace with him, I promise. I don't want to be on the outs with Sarah Sue's significant other."
Smiling, Gillian kissed him, before settling back down.
They lay together in companionable silence. Dallas realized he felt content for the first time in years. Maybe for the first time in his entire life. Gillian made him happy. And she loved him. In spite of all his faults, she loved him. And he loved her. He couldn't live without her. Wouldn't live without her. He hugged her tighter against him. "You'll marry me, of course."
"Is that your idea of a proposal?" she asked. "Sounds more like an order to me."
"I'm not a 'get down on my knees' kind of guy. And yes, I'm asking you to marry me. Will you?"
Gillian propped herself up on an elbow and stared down at him. His blue eyes searched her face, hope and wariness warring in their depths. She suddenly realized this big tough cowboy was as vulnerable to her as she was to him. Leaning over, she kissed the tip of his nose. "Of course, I'll marry you. Good thing I'm between jobs. That'll make it easier to move and all."
He looked surprised. "Between jobs? What do you mean? What about Copper River Oil?"
Gillian shrugged. "I quit. I'm looking for a new position. Think I have the qualifications for a rancher's wife?"
Dallas grabbed her and pulled her to lie on top of him. "All the qualifications that I need. You're beautiful, sexy, fun to be with--"
Gillian punched his chest. "Get real. I'm pretty much a city girl, you know. Do you honestly think I'll make a good rancher's wife?"
"The best. You've worked with roughnecks for years, bossing them around," Dallas said. "There's twenty or more ranch hands on the Diamondback. Same breed of man. Or close enough."
"That's right," Gillian said, getting into the spirit of the discussion. "And I have experience with spreadsheets, word processors, data bases. I could help you with your accounts and bookkeeping."
Dallas nodded and nuzzled her ear. "That's not all you can help me with."
"And I adore your mother," Gillian continued, trying to ignore him, scooting back down his chest. "There wouldn't be a problem living with her."
He kissed the top of Gillian's head. "We won't be living with my mother."
"We won't be living in the big house?"
Dallas shook his head. "Well, at first we will. I think it'll be better if we build a house of our own."
"You don't have to do that."
"Yes, sweetheart. I do."
Gillian thought about it. They were starting a new life together. Putting their pasts behind them. Beginning anew.
She propped herself on an elbow again and looked deep into the crystal blue eyes. "Maybe, you're right."
"Of course I'm right. And I know just the place."
"Where?" She traced the strong jaw line, loving the feel of the rough skin.
"There happens to be nice piece of land with newly planted grass. And a road that still goes to the main highway."
"You can't mean the drilling site?" she asked. "You have bad feelings associated with that place."
"I also have good feelings, believe it or not. That's where a certain lady tool-pusher lived for the last couple of months. You know--the one who was driving me out of my mind?"
Gillian poked him in the chest. "I was driving you out of your mind? I thought it was the other way around."
Dallas caught her hand and brought it to his lips. "I guess it went both ways, sweetheart. I want to build the house facing the rocky overhang. I like that particular view. What do you think?"
"It is beautiful," she agreed. "And it would be nice to have our own place. Although, won't your mother be lonely in that big house all by herself?"
"I don't think Mom will have time to be lonely. Tyler's there most of the time, and Tori comes home from college between semesters. Besides, we'll be just down the road from her. Mom won't be lonely."
Gillian ran her fingers down his shoulder and arm. "We'll probably be needing the extra room, too."
Dallas frowned. "Why do you say that?"
"I didn't want to mention this before, didn't want to break the mood. It completely slipped my mind. And yours too, now that I think about it."
"What are you getting at, Gillian?" Dallas twisted a lock of the dark satin hair. He didn't think he would ever get tired of touching her gorgeous hair . . . or touching her.
"Babies."
Dallas's hand froze. "What do you mean? You can't be--? Ah hell, we didn't use any protection, did we?"
Gillian shook her head. "You do want babies, don't you?"
The thought of Gillian round with his child made his stomach clench. Dallas stared at the lovely woman looking at him with those beautiful big brown eyes. Why had he resisted her for so long? He envisioned the future with Gillian by his side and babies. Lots of babies.
"Forget it," she said, biting her lip. "We don't have to decide right now. I'm probably okay. I just thought--"
Dallas grabbed her shoulders. In one fluid movement, he flipped her beneath him. Her sleek body molded itself to his. He eased himself into her waiting heat.
"I want you to have my babies," he whispered in her ear. Rocking them against the mattress, he gently kissed her. "And if you aren't pregnant yet, I propose we remedy the situation as soon as possible."
Gillian's heart swelled with happiness. She loved him so much. She knew living with Dallas wouldn't be easy. There would be fights and disagreements. But there would also be kisses, making up, long nights filled with love, and little McCades running all around.
"How do you propose we do that, Cowboy?"
"Not by talking, that's for sure," Dallas said.
"So, shut up and kiss me," she said, pulling him down.
"Yes, ma'am. Always happy to oblige."
###
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***
The Diamondback Ranch Series
Book Three: A Match Made In Texas
When Austin McCade’s wife dies, a vital part of him dies, too. The sexy single dad devotes himself to his motherless daughter and his work on the Diamondback Ranch. For twelve years, he ignores life and women . . . until a new pretty schoolteacher moves to town.
From the moment Theresa Rogers arrives in Salt Fork, Texas, people warn her about the lonely widower. He’s a hopeless case, a lost cause. But Theresa sees beneath the crusty exterior of the man to the deep emotions and his enduring loyalty. Can she pierce the impenetrable wall surrounding his broken heart? Will she be able to vanquish the ghost who keeps him from loving again?
The Diamondback Ranch Series
Book One: The Doctor Wears A Stetson
Jessie Kincaid was fifteen and innocent when Cameron asked her to the prom. She lost her heart that night, but his plans didn't change. He left their small town to pursue his dreams.
Seventeen years later, a trip home leads Cameron McCade back to Salt Fork, Texas and the newly widowed Jessie Divine. Since his return, the fire between them burns as hot as ever. Can they take up where they left off? Can Jessie risk her heart again?
***
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Return to Stone Creek
Her Reluctant Rancher
by Anne Marie Novark
Living with his stern grandfather taught Trevor Callahan one important lesson: Caring makes a man weak. Now the old man is dead and Trev returns to Stone Creek for one reason and one reason only--to sell the Rocking C Ranch. Maybe then he can put his past behind him and move on.
Beth Evans once confused lust for love and vows never to let it happen again. The bookmobile driver is trying to raise funds to build a new library. The late Hank Callahan bequeathed a million dollars for the project, but he attached one stipulation: Do not let his grandson sell the ranch.
***
Midnight My Love
A Regency Romance Novel
by Anne Marie Novark
The rakish Viscount Rochdale, Damien Avenall, loved Alexandra Turlington like a little sister; or so he thought until Alex grew into a lovely and desirable young lady. In a moment of madness, he kissed her and everything changed between them. Harboring a lifelong distrust of beautiful women, he believed they could no longer be friends.
Ten years pass and Damien finds himself escorting Alexandra’s critically-wounded brother home to Willowmede, where he must face the only woman he’s ever truly wanted; the one woman he can never have. He is determined to exorcise Alex from his heart once and for all, even if it means he must kiss her again . . . one last time.
The Cowboy's Surrender Page 18
