Dustin bent and covered her mouth, kissing her breathless, making her chest heave. “Gran and I wanted you home, but you had to make that decision for yourself, not because we wanted you here.” He slid his hands down her arms to catch her fingers in a loose hold.
When she looked into his eyes, she saw right into his soul.
"I love you."
So, basically his I hate career women had been a bunch of crap? Her throat closed up. “I'm really confused,” she whispered. “You told me you couldn't be with a woman who had a career, now you're saying you love me. So is the career still an issue?"
"It was never an issue."
Excuse me? “So why even bring it up?” A headache niggled at her temple. The man was more infuriating than anyone she knew. Was the conversation worth this frustration?
She knew the answer. Dustin loved her, and even though he drove her crazy, he was worth a lifetime of frustrating conversation.
It was his turn to roll his eyes. “If I had come at you with guns blazing, begging you to stay with me, would your first inclination have been to say yes and stay or run at the first opportunity?"
Heat flushed her cheeks. He knew her better than she knew herself. “Honestly, as much as I wanted to see if we could hook up, I was too afraid of being like Carolyn. I would have bolted."
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Exactly. And no matter how much I wanted you or how much I knew you belonged with me, I could never ask you to give up your career. That's why I was prepared to let you go again if living in New York truly made you happy. But with you living in Bandera, I wouldn't have to. I took a gamble that you still loved me, and thankfully it paid off."
"Maybe I'm an idiot, but again I'm confused.” She pulled away and folded her arms over her chest. “What exactly are you trying to say?"
Dustin stepped close until they were belly to belly and cupped her elbows. “Yes, I'm an ass, and I know I infuriate you—your expression is still an open book to me. Shannon, I love you, you love me, and I think we would make each other incredibly happy for a very long time."
That wasn't enough for her. “So you've given me permission to keep my career and you'll visit me at the Rocking P for booty calls? Nice.” Not that the idea of booty calls with Dustin was a distasteful idea. Hope swelled beneath her breast.
He cocked his head to the side. “I want us to be together forever, Shay. Now that you're so close, I'm not going to let you go. The way I see it, you're going to be driving to San Antonio every day, so someone will need to run the Rocking P. I had already decided to sell my share of the ranch to Dillon. I'm currently out of work, and you are looking for a ranch manager. Who is more qualified than me? And when we have kids, we'll figure out the particulars. But I'm pretty sure their Grandma Dumen would be more than willing to watch her grandbabies."
Her eyes misted. “You really want to be with me forever?” She'd hoped but hadn't been all that confident in this outcome.
He placed a kiss at each corner of her mouth. “Forever. Marry me?"
Joy flooded her, and she launched her body into his arms, planting her lips firmly on his. “I love you,” she murmured, not breaking the contact. This felt right. She was finally home to stay. “Yes, I'll marry you."
Dustin swept her into his arms and swung her around. “You've made me one happy man, my sexy Shannon."
Tears of happiness coursed down her cheeks. No more looking back. No more asking what if. Her future with the man of her dreams loomed large ahead of her, bright like the Texas sun.
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About the Author
JJ Ranger has been writing for over a decade, bouncing around genres. Though she is newly published in the erotic genre, she enjoys putting her characters in predicaments that allow them to explore their inner fantasies and pushing them out of their comfort zone
Visit JJ at
www.fantasycometolife.blogspot.com
To chat with JJ Ranger and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
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Also Available
Deacon's Touch
by
Callie Croix
Book One of the Dume Ranch Series
After her own engagement goes to hell, workaholic Jessica Talbot dreads her friend's bachelorette party at a dude ranch in Nowheresville, Texas. But the outlook for the weekend brightens when Deacon Dumen picks her up at the airport. The sexy cowboy awakens every dormant sexual fantasy with nothing more than a friendly smile and a handshake.
Ex-Air Force Pararescueman Deke Dumen doesn't know what to make of the sexy yet reserved brunette who breaks through the walls he built after an injury ended his career and a divorce soured him on relationships. As a guest at his family's ranch Jessie is off limits, but the Dom in him rebels at the restriction, even as he realizes his penchant for control in the bedroom would likely scare the holy hell out of her.
When Jessie shocks Deke by asking for exactly what he's been craving, he's ready to break the rules and introduce her to his own brand of dominance. Her willing surrender rocks them both to the core. But once the weekend's over, they must decide if it was just a wild fling or the start of something more.
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Chapter One
"I'm not going to make it.” Jessica Talbot wedged her cell phone between her ear and shoulder as she juggled her purse and briefcase and ran through the terminal toward her gate. “Mechanical problems grounded my connection, so they're trying to get me on another flight. It's already boarded,” she added, dodging a young family to find a clear path.
"Aw, you're going to miss the bonfire.” Bridgette's voice rang with disappointment. “I wanted everyone to get to know each other before we turned in for the night."
Jessie was already in a bad mood, and her friend was making it worse. The only reason she'd come on this trip was because Bridgette's fiance had guilted her into going. Bridge really likes you, and none of my friends or family are going. It'd mean a lot to both of us if you'd go to the ranch.
Already up to her eyeballs in work, Jessica had taken the wheedling for as long as she could before cracking Monday night. Now here she was, stressed about being away from the office when she had so much work to do and chasing a connecting flight after a series of mishaps that was becoming laughable.
Bridgette was a sweetheart, but after the hellish day she'd had, the last thing she cared about was sitting around a smoky bonfire with a bunch of strangers. “Sorry, hon. Go on without me.” God, O'Hare was freaking huge. Twelve more gates to go. Her legs already felt like rubber, and she was having trouble catching her breath. “Once I get to the ranch, I'll be too wiped to visit anyhow, so I'll probably just turn in. If I don't get lost on my way out there, that is,” she muttered under her breath.
"You're renting a car?"
"Guess I'll have to now.” She didn't expect the others to wait around two hours for her.
"No, we'll send out one of the owners to pick you up."
To catch her breath, Jessie finally slowed to a fast walk and shifted her camera bag onto her other shoulder to grab her phone. “You sure? I don't want to put anyone out."
"Hang on."
She could hear a deep male voice in the background, then Bridgette's before she came back on the line. “It's not a problem. Deacon will pick you up."
"Deacon. Okay, and how am I going to find him?"
"I just showed him your picture, so he'll find you."
Her picture? Oh, God... She fought back a sigh. “Not the one from your shower last week."
Bridgette laughed. “Sorry, it's the only one I had on my phone."
Jessie swallowed a groan. Lovely. The guy was probably dreading meeting her now. She looked like a stoned vampire in that shot. Complete with red eyes and a head of snarled, frizzy curls from being caught out in the rain.
"Just look for a tall cowboy in a hat and boots, and yo
u can't miss him."
Yeah, like there weren't plenty of those in San Antonio? Her phone beeped. “Damn, my battery's running low. Gotta go, hon, but I'll see you at the ranch."
By the time she got off the plane in San Antonio, all she wanted was a shower and a bed. The thought of spending the weekend with a group of women she didn't know was suddenly enough to make her want to catch a flight home.
Too late now, and you've got no one to blame but yourself. Suck it up, princess.
She followed the throng of passengers to the baggage claim and glanced around to see if anyone looked like they recognized her but, after a few minutes, walked up to the carousel. Her suitcase was one of the last off, of course, and she lugged it off the conveyor with a sigh before turning to face the crowd of people milling about.
She spotted a cowboy wearing a hat, standing off to the side, and started toward him. He was a pleasant-looking man, somewhere in his fifties, and gave her a smile as she approached. “Are you Deacon?"
His smile widened. “No, ma'am, but I wish I was."
"Oh. Thanks.” Embarrassed, she stopped and changed directions, pulling her bags out of the foot traffic so she could scan the area without getting in anyone's way. No more tall cowboys wearing Stetsons. Great, that's all she needed—to have the day capped off by her ride standing her up. Taking a cab out to the ranch from here would probably cost a small fortune. She should have said no and stayed home. Why the hell couldn't she just say no to people?
She fished out her cell and was dialing the ranch when the automatic doors opened and a gorgeous man walked in. Her eyes immediately locked on him and stayed there, admiring his long legs encased in snug jeans and wide shoulders set off by a black T-shirt. His arms rippled with muscle as he moved.
No hat, but whoa. Now that was an attractive man.
When he glanced in her direction, she jerked her gaze away and went back to searching the crowd. In her peripheral vision, she could see him coming closer. Then closer still. She looked over, stealing another peek. A ripple of shock ran through her when she realized he was staring back at her. Heading right toward her. She straightened, her heart tripping. This couldn't be her ride.
Good God, he was gorgeous. Over six feet, with short dark hair and a chiseled, clean-shaven face that made the breath catch in her throat. His confident stride and posture drew every female eye. Every dormant sexual fiber in her body suddenly flared to life. Unable to look away, she stared at him. To the point of rudeness.
As he neared, he nodded to her. Dark blue eyes met her startled gaze, and the corners crinkled in something close to a smile.
"Jessica?” His deep, Texas drawl rolled over her like melted chocolate, and his teeth were a flash of white in his tan face.
Squelching the sudden nerves in her stomach, she gave him a polite smile. “Yes. You're Deacon?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Of course he was. She couldn't believe Bridgette hadn't at least warned her so she could freshen up before meeting him. The man screamed sex, and not the polite, gentle kind. No, a man like that would dole out hard, sweaty loving that would leave her feeling tired and a bit sore. The kind of sex she hadn't had in...
Hell, she couldn't remember the last time she'd had sex like that. But definitely not since she and her ex had first been together.
Deacon offered his hand. “Call me Deke."
She swiped hers self-consciously against her jeans before clasping his firmly. His palm was warm and hard, but his long fingers closed around hers in a gentle grip. The brief contact sent a jolt straight up her arm and down to the pit of her stomach. When he let go a second later, her heart was pounding against her ribs.
Gathering her scattered wits, she found her voice. “Thanks for coming to get me."
"My pleasure.” He nodded at her luggage. “Is this it?"
"Yes. Sorry I didn't recognize you, but I was looking for someone wearing a hat.” You sound retarded. Stop talking.
A grin. “It's in the truck. Ready?"
He grasped the handle of her suitcase and pivoted around to set a hand on the small of her back. She jerked at his touch, and cursed her fair coloring that betrayed her nervous blush at his nearness.
He didn't seem to notice. “We're out this way."
His broad hand pressed above her waistband as he guided her out to the curb, the delicious warmth of it seeping into her skin. The contact was firm yet gentle, and somehow protective. It stirred up everything female inside her. That simple touch made her nipples bead against her bra and set off alarm bells in her head.
Since her broken engagement, she'd barely looked twice at a man. And she'd never reacted to one so strongly. But something about Deacon made her body sit up and take notice. She hadn't seen a ring on his wedding finger, but maybe he couldn't wear one because of his work at the ranch.
Or maybe he was single.
Single doesn't necessarily mean unattached.
Shocked by her thoughts, she gave herself a mental shake and forced away the nerves squirming in her belly. Why was she even wondering about his marital status? In her head, she groaned. He was yet another complication she didn't want to face this weekend, but for the next forty five minutes or so, she didn't have much choice.
This was going to be a long drive out to the ranch.
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Dustin's Gamble Page 7
