Kissed by a Rancher

by Sara Orwig

  “No, you can’t. I can buy it from you and run it just as it is. You can pay off your mother’s house with the money and pay for your siblings to finish college. I have enough money that we can do whatever you want to do. If your family wants to be closer, I can move them to Verity. Abby, we can do whatever we want about your family.” His dark eyes were intent on her, and his voice was filled with conviction. She felt stunned, amazed as she listened.

  “I have enough money to take care of all of them, aunts included. We’ll take care of Edwin, too. He won’t be moved out. It’s just no problem. If they want to stay here, I have family planes at my disposal, and you can fly back and forth. The problem is, I don’t want to go through life without you.”

  She felt dizzy as she looked at him and tried to fathom what he was telling her.

  “Josh, you’ve had a lot of women in your life. I can’t see you settling down.”

  He stood and pulled her to her feet to wrap his arms around her. She placed her hands on his forearms.

  “I love you with all my heart,” he declared. “I want to live on the ranch with you or wherever you’d like to live. I want you with me, Abby. That’s what’s important. Will you marry me?”

  “I just can’t believe you really are in love and won’t change your mind.”

  “I promise. I won’t change my mind.”

  “I don’t even know if you want children.”

  “Yes, I do,” he said. “Abby, for heaven’s sake, you’re doing me in here—don’t tell me you haven’t missed me or thought about me.”

  Her heart pounded. Josh was in love with her. He wanted to marry her, and he would move to his ranch and take care of the inn. Lost in thought about all he had said, she stared at him another minute while all color drained from his face.

  “Abby, I want to marry you,” he repeated.

  Hoping he meant every word, she threw her arms around his neck. “I guess you have to take chances in life. I love you, Josh.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. It took one startled second before his arms tightened around her and he kissed her in return, a hard, possessive kiss that reaffirmed his declaration of love.

  Suddenly she leaned back to look at him. “I haven’t met your family. You don’t know Mom or my grandmother.”

  “So we’ll meet everybody. It’ll work out.”

  “Suppose your family doesn’t like me?”

  “That’s totally impossible,” he said, kissing her again. He finally raised his head. “Abby, give me an answer—”

  “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you with all my heart.”

  He kissed again, passionately, a long kiss that made her heart pound with joy and all doubts crumble and fade.

  “We need to tell our families,” Josh said when he released her. “Can I have a room for the night?”

  She laughed. “Yes, you can stay in a room or on my sofa. That’s your choice. You don’t get any other choice, because I don’t have privacy here.”

  “I’ll settle for whatever I can get. Oh, wait. I’m not doing this right,” he said, reaching in his pocket to pull out a box. Another shock rocked her when she saw his hands shake. He fumbled trying to get the top off the box until she had to hold back a smile. He yanked off the top and tossed it to the floor, taking out a smaller black box, which he opened. “If this doesn’t fit or you don’t like it, we can change it,” he said.

  She stared at a huge, dazzling diamond. “Josh, that is so beautiful,” she said.

  He removed it from the box and dropped the box to take her hand and slip the ring on her finger.

  “It’s heart-shaped,” she said.

  “That’s so you’ll remember the night we kissed in the heart-shaped shadow,” he said. “We’ll work everything out, I promise.”

  She looked up, and his dark eyes were filled with love. “Josh,” she whispered, throwing her arms around him tightly as she kissed him. “I love you.”

  He crushed her against him, kissing her possessively.

  Finally he released her. “I can’t ever express how much I’ve missed you. Let’s go tell your relatives and then we’ll call my family. We’re planning a family dinner soon, so you can meet all of them.”

  She framed his face with her hands. “You’re sure about giving up your business? That’s an enormous life change. Maybe I can make some concessions.”

  “I’m sure. I love ranching, and I don’t want to travel and be away from you. I’ll see more of all my family, which is a plus. Think you can live in the boonies on a ranch?”

  She laughed and waved her hand at her surroundings. “What do you think? Of course, I can. Look at the life I lead now.”

  “You always have people around you. You won’t have a bunch at the ranch.”

  “Maybe we can work on that one,” she said, smiling at him as she kissed him again.

  After a few minutes, he raised his head. “We’re engaged. You’re sure I go on the sofa tonight?”

  “On the sofa or in another room.”

  “Let’s set this wedding date soon. The Colorado trip may have to be postponed slightly. I’ll still go, just a little later.”

  “Mr. Hickman will understand.”

  She gazed into Josh’s brown eyes, and her heart beat faster because love filled his expression. He had never looked at her the way he did now, with warmth and intense longing. He drew her close to kiss her once more, a long kiss that made her heart pound. When he raised his head to look at her, he touched her cheek, caressing her lightly with his fingertips. “I’ve been through hell without you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered, certain she would remember this night for the rest of her life, even though at the moment it held a dreamlike quality.

  He took her hand. “Who do we tell first?”

  “If I get my choice, I’d say let’s tell my mom right away. Let me call and see if she’s home. She’ll be happy, Josh.” In minutes she put away her phone. “She said to come over.”

  “I want to get moving so we can start planning a wedding.”

  As they walked to her mother’s house, Josh’s cell phone rang and he answered. He took her wrist to stop her and put his phone on speaker. “This is my brother Jake. I’m going to tell him now.”

  She nodded and listened. “Jake, I have this on speaker. I’m with Abby Donovan.”

  “Hi, Abby Donovan,” Jake said.

  She smiled as Josh put his arm around her shoulders. “Jake, I was going to call you. You go first though.”

  “Mike and Savannah came home. We’re having dinner a week from Friday night.”

  “I’ll clear my calendar,” Josh answered. “I’m bringing Abby.” He looked at her.

  “Abby, you’re definitely invited,” Jake said.

  “Thank you. That date is fine with me,” she said, looking at Josh.

  “It’ll be fun, and Abby can meet the family and vice versa.”

  “Look forward to it. Now what are you calling me about?”

  “Jake, I’ve asked Abby to marry me, and she’s accepted. We’re engaged,” Josh announced, smiling at Abby and kissing her briefly.

  “Congratulations to you. Abby, we’re delighted to have you in the family and look forward to meeting you. That’s wonderful news.”

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling. “I’m happy and I can’t wait to meet Josh’s family.”

  “I’ll call the others tonight,” Josh added. “You’re the first person we’ve told.”

  “That’s really good news, Josh. I’m glad.”

  “I’ll talk to you later,” Josh said. “We’re on our way to tell Abby’s mom and grandmom.”

  “Have fun. Talk to you, bro.”

  The call ended, and after giving Abby a hug, Josh dropped the phone into his pocket.

>   They reached her mother’s house. Abby went ahead, calling to her mother, who appeared and ushered them into the kitchen.

  “Mom, I want you to meet Josh Calhoun. Josh, this is my mother, Nell Donovan.”

  “I’m glad to meet you,” Nell said. “Now I have a chance to thank you for clearing snow off my driveway.”

  “I was glad to do it, and I’m glad to meet you.”

  “Mom, Josh has asked me to marry him. We’re engaged,” she said, holding out her hand for her mother to see her ring.

  “Oh, Abby, how marvelous,” Nell said, hugging her daughter and turning to Josh. “Welcome to our family, Josh. Justin will be thrilled to have another male in the family.” She looked at the ring. “What a gorgeous ring. That’s breathtaking.”

  “Mrs. Donovan, I know it’s old-fashioned, but since Abby’s father is gone, maybe I should have asked your permission first.”

  “If you make Abby happy, you have my permission. I think this is wonderful. We need to tell Grandma. You know what she will worry about, but we’ll work it out.”

  “Josh already has, Mom. Let’s go tell Grandma and sit and let Josh tell you what he has offered.” Abby smiled at him and linked her arm through his. “Come meet my grandmother. We both have a lot of relatives to meet.”

  “Arden is on her way here to pick up something. When you tell her, they’ll probably hear her screaming with joy at the inn,” her mother remarked. “She’ll think this is very romantic.”

  “Mom’s right. Hold your ears, Josh, when we tell her.”

  They all laughed as they went to the living room to find her grandmother. Abby wanted to shout with joy herself, and she kept glancing at the ring that was merely a symbol of what she and Josh had found in each other.

  * * *

  Butterflies were in her stomach as she stood in the foyer with the wedding planner and Justin at her side. She couldn’t believe the date had finally arrived—a Saturday morning, the fourth weekend in May. Arden was maid of honor, and her best friend, Colleen, and Josh’s sister, Lindsay, were bridesmaids. They all wore ankle-length yellow silk crepe dresses with spaghetti straps and straight skirts.

  Abby glanced briefly at the groomsmen: Josh’s brother Jake was best man, and Mike and two of Josh’s friends from college were groomsmen. When she looked at Josh, all her nervous jitters ceased. He was so handsome it took her breath away, and she still couldn’t believe she was about to become his wife and move to his ranch. He had already bought the bed-and-breakfast, hired someone to run it and made arrangements to pay Arden’s and Justin’s college costs. He’d paid off her mother’s house. He had flown all her family, including her aunts and Mr. Hickman, to Dallas, and they were staying at a large hotel owned by Josh.

  Right now, all she wanted was to be with Josh and leave for their honeymoon.

  Justin took her arm. “You look pretty, sis,” he said quietly, and she smiled at him.

  “Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself,” she said, thinking he did look handsome in his black tux.

  “I think all of Beckett has turned out for the wedding, including Lamont,” he said. “I can’t think of anyone we know who isn’t here.”

  “I noticed, and I’m amazed they all came. Mom is friends with a lot of people.”

  “I believe you are, too,” he said.

  “It’s time,” the wedding planner stated. With a nod at Justin, they stepped off together to start down the aisle. Again, she could see only Josh.

  She went through the ceremony in a daze, looking at the slim gold wedding band that held a row of diamonds.

  Then they were introduced to the guests as Mr. and Mrs. Josh Calhoun. Josh kissed her briefly, smiling at her as he linked her arm in his to leave.

  Later, at the reception at a Dallas club, Josh took her hand for the first dance. When the band began to play a Strauss waltz, she smiled at him. “You did this and didn’t tell me.”

  “I did. I thought you’d want a waltz.”

  “I love it,” she said. “And you waltz divinely.”

  “I don’t know about that. No one’s ever said that to me before, but great,” he said, laughing. “Soon my dad will dance with you. My mom thinks you’re wonderful and a very good influence on me.”

  Abby laughed. “I hope I’m a good influence and not a bad one.”

  “Never. My brothers will dance with you, too.”

  “Your sister has been so nice to me. They all are. You have a very nice family. There are also a lot of Milans here. I think that feud is dead.”

  “You’re new to the family. It’s not dead because Tony and Lindsay keep it going. If you’ll notice, they stay on opposite sides of the room. He’s a friend, so I put him on the wedding list, but he won’t stay at this reception, and the sole reason he’ll leave is Lindsay. The feud isn’t over yet.”

  “Well, you still have a very nice family. All the Calhouns have been friendly and welcoming. They’ve been that way to my family, too.”

  “Thanks. They’re glad to have you join the family. Everyone thinks you’ll be good for me,” he said, grinning.

  “Maybe it’s best I don’t know a whole lot about your life.”

  “I’ll tell you most anything you want to know.”

  “I’m quite happy with what I know now,” she said. “Lamont will probably dance with me, and I’m sure you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all.”

  “I hope Lamont finds someone who is really in love with him.”

  “He probably will now that you’re out of the way. See the blonde standing at the edge of the dance floor and talking to three guys?”

  “Yes. She came through the receiving line. Emma, I think.”

  He nodded. “She’s an old, close friend. I took her out to try to get you out of my system when I came back from Beckett. She figured out before we got through dinner that I was in love with someone else and thought it very funny that I had finally fallen in love. She asked me to invite her to the wedding.”

  “She may be a close friend, but she’s not old. She’s stunning.”

  “Definitely not as stunning as my bride. When I was out with her, all I did was think about you and miss you. You’re gorgeous, Abby, and you’ve made me the happiest man on earth today.”

  “I hope so. I love you, Josh. I love my beautiful heart ring. See, I told you that night you were tempting fate by following that old legend of kissing in the shadow. Once again it came true.”

  “I’m damn glad I did tempt fate,” he said, smiling at her.

  “We’ll be leaving soon, and you said you would surprise me with the honeymoon you’ve planned. I think it’s time to tell me.”

  “We fly to New York and then to Vienna, where you can waltz your way through this honeymoon.”

  “Josh, I’m thrilled. Thrilled with Vienna and the waltz prospects.”

  “We’ll also go to Switzerland and Germany so you can see all the castles you want.”

  “I feel as if I’m dreaming.”

  “I do, too,” he said, suddenly looking at her intently and losing his smile. “I love you more than I can show you, but I’m going to try every day of my life.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

  “I intend to keep that promise, Abby. I mean it. I need you more than you’ll ever know.”

  “There are some things about you I’ll never understand. You shouldn’t have had a shred of interest in me.”

  “I told you to remember the old saying, ‘opposites attract,’ and believe me, you attracted me from the first moment I looked into your big, blue eyes.”

  She smiled. “I could say the same in reverse. I’ll be glad when we can leave.”

  “Just let me know when. I was ready when we walked down the aisle.”

 
* * *

  It was eight that evening when he carried her into the penthouse at his New York hotel. He set her on her feet and looked at her a moment in a silent exchange, his dark eyes filled with love. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her. Abby clung to him, kissing him passionately, letting her love pour through. Happiness filled her. She was starting life with Josh, the only man she had ever really loved.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this novel, read more in the LONE STAR LEGENDS series from USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig

  THE TEXAN’S FORBIDDEN FIANCÉE

  A TEXAN IN HER BED

  AT THE RANCHER’S REQUEST

  Available now from Harlequin Desire!

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