His Texas Runaway (Men 0f The West Book 41)

by Stella Bagwell

  His body was everything she’d imagined it to be. Starting with his arms and ending with his legs, he was all hard, sculpted muscle and golden-brown skin. She couldn’t wait to touch him and discover how it would feel to have her body tangled with his.

  He climbed onto the bed and, kneeling over her, began to unbutton her blouse. Once the two pieces of fabric fell away and exposed her bra, his fingers traced the lacy edge, then cupped around the fullness of her breasts.

  “I’m not exactly looking my best,” she murmured. “I still have a bit of weight to lose and my skin is marked in places.”

  Smiling, his fingers lingered on her breasts for a few moments longer, then slipped downward over her midriff and onto the zipper of her jeans. “You couldn’t look more beautiful to me than you do at this moment.”

  “You don’t have to say that sort of thing to make me happy, Chandler. It’s enough that you want me...like this.”

  By now he was tugging her jeans over her bare feet. Once he’d tossed them to the floor, she raised up so he could remove her blouse. When it was out of the way, he eased her back to the mattress, then stretched out next to her.

  “Do you think I’m just mouthing words?” he asked as he pulled her into the circle of his arms.

  Giddy with desire, Roslyn wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t know what you’re thinking,” she admitted.

  “Then it’s time I showed you.”

  His lips found hers and as he kissed her hungrily, his hands reached to her back and unclasped her bra. When he peeled the fabric away, his fingers traced the outline of each breast and then his mouth left hers to brush against the soft sensitive skin.

  The teasing sensation caused the aching need in her to build and spread, until she was certain it was going to consume her.

  Then just when she was sure he was going to take one of the budded nipples into his mouth, his head lifted and he reclaimed her lips with another heated kiss.

  By the time his tongue invited hers to mate with his, the room was spinning and every inch of her was burning with a need so intense she thought her body would ignite into a thousand tiny flames.

  The taste of his mouth was a delicious mystery that made her want more and more, while the hard warmth of his body lured her senses to a place she’d never been before. Somewhere along the way, she realized she was crushed so tightly in his arms, she could scarcely move, much less breathe. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except making love to him.

  When he finally eased himself off the bed and removed the last of their clothing, Roslyn had to bite back the needy whimpers clawing at the back of her throat.

  Back on the bed, he positioned himself over her, but instead of connecting their bodies, he looked down at her and his blue eyes gently searched her face.

  “Ros, are you sure about this—about me?”

  His voice was thick with desire and yet she could also hear something else. Something that sounded incredibly like love. Was that possible?

  No. She wasn’t going to think about that now. Tonight was all about giving him what he wanted and taking everything she needed.

  Reaching up, she cradled his face with her hands. “I’m sure, Chandler. Very sure.”

  He let out a long breath and then with his eyes locked on her face, he parted her thighs and lowered his body down to hers.

  Roslyn had thought she was prepared for him, but she’d been wrong. The sensation of having him inside her was like a thousand cymbals crashing together in her head. It sucked the oxygen from her lungs and rocked her equilibrium.

  With a helpless groan, her fingers latched onto his shoulders. “Chandler. Oh, Chandler.”

  Lowering his face to hers, he kissed her forehead, her cheeks and finally her lips. “I know, my darling. It’s too good. Too good.”

  Yes, it was too good, she thought. Because now, after this, after him, nothing was going to be the same.

  The thought very nearly caused her to sob, but she swallowed the urge and pleaded, “Love me, Chandler. Please love me.”

  He answered her imploring request, and in a matter of moments Roslyn was meeting his rapid thrusts with a fierceness that stunned her.

  * * *

  Long minutes later, Chandler stared at the shadowy wall of the bedroom and wondered what had just happened to him. Taking Roslyn to bed had been like walking into a tornado and he was still shaking from the aftermath.

  From the very first night Roslyn had come into his life, he’d recognized that she was different from the women he’d dated in the past. He’d not understood exactly why she’d evoked such tender feelings in him, but she had. And because of her situation with the baby and her father, he’d tried his best to tamp down his emotions and think of her simply as a woman in need. But that hadn’t worked. Now, more than two months had passed and he could no longer deny that he loved her utterly. But would the future take her and the baby away from him?

  The soft touch of her hands against his back tugged his thoughts to the present and he rolled over so that his face was next to hers on the pillow.

  “Is something wrong, Chandler?”

  His hand trembling, he smoothed strands of tangled brown hair from her face and tried to give her an easy smile.

  “Nothing is wrong, my sweet. I’m just trying to get my wind back.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Besides, I’m the one who should be asking if you’re okay.”

  She curved her arm around his waist and drew the front of her damp body next to his. The feel of her full breasts and soft thighs brushing against him made his loins ache to have her again. It was crazy how much he wanted her. How much he figured he would always want her.

  “Mmm. I’m more than okay. I feel—”

  He pulled his head back to see uncertainty swimming in her eyes. “You feel what?” he prompted. “Do you wish this hadn’t happened?”

  “Oh, no, Chandler. I’m not thinking anything like that.” She touched her fingertips to the indentation in his chin. “I was just trying to decide how to tell you that... I love you.”

  He went stock-still and for a moment he thought his heart had quit beating. “Love...me,” he said. “Roslyn, what just happened with us, it...was incredible, but—”

  Her gaze dropped from his face and she pulled slightly back from him. “You don’t have to explain or make excuses. Just because I love you doesn’t mean I expect you to automatically feel the same about me. But I decided—” Sighing, she rolled to her back and stared at the ceiling. “After the huge mistake I made with Erich, I don’t want anything hidden between you and me.”

  Propping himself up on one elbow, he gazed down at her soft features. “I don’t want anything hidden, either,” he said gently. “And if you hadn’t stopped me a moment ago, you would’ve heard me say how much I love you, too.”

  Her gaze fluttered warily up to his face and she stared at him in stunned disbelief. “You...love me? Chandler, I—”

  He waited for her to finish, but no words followed. Instead, a trail of tears slipped down her cheeks.

  “Roslyn, why are you crying? What’s wrong?”

  Her head twisted back and forth on the pillow. “Because...this all has to be a dream. I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and you’ll be gone.”

  Was she really that insecure? Couldn’t she see how much he adored her?

  “Oh, darling Ros, why would you think that? I’m here. And I have no intentions of leaving or letting you slip away.”

  Her brown eyes were still wet with tears and filled with doubt. “You already have a wonderful life, Chandler. A huge, loving family. A thriving business. Devoted friends. You don’t need me and Evelyn. Especially when you can have any woman.”

  Groaning, he reached to pull her close. “Even if I could have any woman, I don’t want her. I want you.”

  “I don’t know why. I�
�m just a runaway with too much baggage and too many scars. My father tells me I need to grow up or I’ll never be able to hold a man.”

  Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he said, “I think the man needs to work on his own problems before he gives out advice. But we’ll discuss him later. Right now I don’t want to waste this night with talk. Do you?”

  She smiled at him and his heart swelled as he wiped at the track of tears on her face.

  “No,” she whispered. “I don’t want to waste a moment.”

  He lowered his lips to hers and as he kissed her, he recognized, for the first time in his life, he was tasting real love.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning, Hollister Animal Hospital was overrun with patients, and to make matters worse Cybil was late getting to work because she’d been helping her sister tow her dead car to a garage to be repaired.

  He hadn’t fully expected to be finished with everyone on the appointment book, plus a few walk-ins, by the time lunch hour rolled around. But somehow he and the staff had cleared the place. Since he rarely left the building, other than to make a house call, Loretta had looked surprised when he’d told her he was going downtown and wouldn’t be back until the clinic reopened at one.

  Chandler hadn’t told any of the staff where he was going. His plans were too private and special to share with anyone, except the woman he loved.

  A few minutes later, when he walked up on the small porch of Roslyn’s apartment, he could hear Evelyn screaming angrily. But by the time Roslyn opened the door to greet him, the baby had quieted to intermittent howls.

  In spite of the noise, Roslyn didn’t appear to be the least bit flustered. In fact, the smile on her face had to be the warmest, most inviting one he’d ever seen.

  “Chandler! Come in before Evelyn disturbs the whole neighborhood!” She reached for his hand and tugged him over the threshold.

  Chandler stepped past Roslyn and into the foyer. “She must be wanting her lunch.”

  Roslyn shook her head. “She’s already had lunch. She’s angry because I took her out of the bathtub and dressed her.”

  Chandler laughed. “So she’s already a little diva and doesn’t want her bubble bath to be interrupted. What a girl!”

  “‘What a girl’ is right,” Roslyn said with a chuckle. “I can already see her teenage years ahead. I’m not expecting them to be easy.”

  She raised up on her tiptoes and lifted her face to receive his kiss. The sweet contact of having his lips on hers brought the night before rushing back to him, and from the wash of pink on her cheeks, he figured she was remembering, too.

  “This is a wonderful surprise,” she murmured. “How did you manage to get away from the clinic at this time of day?”

  “It must be the full moon,” he said jokingly. “All my patients were cooperative this morning.”

  She linked her arm through his and urged him on to the living room. “Have you eaten yet? I’ll fix you a sandwich and iced tea.”

  “I...don’t have time to eat. I need to be back at the clinic by one. And I want to talk with you.”

  Both her brows arched coyly. “Just talk?”

  Grinning, he pulled her close and placed a long kiss on her lips. “Yes, just talk for now. But later tonight might be different,” he suggested.

  “I’ll take that as a promise.” She gestured to the couch. “Grab a seat and I’ll put Evelyn in her crib. I think she’s beginning to see the mobile. That might keep her occupied.”

  Normally he would’ve ignored her offer to take a seat and followed her to the nursery so he could hold Evelyn. But with the few minutes he had quickly ticking away, he didn’t want to get sidetracked.

  “All right,” he told her. “I’ll wait right here.”

  While she was gone, he double-checked his pocket and sighed with relief as his fingers came into contact with the small, fabric-covered box. Damn it, he should’ve taken the time to stop and buy flowers, too. But those would have to come later tonight, he thought, when he took her to Jose’s for dinner.

  “Wonder of wonders,” Roslyn said as she reentered the living room. “As soon as I put her in the crib, the crying stopped and her eyelids drooped. She’s probably already asleep.”

  “I’m glad. Because I need your undivided attention.”

  He patted the cushion next to his and she obliged by sinking down close to his side.

  “Okay, so what is this about? Returning to work at the clinic?”

  He looked at her with surprise. “Why would you think that? Evelyn isn’t two months old yet and I know you want to spend as much time with her as possible.”

  She shrugged. “I’ve been talking with Loretta. She says Cybil is running herself ragged and causing extra work for you. It’s obvious you could use my help.”

  “Would you like to work at the clinic again? I mean, later on, after Evelyn gets a little older.”

  She reached for his hand and rubbed her fingertips over the back of it. Her touch helped soothe the anxious beat of his heart.

  “I loved working at the clinic,” she said. “But whether I go back later depends on how you feel about it.”

  He took a deep breath and let it out. “That’s what I wanted to talk with you about—to tell you exactly what I want. For you and me and Evelyn.”

  Her lips parted as her gaze searched his face. “What are you saying, Chandler? Are you asking me to move back to Three Rivers?”

  He clasped both her hands between his. “Yes, I am. I asking you to come back to Three Rivers as my wife.”

  “Wife.”

  She repeated the word as though she’d never heard it before and Chandler could see he’d shocked her.

  “That’s right. I want you to be my wife, Roslyn. I want Evelyn to be my daughter.” Rather than wait for her to reply, he reached to his shirt pocket. As he pulled out the box and flipped open the lid, her brown eyes grew wider and wider. “Will you marry me, Roslyn DuBose?”

  Shaking her head, she let out a sound that was something between a laugh and a sob. “I don’t understand, Chandler. When did you decide this?”

  “Probably when I carried you into the clinic that first night we met.”

  She groaned. “Be serious, Chandler.”

  “I am being serious. I wanted to wrap my arms around you and never let go. I still feel that way. I’ll always feel that way.” He took the ring from its velvet bed and pushed it onto the appropriate finger. “If you don’t like the ring, you can change it for something else. And it might need to be resized. I guessed at the fit.”

  She gazed down at the large, emerald cut diamond flanked by two smaller round diamonds.

  “It’s unbelievably beautiful, Chandler. And the size is perfect. But I—” She looked at him and shook her head. “Are you truly certain this is what you want? Last night—”

  “I’ve been thinking about this long before last night, Roslyn. I love you. I love Evelyn. You’re everything I want. All I need now is for you to say yes.”

  She looked at the ring, then back up to his eager face. “I love you so much, Chandler. The only thing I can say is yes. Yes! Yes!”

  Flinging her arms around him, she pressed her lips to his and as he kissed her, Chandler felt as if everything in the world had righted itself.

  When their lips finally parted, he pressed his cheek against hers and held her tight against him. “I know you’re probably wondering about my work and how I’ll ever make time for you and the baby. But I will. I promise I’ll make it happen. We’re going to be happy—together.”

  She pulled her head back far enough to look at him and the joy he saw in her eyes made his spirits soar even higher.

  “I’m not worried. Blake and Joe have managed to balance work and marriage. Whatever your brothers can do, you can do, too.”

  “Dang right,” he
said with a chuckle. “Now, when are we going to set the date? I’m sure you’ll want enough time to plan a wedding and that’s okay with me. As long as you make it quick.”

  Laughing, she squeezed his hands. “You mean, like a few-days quick? Or a few-weeks quick?”

  “I’m thinking days, but I want you to be happy. Maybe with Mom and Vivian and Katherine and Tessa all helping with wedding plans, you can shave the wedding date down to a month from now.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him again. “Oh, Chandler, I don’t need a fancy wedding. As far as I’m concerned I’d be happy to elope to Reno or somewhere. But then I’d feel badly about knocking your family out of the celebration. Maybe we can compromise with a simple ceremony on the ranch?”

  He nodded. “That sounds perfect. Because I wouldn’t feel good about leaving out family, either. And Roslyn, speaking of family—I really want you to contact your father and let him know about the baby, and me, and the wedding. It would be the right thing to do.”

  Like the flip of a light switch, her expression suddenly turned incredulous.

  “You expect me to contact my father? After all I’ve told you? I can’t believe I’m hearing you right, Chandler!”

  Pulling her hands from his, she rose from the couch and walked across the room. Chandler stared after her. He’d expected her to be resistant to the idea, but not this vehemently.

  “I don’t think my suggestion is that outrageous, Roslyn,” he reasoned. “This is an eventful time in your life. I’m thinking you should want to show your father that you’re happy. That you’re now the mother of a beautiful daughter and a wife to me.”

  She turned around and even at a distance he could see the anguish twisting her features. “I’m not inhuman, Chandler. It would give me great satisfaction to show him how much he misjudged me. I’d like for him to see I’m a capable person and can stand on my own without him dictating my every move. Trouble is, his interfering wouldn’t stop there, Chandler. You see, happiness doesn’t factor in to Martin DuBose’s plans. Whether my mother or I was ever happy has never been his concern. He’s only interested in having things his way. To put it bluntly, he’d cause us all kinds of hell.”