Honeymoon With the Rancher

With a groan, Tomas spanned her ribs with his hands and lifted her as if she weighed nothing. His gaze held her captive as he moved them back and to the side, and then braced himself back against part of the ombu tree. Gravity worked to his favour and her body rested against his, feeling all the ridges and planes of his body. She sank into him, losing herself in the kiss, letting everything from her past stay a continent away.

His hands skimmed down her ribs and desire rushed through her as she pressed against him.

A door slammed up at the house, the dull sound echoing through the stillness and Soph

ia pushed away. This was why she had to go. Another few days with him and leaving would be even more difficult. This could go nowhere. They both knew it. Now they needed to accept it.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” she announced, her voice clear and abrupt in the soft night.

“Tomorrow?” Tomas reached for her, but she stepped back.

“No, please don’t.” She held up a hand, knowing if he reached for her again she might change her mind. “I can’t go on this way, Tomas. There is nothing holding me here—not even a reservation now. What are we doing exactly? Flirting? Kidding ourselves? I’m going to square up with Maria in the morning and go back to Buenos Aires. I’ve been thinking and I’d like to see Iguazú before I go home. I can do that if I leave tomorrow.”

“Iguazú? But that’s hours away.”

It was, and she knew it. “There are tours that leave all the time. Or I can rent a car and drive. I can read a map, Tomas.”

She realized her attitude was quite a change from the frightened, defensive girl who had arrived at Vista del Cielo and she stood tall. “All I will need is a drive back to the city.”

“Sophia, this is silly.”

“No, it is not,” she replied. She wished he’d stop looking at her that way, his dark eyes soft and his hair rumpled and sexy. He couldn’t possibly know how hard it was to say no to him. But what other choice did she have? She didn’t belong here. She never had. She had only pretended because it had suited her. They were all wonderful, but this was not home. Home was a place she needed to make for herself.

“I care about you,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve cared for someone in a long time. I know it’s a passing thing. You have always been going to leave.”

Her heart began to crack just a little, knowing this had to be the inevitable let-down. He was speaking nothing but the truth. He couldn’t know how deep her own feelings ran, so why did it actually hurt to hear it?

“But I’m not ready for it to be over.”

And just like that, her heart leapt. “You see? You say things like that and I don’t know what to do with it. We’re from two different worlds, Tomas. On borrowed time.”

“So we enjoy it while it lasts.”

“I don’t have any practice with that. I always plan things out, you see. Weigh the pros and cons.”

“And how is that working out for you?”

His voice held a trace of smugness, as if he knew the answer.

She ran her fingers over a large curve of the ombu tree. “It’s not.” She sighed. “For a long time I sat quietly and didn’t rock the boat. It was easier to go along with what people told me was best rather than do what I wanted.”

“We all have to live with our choices.”

“Then respect mine, please, Tomas.” Sophia looked up at him, needing him to understand. “Take me to Buenos Aires tomorrow and let me go.”

“Sophia…”

“If you don’t, I will ask Carlos. And he will say yes.”

Tomas didn’t answer her, but they both knew she was right. His shoulders relaxed and he sighed, giving in.

He held out his hand and she took it. He led her to a place where the tree root extended, curved and knotted before disappearing into the ground. It was large enough to sit on, and they did, Sophia putting her arms around her knees for added warmth.

“If you are determined to go…I got you something in San Antonio de Areco.” He reached into his pocket. “I have been trying to find the right time to give it to you. Now it seems this will be my only chance.”

Sophia’s mouth dropped open. A gift? It was totally unexpected. “You did?”

“You were admiring the silver jewelry. I had the shopkeeper wrap this up.”