The Rancher's Untamed Heart

“Actually,” I said, “I brought a change of clothes and a toothbrush.”

His hand slipped as he tried to start the truck, making it cough and sputter.

“I thought we just said six months,” he said.

“We can watch a movie and then sleep in separate beds, can’t we?” I asked, grinning.

Clint successfully started the car.

He looked at me, and laughed, and looked away again.

“You clearly have more trust in yourself than I do in me,” he said.

I squirmed on the seat. Being alone with him, even in a truck, was doing delicious things to my body and I was already regretting my suggestion that we wait six months to have sex.

Six months. Looking at his strong jaw, I didn’t know if I could wait six more minutes for him to be mine.

Trying to pull myself together, I gave Clint directions to my apartment, only ten minutes from the Mexican restaurant.

He pulled up and found a space for his enormous Ford amid the compact foreign cars in my lot.

Before he could turn the truck off and get out to open the door for me, I had to be careful sliding out of the truck, not to open the door too wide and take out an entire Prius. It wouldn't be a great impression on Clint.

On the other hand, I had a sneaking suspicion that he might just laugh.

I turned and looked at him, watching me with hunger in his eyes, seatbelt still buckled, truck still running.

"Are you getting out?" I asked, "Or do I need to haul myself back into your cab to give you a good night kiss?"

He gave a long, slow, smile and cut the engine, leaning over to pass me my purse from where I'd left it in the center console.

"I'll walk you up to your door," he said, his voice pitched a little lower than usual.

I had to remind myself very firmly that he was not going to come inside with me, he was going to be a gentleman and stay outside my threshold.

"Sounds good," I said, trying to stay casual.

When he came around the other side of the truck, he offered me his arm, and I took it.

The feeling of our arms touching, even through his shirt and my sweater, was like fire. I had to resist the urge to moan just from that contact.

I shut my eyes for a moment to steady myself.

When I opened them again, Clint was looking concerned.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Never better," I said, "Enjoying the moment."

"It's a good moment," he said quietly. It really was. Standing with Clint under the harsh streetlight of a dark Texas evening in front of my boring apartment building felt fresh and new, and I was grateful.

"Which unit?" he asked, and I jerked my head, leading him inside the building.

I considered taking the elevator, to give us a few private moments, but thought better of it. The stairs were an excuse to lean on him.

Lean I did, pretty shamelessly, enjoying the feeling of his strong body against mine.

I lived only one floor up, and we arrived at my apartment door too soon. I wished that we could have strolled around the city all night, but ranch chores start early, and I didn't feel right taking all of his sleep. Tonight, at least.