Your Ranch...or Mine?

“Your kisses are way too sensual to be considered friendly.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could call them back. She hadn’t intended to let him know how his kiss affected her.

“What do you say we stop playing games and be honest with each other?” he asked, taking her by surprise. “We’re both fighting an attraction that neither of us is comfortable with, but that both of us seem powerless to stop.”

As she stared at him, she started to deny there was any kind of chemistry between them, but she couldn’t. There was no sense lying about something they both knew to be the truth.

“Is that your professional opinion?” she asked, picking up one of the soft drinks.

“Just an observation,” he said, shrugging.

They sat in silence as they finished their sandwiches before curiosity got the better of her. “So what do you propose we do about this so-called attraction?” she asked, wondering if she’d lost her mind. The smart thing to do would have been to change the subject and ignore his comment.

“I’ve given it some thought and the way I see it, we’ve got two options,” he said, capturing her gaze with his. “We can either continue to let things go the way they’ve been going and be frustrated beyond reason, or we can explore this thing between us and see where it goes.” His smile took her breath away. “It’s my opinion that we should choose the latter.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” she said, laughing. Surely he couldn’t be serious.

“Think about it, Taylor.” He gathered their empty sandwich wrappers and stuffed them into the saddlebags. “Trying to pretend it doesn’t exist hasn’t worked.”

She couldn’t argue with him on that point. It had been the elephant in the room, so to speak, practically from the moment they’d met. But she had studiously avoided a romantic entanglement with any man for so long, it was difficult for her to consider doing anything else.

“Are you saying you think we should start dating?” she asked, wondering if that’s all he was suggesting.

He stared at her for several long moments as if trying to discern what she was thinking. “Are you interested in more?” he finally asked.

“No!” She hadn’t meant for her answer to come out quite so forcefully. “I mean, I’m just not interested in a relationship.”

“I’m not, either.” He raised one black eyebrow. “I know what my reasons are. Would you care to share yours?”

“You know about my parents and the constant turmoil they’re in. I would think it would be obvious,” she stated flatly. “If that’s what being part of a couple is, I’d rather not bother.” She frowned. “Now it’s your turn. Why are you resistant to the idea?”

He remained silent until they had the last traces of their lunch packed away in the saddlebags. “Playing poker is all about taking chances and accepting that sometimes you’re up financially and sometimes you’re down. I don’t have that particular worry, nor will it ever be an issue for me because of the investments I’ve made. I have the freedom to do whatever I want, when I want, without having to worry. But most women want stability, not a man who plays a game just for the fun of it,” he said, getting up from the blanket. He held his hand out to help her to her feet. “I haven’t met a woman yet who tempted me enough to consider giving that up.”

“Did you always want to be a gambler?” she asked, folding the picnic blanket.

He shook his head. “I have a master’s degree in psychology and had every intention of working in that field. But while I was in college there always seemed to be a poker game going on somewhere in the dorm and I’d join in after I got out of class for the day.” He smiled. “After I won everybody’s spare change, I figured out I was pretty good at it. Then my roommate suggested that I enter a tournament over in Shreveport.” He tied the bags on the back of his gelding’s saddle. “I did and the rest, as they say, is history.”

As she mounted the mare, she thought about what Lane had told her. Why had she been disappointed when he mentioned that he’d never met a woman who’d made him think about giving up being a professional gambler? She certainly didn’t want him to be tempted by her, did she?

“So what do you want to do?” he asked as they rode away from the creek.

Distracted with her disturbing thoughts, she asked, “About what?”

“Are we going to continue on as things are?” He smiled. “You know my take on the situation. I’d like to know yours.”