The Rancher's Redemption

“If he’s awake, I won’t be very happy,” Lizzie said with mock severity. “He’s terrible at getting up if he hasn’t slept well. I don’t have a lot of time in the morning to coax him into a better mood.”

“I’m the same,” Adam admitted. “Louisa always used to say—” He stopped speaking.

“That you were a terrible grouch in the morning.” Lizzie finished his thought, speaking of Louisa with an ease he envied. “That’s because she was an early bird like me. I remember how often you almost missed the school bus.”

“Yeah, I was pretty bad.” Adam found a smile somewhere. He glanced over at Daisy and Jackson who were engrossed in their own little bubble of happiness. “We might as well go. I don’t think they’ll miss us, do you?”

He leaned over and waved a hand in Daisy’s face. “I’m going to walk Lizzie home, okay? I’ll see you back at the ranch.”

Daisy and Jackson sprang apart and managed to wish Lizzie good-bye before returning to gaze into each other’s eyes.

As they exited the bar, Adam took Lizzie’s hand as they strolled down the boardwalk, past the fountain of the town’s founder, and toward the gas station. It was still warm with very little breeze to bother them. Being with Lizzie, watching her smile and interact with other people, made him feel like he’d been missing out on something—that his self-imposed exile had been a mistake.

“Let me find the key.” Lizzie slowed as they approached the lower door. She shoved a hand in the pocket of her tight jeans and did a little shimmy that made everything male in Adam sit up and pay attention. “I should never have worn my best jeans.”

“You look nice,” Adam blurted out like an awkward teenager.

“Thanks.” She offered him a smile. “So do you.”

She put the key in the lock and half turned, her attention now over his shoulder. “There’s that car again.”

“Which car?” Adam looked, too.

“The Lexus.” Lizzie shrugged. “Don’t mind me. I’m probably being paranoid.” She opened the lower door and he stepped into complete darkness, bumping up against her. He instinctively steadied her and didn’t want to let go.

“Adam . . .”

He kissed her, and she sighed into his mouth. He was lost in her taste as he eased her back against the wall. She stood on tiptoe and wound her arms around his neck. It still wasn’t enough. He lifted her until her booted feet rested on his ass and the bulge behind his fly fitted perfectly against the center seam of her jeans.

He couldn’t help rocking his hips while the kiss went on and on, turning into something so life-giving that he forgot himself and lost his mind in Lizzie.

* * *

“God . . .” Lizzie moaned into Adam’s mouth as he moved against her, his big body pressing her against the wall. Her breasts were flattened against his broad chest and her thighs clasped his hips. As he continued to thrust, the hardness of his jeans-covered shaft set her off on an unintentional and totally unexpected climax. She bucked and shuddered against him in a moment of complete surrender.

Wrenching her mouth away, she shoved at his chest.

“I have to—let me down.”

He immediately complied. She ran up the stairs as if her life depended on it, unlocked the door, and burst into the apartment, scaring Yvonne who was sitting on the couch.

“Mon Dieu!” Yvonne shot to her feet, her hand on her bosom. “Are you okay?”

“Bathroom!” Lizzie croaked and ran on by. She locked the door and stared at herself in the mirror, aware of her wide eyes, well-kissed lips, and the lingering buzz of her unexpected sexual high. “God, I’m so pathetic!”

She washed her flushed face and took some deep breaths. If Adam had any sense, he’d let himself out again downstairs, and not come up.

“Come . . .” Lizzie whispered. “Shut up, Lizzie!”

After another stern talking to herself, she left the bathroom, checked that Roman was asleep, and went back into the kitchen where Adam was, of course, standing at the counter talking to Yvonne.

“Are you okay?” Yvonne asked. “Did you eat something weird?”