Reunited with the Rancher (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 3)

“Ah, butter. That’s something we haven’t tried. Maybe I will butter you up one night.”

She laughed and hugged him. “Why can’t it stay this way?”

“I can’t answer that one.”

* * *

The next afternoon, they were packed, had the house locked up and were in the car by two o’clock. On the ride back to the ranch, they reminisced about their high school days and dating. Emily wondered if they could maintain their relaxed, friendly attitude on the ranch, where so many painful memories came up day after day.

She would soon know. They moved into the big house and she had a chill run down her spine because she had a feeling they were making a big mistake by coming back when they didn’t have to. Standing in the entryway beneath the Waterford crystal chandelier, she looked around.

“Tom, I’ll take the guest bedroom on the far west side.”

“Good idea. I’ll take the one next to it unless you’ll just let me move in with you from the start.”

She laughed. “Let’s see how we’re doing by nightfall. We don’t have a good track record in this house.”

He took her hand and stepped close in front of her. With his

other hand he caressed her nape lightly. “We had the best track record possible until that bus wreck. That’s when it all went to hell. But we’ve been doing pretty well together in town these past weeks.”

She nodded but still had the feeling of foreboding.

“I need to go see Gus and check on some things. I’m sure you can entertain yourself, and if nothing else, just take a four-day vacation.”

“That sounds awesome,” she said, smiling at him. “You get going and my vacation will start. I may go swim.”

“Better check the pool over first for critters. No one has been here except a skeleton garden and cleaning staff.”

“Oh, yes. I look before I jump in.”

“So you do.” He smiled at her. “See, we’re doing pretty well. Kiss me and we’ll see if we are still speaking to each other.”

She laughed, but she really didn’t feel lighthearted. He stepped close to embrace and kiss her, startling her for one second, and then she held him and returned his kiss, wondering if he would still want to kiss her in four days.

In minutes, he picked her up and carried her to a downstairs bedroom, setting her down only to yank the covers off the bed.

“Tom—” she protested.

“We’re alone. What I’m going to do can wait. This can’t,” he rasped. In seconds, their clothing was gone and he picked her up as he kissed her. She locked her legs around him and he spread his feet apart, letting her slide down on his thick rod while they kissed.

Emily held him tightly, moving on him, her cries of ecstasy smothered by his kisses. She moved fast with him as he thrust deeply and groaned when he reached a shuddering climax.

She finally sagged against him, placing her head on his shoulder as he placed her in bed and then stretched out beside her.

“You are fantastic and leave me frazzled and in paradise at the same time.”

She smiled. “You’re never frazzled. We’ll shower soon, but for a minute I want you close to me. This is a good way to start our current life here.”

They talked softly, stroking each other, and he seemed to enjoy the moment as much as she did until he finally rolled over.

“I hate to go, but I have several things to do. First I’m going to talk to Gus. Then I’m going to my office in the guesthouse, because I need to find some old records for our accountant to do the taxes. No one will be here today except me, so do whatever you want. We should have dinners in the freezer and a couple in the fridge. I won’t be gone long.”

“I hope not. I don’t do well in this big house by myself.”

Something flickered in his gaze. “We had a lot of good years here and really good memories. We both need to try to remember to hang on to those times.”

She leaned close to kiss him tenderly. “You’ve been my world since I was sixteen. Then, when the crash happened—”