Fall for Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 1)

“It wasn’t easy. Thank goodness little boys have to go potty.”

Ben threw his head back and laughed. “I wondered.”

Liv started rummaging around Ben’s cabinets.

“Whatcha’ lookin’ for, baby?”

“Finding my way around your kitchen.”

“Make yourself at home,” he winked. There was nothing he’d like more.

They spent the day exploring the ranch, and Ben took them by his parents’ place mid-afternoon.

“Well, well, am I happy to see you.” Bud came off the porch and swept Liv into a big hug. “I prayed hard for you, little lady.”

Liv buried her face into his shoulder to hide her tears. A few simple words, coupled with his unmasked joy, made her cry.

Ginny came out of the door and gasped when she saw Liv standing next to Ben, his arm around her shoulder.

“Aren’t you a sight for these old eyes? Come here, girl, and let me look at you.”

Liv was touched by the warmth and love these two people, who barely knew her, expressed so openly. The same way Ben did. She envied the way they loved without hesitation. For the second time, Liv was moved to tears when Ginny put her arms around her.

“When did you get here?” Ginny asked.

“We got into town the day after Christmas.”

Ginny raised her eyebrows at Ben, who laughed, and pulled Liv back closer to him. His body craved hers. Riding on the snowmobile, with her arms around his waist, her body pressed against his back, was heaven to him. Whenever she moved away, he wanted her back, closer, so his hands were on her, somewhere, anywhere.

He leaned down and whispered, “My mama gave me a little lecture on Christmas. Somethin’ about getting off my butt and going after you. I bet she’s givin’ herself credit for you being here today.”

“Ah.” She turned back to Ginny and saw the happiness etched on her face.

“Let’s have a big dinner here tonight. We’ll get your brothers and their wives to come.”

“I’d like to help,” Liv offered.

“Me, too,” added Renie.

“We’ll take the snowmobiles back to the house, okay, boys?” Ben turned to Liv again, pulling her close. “I can’t keep my hands off you. And you in the kitchen…I’m hot for you again already.”

Liv laughed. “Is there anything that doesn’t make you hot for me?”

“You in another man’s arms didn’t do it. I can tell you that.” There he went, opening his mouth again. He needed to work on filtering.

“What are you talking about?”

“The rodeo finals, I was watchin’ them and there you were with Junior. Bigger than life on the screen in front of me.”

“We were there, but it wasn’t that way, Ben. I wasn’t with him.”

“Not somethin’ I can let myself think about, Liv. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

“I can’t let myself think about you with anyone else either.”

“Nobody, Liv. I told you that. There isn’t anybody else for me. I would have become…what did you call it? A redo-virgin if you hadn’t come back to me.”

Liv laughed. “Me, too.”