Kissing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 5)

“Ethan!” I scold. “I nearly choked on my bread.”

“I just assume these are questions we might have to answer.” He shrugs.

“Fine. I guess. We’re planning to get pregnant as soon as possible and have a big-ass family.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged…” he taunts, waggling his brows. The urge to straddle his lap and make him put his money where his mouth is nearly overcomes me.

Needing to breathe, I go to the kitchen to refill my margarita, then ask if he wants one.

“I’ll take a beer if you have any.”

Luckily, I keep it stocked for him and anyone who comes over. But mostly for Ethan.

“Alright, so the next thing we’ll need to tackle is pictures,” I tell him once I return. “Hadleigh’s taking them for us in one of the pastures before sunset. It’ll give us a nice, romantic glow.”

“I’m not great at pictures, so I’m gonna apologize in advance.”

“As long as you wear your cowboy hat, Wranglers, and that nice navy button-up I bought you, we’ll figure out the poses later.”

“You dressin’ me up as a cowboy?” He gives me a charming smirk.

“As a matter of fact, I am. I’ll be in a navy sundress and boots.”

“The one I like?”

“Thought you liked all my dresses?”

“Of course I do, but the navy one with the white buttons down the middle is my favorite.”

I can’t tell if he’s being serious or not, considering Ethan’s acting so chill right now, but regardless, I love how he pays enough attention to have a favorite.

We fill in every detail as we continue eating—the music we danced to on our first date, the food we ate the night we first exchanged I love yous, and all the way down to his proposal speech. We’ll have an answer for anything Shayla or any of them can ask. I’m much more confident than before…well, except for one thing.

Since Ethan said I had to initiate our kiss, I’ve drunk two more margaritas to ensure I can actually do it. After we eat, I brush my teeth and put on some lip balm. When I finally make my move, I’m scared it might mean something more to me.

I inhale a deep breath, hoping I don’t chicken out at the last second. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Great. Lay it on me.”

“Ethan!” I playfully smack his chest as we stand only inches apart. “That’s not something you’d say to your fiancée.”

“Okay, you’re right.” He takes off an imaginary hat. “Future wife, the love of my life, the one who will bear my children…please kiss me.”

My head falls back as I roll my eyes.

“What? That’s no good either?” He throws up his arms.

“No, because it sounds phony.”

“Well, nothing about this whole situation is real, so I don’t know what—”

Before he can jabber on, I rise to my tiptoes and grab his face in my palms. I crash my mouth to his, and when his hands grip my waist, I inch closer until my chest presses against his. As I inhale his delicious manly scent, I move my lips against his, then slide my tongue between them. For a moment, I wonder if I crossed the line and went too far, but then he matches my strokes, and I moan. Heat spreads over my body and settles between my legs at the intense feelings that surface. I knew kissing Ethan would be unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The taste of him is almost too much. It’s driving me insane, and if he doesn’t pull away soon, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.

Ethan slows the pace until our mouths break apart. His tongue darts out and moistens his bottom lip. The very tongue I’ve fantasized doing very naughty things to me. I blink a few times as his touch still lingers.

“Um…” I clear my throat and hate how frazzled I sound. “How, uh, how was that?”

Ethan smiles as he looks at me. “Best damn fake kiss I’ve ever had.”

I’m beyond grateful for the dim lighting, so he can’t see how his words make me blush.

If only that were the case at the conference. The hall is big and bright. If Ethan has this effect on me there, I won’t be able to hide it.

Chapter Nine

ETHAN

If there was a competition for faking being in love with the person they’re actually in love with, I’d win an award.

Don’t ask how I did it because I’m not sure. Perhaps the years of hiding my true feelings have finally paid off. Everything Harper threw my way, I went along with and kept a straight face.

From dating to engaged in nine months, sure.

From engaged to the wedding date in eleven months, great.

Whatever she asked for, I was willing to do. But kissing her the way I’ve always wanted?

Hell no. Can’t do it.

I wouldn’t have the willpower to stop myself if I gave in to those desires, so I couldn’t be the one to initiate a real kiss. I needed her to set the expectation. However, her little hums and moans were nearly my undoing. I hadn’t expected her to slide her tongue against mine, but the second she did, I couldn’t resist. The taste of her mingled with the smell of her shampoo was nearly my breaking point. It’s why I had to stop it.