Cash’s grin matched hers as they touched the globes of their glasses together.
They headed out of the kitchen, and Cash laid his hand on the small of Dallas’s back, encouraging her to go ahead of him through the door.
That gentle, innocent touch was so sensual she wanted to purr.
Cash sat next to her on the couch and, after taking a drink, set his wine on the table. “So, where’s Piper?”
“She fell asleep not ten minutes ago. I’m lucky she still takes an afternoon nap. If you can stay a while, I’m sure she’ll want to see you.”
Cash smiled and took his hat off, laying it on the coffee table upside down. “I don’t have any place I need to be. I’d love to see her again, too.” He leaned back and crossed his ankle over his knee, sliding an arm over the back of the couch.
As he got comfortable, his dress shirt stretched across muscles in his arms and broad shoulders, and the jeans he wore were tight in all the right places. Her breathing quickened. The more time she spent with Cash, the stronger her body responded to him. Looking into his eyes as he spoke, she knew it was more than that. Kindness shone through his gaze. And his smile was easy and gentle. He was a decent man, not just a handsome one.
She drank her wine and asked, “How did the castrating go yesterday?”
He huffed out a breath. “It went pretty well, I guess. I don’t work my cow-calf pairs too often, so the mommas are kind of jumpy. And they sure don’t like being separated from their babies. With three of us, it makes the job a pretty smooth operation, though. We gave the calves shots, wormed them, and tagged and castrated them, so it was more than a slash and dash. But, since I already had them penned in the corrals, we were able to finish.”
Nodding, she smiled. “It sounds like it’d be cool to watch. Like the Old West.”
“Hey, you and Piper should come out to the ranch sometime. We can ride, do anything that strikes your fancy.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Uh, I don’t know about me riding, but I’ll bet Piper would love you to lead her around.”
He grinned. “Come on, I can teach you. I have a real gentle horse that you’ll like. Don’t let his name—Rambo—deceive you. He’s a babysitter when he’s not chasing cattle.”
His charismatic smile encouraged her and she nodded. “Okay, I’ll think about it. Going to the ranch might be fun.” His grinning response sent tingles to her belly, and she’d leaned toward him before she realized it.
Growing serious, he reached for her hand, drawing her next to him and settling his arm around her. Neither said anything for a few moments.
He pulled her closer still and said quietly, “You feel good. I’ve wanted to hold you for a while.” He picked up his glass and took a swallow of wine, sighing deeply and truly relaxing.
Her body was warm, intensely sensitive to his hard body against her. His scent, woodsy and light, filled her head.
After kissing her temple, he took another drink.
She nestled her head a little closer. “I love the chance to relax during Piper’s naptime. This is the only time I have to myself.” Sighing, she said, “You feel good, too.”
He patted her arm and drank.
Dallas cradled her wine and closed her eyes. She was comfortable with Cash, like she could let down her guard and be herself. His sincerity drew her in. When she was with him, he fully tuned into her. She breathed in and sighed it out, relaxing her whole body. Hopefully, Piper would take a long nap. This was wonderful.
Cash gently squeezed her arm. “So many sighs. Everything okay?”
“You caught me. I was enjoying this and hoping my daughter stays asleep for a long time. Does that make me a bad mom?” She grinned up at him.
Laughing, he said, “I don’t think so. At least, if it does, then I’m a bad guy, too, because I was just thinking the same thing.”
Still grinning, Dallas got up. She needed some old-fashioned country music—love ballads that made you want to swoon or cry. Her CD collection was always her go-to for Sunday afternoons. After she took a few moments to choose, music swirled softly around the room. She sat back down on the couch and slid in close to Cash.
He wrapped his arm around her again. “That’s more like it. They don’t make them like they used to. Don’t get me wrong, I like the new stuff for partying and dancing, but for listening, you can’t beat the classics.”
She smiled and held up her hand for a high five.
Cash clasped her fingers and pulled her into him, bending his head to her.
Dallas watched his half-lowered eyes as his face drew near. Her heart ticked faster as she anticipated the touch of his mouth on hers.
His kiss was everything she hoped for. A gentle brush, then his lips moving tenderly across her jaw. Heat swept through her. She wanted him at the sweet spot behind her ear, which he found, caressing it before returning to her mouth. She was hot. Her clothes felt too tight. She returned his kiss, liking the firm contours of his lips stroking hers.
Pulling back, he looked into her eyes as if to gauge her reaction.
Feeling drugged, she managed a shaky laugh. “Um, wow. That was...”
He grinned. “Yeah, it was.”
Piper’s voice came from the hallway, “Hi, Mr. Cash.”
Dallas scrunched up her face. “So much for wishes.” She stood and walked toward her daughter, holding out her arms. “You didn’t sleep very long. Are you sure you’re ready to get up?”
Piper nodded and looked toward Cash, climbing into her mother’s embrace. “Uh-huh. Mr. Cash,
