Dallas sat on the sofa in the living room, drinking a cup of coffee and reading his book on the history of Haskell County. She smiled and held it up. “Your family is in this.”
“Yeah, we’ve been here a while. There’re quite a few of the original pioneer families still ranching in this area. My friend, Ward Ramsey’s family is in there, too. We grew up together, and his ranch butts up to mine.”
Shaking her head, she said, “It’s like something out of a Zane Grey book.”
He sat down next to her and settled Piper on his lap. The little girl snuggled into his chest.
He put his arm around Dallas, giving her a quick kiss. “Well, one thing’s for sure. I always knew how I’d make my living. I can’t imagine spending my life doing anything else.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder and cupped Piper’s face. “Did you have fun on your ride?”
She giggled, playing with the buttons on Cash’s shirt sleeve. “We saw butterflies and cow poop.”
Dallas laughed. “Really?”
“Uh-huh, and Mr. Cash says I can ride by myself in the ca ... ca...”
“Corral.” He kissed her cheek. “That’s right. But when we go anywhere else, you sit with me.” He wasn’t taking any chances with this precious little bundle.
Dallas wrinkled her forehead at this revelation but didn’t say anything.
Cash reassured her. “I’ll lead her around.”
Dallas let out a breath. “Good. Horses are just so big.”
“I guess they are. I don’t notice anymore. She’ll be fine.”
Piper crawled into Dallas’s lap. “I’m hungry, Momma.”
Cash said, “I’ve got sandwich fixings for lunch, and I’m barbequing steaks later. Come on in the kitchen.”
Piper yawned several times while she ate though her avid curiosity kept her asking questions.
When the little girl was finished eating, Dallas scooted back her chair. “Naptime, baby girl. You’ll need lots of energy for our horse ride this afternoon.”
Piper’s frown instantly turned into a smile at the mention of another horse ride.
“I’ll show you where she can sleep.”
Dallas hesitated. “I may need to rock her some. She’s wound up, and it’s a strange place.”
“How about I bring a rocker to the room?”
She smiled. “Perfect. Thanks.”
While Dallas put Piper to sleep, he cleaned up the kitchen. His chest tightened as he thought of having at least an hour with Dallas all to himself. Tired of being patient, now he’d show her in every way how much he cared for her—how he wanted her. He couldn’t lose the woman he loved for lack of trying.
Thirty minutes later, Dallas found him on the couch where he’d been fidgeting, hoping Dallas would be receptive to the warm, seductive kisses he couldn’t wait to give her. Admitting to a little insecurity had been hard for him, but it was true. Between work and their dates, Dallas spent a lot of time with the lawyer. Cash stood and pulled Dallas into his arms. “Is our girl asleep?”
“I thought she’d never close her eyes. She’s so excited.” Dallas grinned at him. “You’re her hero, but I guess you know that. I finally had to threaten there’d be no horse ride before she relaxed and fell asleep. I hated to do it but, trust me, you don’t want to be around that little hellion this evening if she skips a nap.”
Laughing, he said, “Hellion?”
“You bet.”
His fingertip traced the outline of her lip. She leaned into him.
He took a relieved breath. Dallas wanted him, too. Cupping her head, he brushed his lips to hers. She sighed softly.
His pulse raced as he pulled her tight against him. His kisses were slow, wet, and coaxing. He needed her to want him as much as he wanted her.
She kissed him back, lifting up on her toes to reach his lips and sliding her hands around his neck. As her fingers ran through his hair, he took control of the kiss, possessive, greedy, delving deep and caressing her tongue. Shit, she was making him hard.
She pulled him down to her with a kiss so hot his hands trembled. God, didn’t she say she wanted to take things slow?
Easing back, he feathered kisses across her lips, changing the tempo, giving her time to find herself again. She darted her tongue between his lips, and his heart lurched into full speed again. They tasted each other deeply, and he moaned. God, this woman was testing every ounce of his restraint.
He pulled her down with him to lay on the sofa, stretching her across his length, giving her the power to break off at any time.
Looking into her eyes, he brushed her hair from her cheek. She stared back with a small, dazed smile. He clasped her waist and slid her up further on his chest. Her lips were now kissably close. “I want you, Dallas. Someday soon, you’ll choose me, and we’ll make love.” Running his thumb across her plump lower lip, he said, “It’ll be the best day of my life.”
Before she could answer, he pulled her to him. His kiss was tender, sweet. He needed her to feel how cherished she’d be every day of her life.
He slid his tongue in her mouth, deepening the kiss, caressing her as his pulse ramped up. He couldn’t help it. There was no stopping kissing the woman when he had her this close. Cupping her head in his hands, he claimed her lips, thrusting all else from his mind.
Her full, taut breasts pushed against him. He wanted her! Growling, he grabbed her hips and dragged her across the bulge at his zipper.
She pulled back from him just as he realized what he’d done and froze.
He whispered, “Oops.” The pupils in her eyes were so dilated he could hardly tell their color. My God, she’s so damn sexy. “I don’t think that was exactly taking it slow. Sorry.”
She laughed shortly and licked her lips. “What did you say? It takes two?” Leaning her head against his chest, she said, “I like kissing you.”
He tipped
