“I might not let you go this time,” he whispered. He showered kisses on her and finally picked her up, carrying her as he kissed her. “We were going to my house, but I think that’s temporarily on hold. This is far too urgent,” he said. “Lindsay, I’ve really missed you.”
Clutching his shoulders, she kissed him slowly and thoroughly. “I’ve missed you.”
He took the stairs two at a time, hurrying to the big bed in her room.
It was covered with dresses, lacy underwear, bits and pieces of clothing that she had tried on earlier.
He yanked back the cover and all of the clothing flew off. He turned to kiss her, his fingers trembling as he drew the zipper of her dress down while she twisted free the buttons of his shirt. She couldn’t wait to show him how much she loved him.
Over an hour later, she lay wrapped in his arms beside him in bed while he lightly combed her hair away from her face with his fingers and showered feathery kisses on her temple and cheeks.
“I think we were going to my place for dinner,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck and kissing her throat so lightly.
“We still can if you want or I can find something here to feed you.”
“I had plans and I wanted to show you the dog.”
She sat up so fast he rolled away slightly. “The dog? You didn’t tell me. Is he okay?”
“He’s more than okay,” Tony said, smiling as he pulled her back against his shoulder and held her close. “Lindsay, I’ve missed you, darlin’, more than I thought possible and I’ve thought about my feelings for you.”
She focused on him, her heart beginning to drum, and she could barely catch her breath upon hearing his words. He gazed into her eyes and looked at her intently. “Lindsay, I love you.”
“Oh, Tony,” she gasped, wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him and hold him tightly. “I’m in love with you. I didn’t want to be in love with a rancher, absolutely not the controlling type, which you are. I tried not to be. We’re misfits, you and I—two ranchers. I know you think I’m too stubborn and maybe I am. Am I babbling?” she asked. Without pausing for breath or for his answer, she continued. “I’ve been miserable without you in my life. You’re too take-charge. We’ll clash and it won’t be any more peaceful in the future than it was in the past—”
“Damn, Lindsay,” he said, and kissed her, stopping her chatter. She clung to him, kissing him, pouring out the love that she felt along with joy and relief over his declaration.
Suddenly, she leaned away to look at him, framing his face with her hands. “You really, really love me?”
“I really, really love you. Lindsay, will you marry me?” he asked, holding her close against him with one arm wrapped around her waist.
Her heart thudded. “Yes,” she gasped. “Oh, yes, Tony. We’ll fight, but we’ll be in love.”
“We might not fight,” he whispered. “We may learn to negotiate.” She heard the laughter in his voice. He wrapped his fingers in her hair and tugged lightly so she had to look at him. Startled, her eyes flew wide as she looked up at him.
“Will you marry me?” he repeated.
“Yes, I will,” she answered.
“Then I’m the happiest man in the world tonight,” he said. “I don’t care about the differences and I can cope with you and you can cope with me. You’ll get used to this rancher, darlin’. You may not get used to my take-charge ways, but we’ll work things out because I promise to try to keep you happy. I promise to shower you with love so you won’t ever regret marrying an alpha male cowboy.”
“Shh, Tony. Stop making wild promises you can’t keep,” she said, laughing, trailing light kisses over his face. “I love you, cowboy. I love you with all my heart.”
He kissed her, a kiss of joy and promise, a kiss that melted her heart and ignited desire again, and soon she was lost in passion.
It was almost ten when she sat with him in her tub while hot water swirled around them and he held her close between his legs as she leaned back against him.
“Hungry? I was going to cook steaks.”
“I hadn’t thought about it,” she said. “I don’t know about hunger, but I’m shriveling up from being in this hot water so long.”
He chuckled, cupping her full breasts in his hands to caress her. “Not too shriveled,” he said. “We’ll get out, dry and go eat something. I know you have something in this house and if you don’t, we’ll head to my place.” With big splashes, he stood, pulling her up with him and helping her step out of the tub. He picked up a towel and began slow, light strokes to dry her.
She caught the towel, wrapping it around herself and picking up another folded one to hand to him. “If you keep doing that, we’ll end up in bed again. I’ll dry myself and you do the same, then get dressed and I’ll meet you downstairs. I’m getting hungry and for some reason, I can’t skip meals like I used to be able to.”
Nodding, he grinned. “Not as much fun, but I’ll cooperate.”
When he met her downstairs in her kitchen, she already had a casserole heating and in minutes it was on the table. His fingers closed on her wrist and she looked up at him, startled.