Page 82 of When a Cowboy Falls Hard
He wanted to blame her for lighting the match, but he could have blown it out. Yeah, right. Never would have happened.
Sadly, if his grandma was right about him, he was rejecting fatherhood because he couldn’t live up to the example his father had set. Who could? Was that why Adam hadn’t?—
Zinnia’s truck pulled up outside, the engine’s rumble muffled by the closed window. He’d shut them an hour ago so he wouldn’t forget.
Heart pumping, he hurried out to the porch. She’d parked to the left of his house. Technically it wasn’t a parking space, but she’d managed to squeeze her truck in so it was somewhat hidden by trees.
Now that his whole family knew they were involved, she didn’t have to do that. After yesterday nobody would be surprised to see it there. And she’d never park there again. His gut clenched.
She hopped out of the driver’s side and closed the door gently. No little cross-body bag tonight. No keys in her hand. She’d likely figured out that on Bridger property she could leave them in the truck.
He headed down to meet her, skin tingling with anticipation. He’d gone barefoot as a kid, but hardly ever as an adult. The smooth wood of the steps and the tickle of grass caressed the bottoms of his feet.
Wind sighing through the trees mingled with the rustle and pop of her sandals, the swish of her filmy nightgown, the sound of her quick, shallow breaths.
His nostrils flared, taking in the brisk fragrance of pines and crushed grass, the sweetness of wild roses and Zinnia’s citrus scent. Moonlight touched her pale hair and skin, giving her an other-worldly glow.
They came together with an ease that made his heart weep. He had the insane urge to strip off his sweats and make love to her on the soft grass.
Nestling against him, winding her arms around his neck, she lifted her face to his. “I’ve missed you.”
His throat tightened. “I’ve missed you, too.” He sounded gruff, almost angry. And maybe he was. At himself. He wasn’t the man she needed.
But he kissed her anyway. She’d granted him one more night and he’d make it a memorable one even if it killed him.
She kissed him back, and at first he tasted longing and regret. But soon enough, the mood shifted and the white-hot passion neither of them could snuff out roared to life.
Pushing her nightgown up over her hips, he spread both hands over her tush and tugged her close. Gasping, he lifted his mouth from hers. “If I had a blanket I’d take you right here.”
She took a gulp of air. “If you had a blanket I’d let you.”
“No blanket.”
“Then let’s get inside.” Breaking away from him, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the steps.
He stumbled after her. He hadn’t meant to leave the door open when he’d hurried outside. Showed how distracted he’d been. With luck some critter hadn’t wandered in while he’d been totally occupied kissing Zinnia.
Nothing went scurrying away as they came in, so he’d assume all was well. “Door.” He pulled her to a halt so he could close it.
“See you in there.” She let go of his hand, kicked off her flip-flops and ran down the hall.
Running wasn’t an option in his current state. By the time he joined her in the bedroom, she’d tossed off her nightgown and opened the condom drawer.
“Catch.” She tossed him one.
By some miracle he plucked it out of the air before it hit the floor, saving himself the humiliation of hunting for it. Holding the packet in his teeth, he shucked his sweats and ripped open the foil.
“I almost didn’t come.”
He glanced up. “But you will, now.”
She smiled. “Haha. Looking forward to it.”
“So am I.” He finished rolling on the condom and took stock of the situation. Thank God he’d asked for one more night, one more chance to see her like this.
She lay stretched out in all her golden-girl glory, looking exactly the way he’d pictured her when he’d put on clean sheets this afternoon. He’d pulled the top sheet and blanket down, leaving them folded at the bottom. With Zinnia in his bed, he didn’t need covers.
She beckoned to him. “C’mere, you. Make the world go away.”
