Page 141 of Her Boss, Her Rancher: Sunrise On The Ranch

She heard desperate desire in his voice and a vulnerability that washed away her doubts.

His hands wrapped around her waist, his fingers inching her closer. She put up no resistance as he bent his head. The first brush of his firm lips on hers sent her flying and she moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was tall and she stood on tippy toes to reach his mouth more solidly.

His kiss was more demanding than last night, more powerful, and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest now, her body melding to his with less hesitancy. Their tongues did a mating dance amid her moans and his groans. Jared woke her body from its doldrums, making her feel free and alive and vital.

His hands slid underneath her butt, his fingertips pressing into the soft cheeks as he lifted her up and set her gently onto the hood of his Jaguar. Thrills raced through her belly and she became instantly aware of where this could lead as Jared’s dizzying kisses kept coming.

He pulled away to stroke a finger down her cheekbone, his eyes blazing blue heat. “Angel,” he said and then smiled and kissed her again.

She lay back against the hood of the car, taking him with her. “Jared,” she whispered.

That one word gave him permission to take what she offered, and Jared only hesitated for a brief, maybe surprised, moment before he brought his hand to the dip in her blouse. His fingertips scraped the top rim of her breast and shock waves erupted from the sheer pleasure of his touch. If she reacted like this from one touch, she could only imagine what making love to him would be like. Suddenly, awfully, she wasn’t as opposed to that notion as she should be.

He was unbuttoning the first button on her blouse when his phone buzzed.

Their eyes met.

“I don’t have to get that,” he said, sighing.

“You do. It could be about Sienna.”

He squeezed his eyes closed briefly, acknowledging that fact. He moved away to reach into his pocket and pull out his phone. “Yeah, hi, Marie.”

Bella sat up and then jumped down from the Jaguar’s hood, her heart racing for another reason now. She listened to Jared’s conversation.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Okay, I’ll go get it from Coop’s house.”

“Ask her how Sienna is,” Bella chimed in.

“How’s Sienna?”

Jared listened and nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell Bella. No problem. Thanks.”

She waited patiently for Jared to hang up. “What?”

“Sienna’s fine. She actually conked out after her snack and Marie put her down for a nap. She’s staying with her.”

“Okay, good. Jared listen...uh, about—”

He folded her into his arms. “Shush,” he said, kissing the top of her forehead. And she felt so safe, so cherished, in his arms, she didn’t say the silly platitudes she was going to say about not knowing her own heart, about not reading too much into this, about how this wasn’t a good idea. Honestly, right now she didn’t know if she truly believed any of it anyway.

“Marie remembered that the nativity scene is at Coop’s house,” Jared said softly. “Come with me to pick it up?”

“I don’t know. Sienna—”

“Is sleeping. Marie’s watching her and it’s only gonna take twenty minutes. I promise.”

Bella blinked, debating. Jared grabbed her hand and tugged her toward his Corvette. “C’mon, Bella. I want to take my first ride with you by my side.”

“You can’t drive, Jared.” She pulled him to an abrupt stop, hardly realizing her own strength. “Tell me you didn’t mean that.”

“I’m not going to drive. You are.”

She blinked, catching his meaning after a second or two. “I certainly am not!”

“Why not?”

“Because...because...”