Page 33 of Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire

She frowned slightly. “I don’t know. I thought I’d want to go camping, but that’s another decision and I’m not sure I’m ready to make it. It will put us in very close proximity for four days…and three nights. It will also mess up my writing schedule. I don’t build a lot of extra time into my schedule.”

He rode closer to her. “Will you just think about it? You can give me your answer on Sunday. If it’s yes, we’ll head out on Monday and stay out there until Thursday morning. Or Wednesday morning, whatever you want. Just think about it, please?”

She closed her eyes for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

“Come on, I’ll show you. I think the site itself will convince you to come back.”

“I brought my fly rod. It’s bamboo and was my father’s. I admit, I would really like to try it out.”

“Did you know most fly rods used to be made of cane? I think they’re plastic now. But a bamboo rod,” he whistled. “They have to be ordered from an independent maker. I know I’ve ordered a couple. They’re expensive, too. They start at about six-hundred dollars and run into the thousands.”

“I know. I’ve had offers for Dad’s rod, but I’ll never sell it. I would have to be very desperate to even consider it.”

“I won’t let you get that desperate.”

“You can’t say that. Who knows where we’ll be by that time?”

“I know.”

She gritted her teeth for a moment. With her eyes narrowed, she lit into him. “How can you be so arrogant? We’ve only known each other for a week. Are you saying you already know—” She stopped short, remembering how she felt when she first met him. The awareness of someone she’d never known before. The feeling that he was the one for her. The electricity that traveled through her when they kissed. “I’m just saying we don’t know for sure.”

Roark pulled to a stop.

She did, too.

He dismounted and let the reins fall to the ground, then he walked over to her. He took the reins from her hands and let them fall.

They must train both Sunny and Apollo not to move when the reins were on the ground.She knew from experience it took patience with the horse to get them to do this.

Roark reached up and lifted Jessica to the ground, but didn’t remove his hands from her waist. Instead, he wrapped her in his arms. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life. I know it’s too soon to tell you my feelings, but be aware they are real. I’m not playing games. Not with you. Not about this. Not about us.”

Jessica looked up at him. “I can’t fall in love with you. I don’t…I won’t let myself hurt like that again.”

“Tell me what happened, please, if it’s not too hard for you.”.

She pulled out of his arms and turned her back to him. “I was engaged to a man named Joseph Redding. We were supposed to get married the next year, but he left me, though I didn’t know it at the time. He and my best friend, a woman named Mandy, were in a car accident and died. I’ve always felt a little guilty because when I found out, I was almost glad. They’d gotten what they deserved. And that’s so wrong. They didn’t deserve to die.”

“Jessica, look at me.” He took her in his arms again.

She still kept her gaze on the ground.

“You did nothing wrong. It’s normal to feel that way about someone you love, leaving you. Honey, look at me.”

She finally looked up. “I will never cheat on you or make you feel like anything less than the most amazing woman that you are.”

“I wish I could believe you—”

“You can. Please, just try.” He leaned down and kissed her. He moved from her lips to her neck.

She rolled her head to the side, exposing her skin to his kisses.

He didn’t disappoint, raining fiery kisses up and down the side of her neck.

Jessica moaned, and her knees collapsed.

Roark held her safe, never letting her fall.

She clasped her arms around his neck. “Oh, Roark. You make it so hard to resist you.”