Page 30 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

Cole looked back at Beth and frowned in frustration. “Jesus, Beth. It was over thirty years ago.”

Beth crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. “Yeah, well, emotions aren’t determined by time.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Cole barked.

Brant leaned down and whispered something to Beth before pointing at something over Cole and Emily’s shoulders.

Emily jumped when Beth squealed and ran toward a couple just coming in the door.

Brant laughed and looked at Cole.

“You owe me one, buddy.” He turned his attention to Emily. “This must be Emily? It’s nice to meet you.”

Emily raised her hand, and it was engulfed in the largest hand she’d ever seen. “It’s nice to meet you. Your wife is lovely.”

Brant’s eyes lit on his wife, and a look of such devotion crossed his face it made tears burn her eyes.

“Yes, she is. Now I’d better go help the Hendersons. I’ll be back.”

They both watched him walk toward his wife and heard her laugh at something which made Emily smile.

Cole just snorted and propelled Emily over to the table and sat her down and handed her a drink.

He had already gotten her a lemonade before he went looking for her.

“Thank you.” She lifted the glass and took several sips of the tart drink. She watched Brant grin, shake his head as his wife tore off again, and walk to them.

Brant sat down across from them, but his eyes were on his wife. A sloppy smile crossed his face as he watched her hug everyone between them and the door.

“My wife is a sweet cuddle bear. Isn’t she?” His voice was so filled with love it was awesome to see but unexpected from such a large man who looked as hard as nails.

Some lemonade caught in her throat, making her cough. Those are not the words she would use to explain Beth.

Cole laughed and patted her on the back. “I know, it’s disgusting, right? Think about me having to deal with this for years,” he whispered in Emily’s ear.

Emily sputtered out a laugh as she looked at Cole. Her breath caught in her chest at the look of affection on his face when he looked at her.

Dinner came and went far too quickly for Emily. Between Cole’s attention and watching Beth and Brant together, it was hard to say goodbye to them.

The other couple promised to come for dinner again soon and asked them to dinner at their house. Emily looked forward to that. She wanted to meet the two children they still had at home. Their four other children had gone off to college and had lives of their own.

Emily couldn’t believe this little woman was old enough to have six kids, several of whom were already adults. She had more energy than anyone Emily had ever met, and a vitality that made the area around her glow.

She hoped they would become good friends. She’d never had the chance to have one when she was married to her ex. He hadn’t liked her spending time away from home.

She realized, looking back, how truly awful he really was. She was glad that he was out of her life forever.

Chapter Eighteen

Cole walked alongside Emily toward her cabin. His large hand enclosed her much smaller one as he kept her close to his side.

Emily noticed he’d touched her continuously tonight. She couldn’t remember a minute that went by that he wasn’t right beside her or had a hand on her.

Emily opened her cabin door and turned on the living room light before moving toward the couch. She pulled off her jacket and laid it over the back of the sofa before turning to Cole.

Cole followed Emily into her cabin and closed and locked the door behind him. She knew he had no intention of sleeping without her tonight.

Emily took a step back when Cole stalked toward her with a look in his eye she could only describe as predatory. She took another step back as her heart beat erratically inside her chest. She felt a little like prey at that moment. His eyes were intent on hers before his gaze slid down and back up her body, which made her breath catch in her throat. A gasp escaped when her back hit the wall. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest when he continued toward her, only stopping when his chest flattened her breasts.