Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
S ummer awoke, enveloped in warmth. Chance’s scent surrounded her, and she luxuriated in it and the feel of his body wrapped around hers. She had spent the night at the ranch as she’d planned.
Now, she never wanted to leave it. Or him.
After they’d made love, they were both ravenous.
He’d called in an order to Pizza Palace, both of them agreeing to pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom.
When it arrived, Chance had thrown on a robe and paid the delivery driver, bringing the pizza and a bottle of wine back to bed.
He’d shed his robe, and she couldn’t help but admire his body, hardened with muscle, thanks to the physical labor he put in on the ranch.
They’d eaten pizza. Drank wine. Made love again. Slept. Awoke and made love once more.
Now, it was morning. Or she guessed it was. The curtains were drawn, keeping out any light. Then again, dawn may not have occurred yet.
Chance stirred, his arms tightening about her. Slowly, he began stroking her bare belly, causing her skin to pucker with goose bumps.
“You awake?”
“Yes,” she told him, savoring his touch.
“I’m still here. I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”
“I know,” she said, smiling to herself.
“Hungry?”
“For you? Or food?” she flirted.
His hand slid lower. A finger pushed into her, and Summer arched her back.
“Is this a new kind of wake-up call?” she teased, her breathing quickening.
“A new, exclusive, personal service. Only available to the woman I love.”
He continued caressing her, heat rippling through her. She felt the orgasm coming and gave into it, toppling over the edge into sheer bliss.
Then he was kissing her everywhere, and she reveled in the feel of his callused hands against her skin.
He took his time, slowly exploring her body, allowing her to do the same to him.
Already, she was becoming familiar with it.
The muscles. A few scars. How he sucked in his breath when her fingers lightly danced across his abs.
When he finally thrust into her, she knew this was the man she had been waiting for. She was becoming a strong, confident person because of him. He gave her the courage to soar.
He fell against her, his body driving her into the mattress. She welcomed his weight, wrapping her arms about him.
“I don’t want to crush you,” Chance said, easing from her.
He turned her so that her back was against his chest and pulled her to him, their limbs entangling. She liked nestling against him. It was as if he had always been a part of her.
They lay quietly, savoring the moment. Her thoughts scattered.
Then the silence was broken by a low growl.
“Did that come from you?” he asked. “You must be awfully hungry.”
Summer wasn’t even embarrassed. At one time, she would have been mortified, but this was Chance. Everything was easy between them.
“Is that offer to make me breakfast still good?”
“I told you I’m the king of breakfast. Whatever you want.”
“It doesn’t matter. But I am starving.”
She wriggled from his arms and started to hunt for her clothes.
“Wait,” he said.
Going to the closet, he pulled out a worn flannel shirt. “Here. Put this on.”
She slipped into it, the fabric whisper-soft against her bare skin. It struck her mid-thigh. Chance buttoned the front.
“There. Now you’re warm, but I can admire those long, luscious legs of yours.”
“Luscious?” She giggled. “I’ve never heard legs called luscious before.”
“Okay. Then I’ll go with spectacular. I can’t wait for warmer weather so I can see you in shorts.” He grinned. “Then again, it was awfully fun peeling those jeans from you.”
“Keep looking at me like that, Cowboy, and it may be tomorrow before I claim that breakfast.”
Chance laughed and threw on his robe. She came to him, belting it for him.
“That’s a pretty fancy knot, Sutherland. I’m not sure I’ll know how to get this off.”
She smiled. “I can help get you out of it.”
He caught her in his arms, a low growl coming from him, and buried his lips against her neck. She felt her body coming alive again. Then both their bellies yowled noisily, and he released her.
“Breakfast coming right up.”
He took her hand and led her downstairs, telling her to sit at the table.
“I can help,” she protested.
“Nope. I want to make breakfast for my girl.”
She watched as he worked efficiently. Brewing coffee. Flipping eggs and pancakes. Turning bacon. Buttering toast.
He set plates down for both of them and poured them each a cup of coffee.
“This looks amazing,” she praised. “I’m used to toasting a bagel in Brooklyn or pouring milk over cereal at Autumn’s. You’re going to spoil me.”
Taking her hand, he kissed it. “I want to spoil you, Summer. I love you. I want to do everything for you.”
“Even write my latest romance?” she asked, coquettishly batting her eyelashes at him.
“I don’t have the skill to do that.” He brightened. “Then again, I could be real handy with the research. You know, working out things between your couple. I’m ready, willing, and able to step in for the hero and help you work out any scenes you need help with.”
Summer laughed. “I’m glad you’re willing and able to be so helpful.”
They finished breakfast and put the dishes in the dishwasher. Chance started it, and they returned to his bedroom.
Seeing it the light now, she asked, “Is there a reason it looks so sterile? It’s almost like a hotel room. So impersonal.”
“I only started sleeping here a couple of days ago,” he admitted. “It was Dad’s bedroom. Tammy tried to get me to move down the hall into it after he passed. It didn’t feel right then, so I stuck to the room I’ve always had.”
“What changed your mind?” she asked, curious.
“You,” he said, a crooked grin emerging. “I wanted to start making memories with you here.”
He took her into his arms and kissed her. “Everything I do, I’m always thinking about you, Summer.”
“Same,” she said. “I was afraid to tell you that I loved you. You’re in my head. My heart. My soul.”
“Don’t ever be afraid to tell me anything,” Chance said. “I think it’s important that we’re always open and honest with one another.”
He kissed her again, and Summer felt she had come home in every way imaginable.
Summer sat cross-legged on the bed, Autumn across from her.
“I’ve never seen you look so happy,” her twin said.
She shook her head. “It’s hard to believe how much my life has changed in such a short time. I had such a crush on Chance when we were growing up. He was Mr. Everything. I remember kissing my pillow, pretending it was him.”
“Even if he had noticed you, West would’ve shut things down,” Autumn said.
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. Chance was a player then. From what little I know, he was that way in college and after. But he matured by the time he came home. He’s been serious about his obligations to the ranch. The times we’ve gotten together, he’s never brought anyone with him.”
“He hasn’t really dated since he came back to Hawthorne,” Summer confirmed. “He’s been all about the ranch.”
“He was waiting for you,” Autumn said matter-of-factly. “Even though he didn’t know he was. You didn’t know you’d be returning here. It’s as if you two were the last pieces in a thousand-piece puzzle. The picture is now complete—and you complete each other.”
“I love him so much, Autumn. I never knew I could have this kind of love in my heart. It’s growing so fast. Filling me up.”
Her sister smiled, her hands coming to her belly.
“You’ll find your love for Chance will grow even more once you become pregnant.
I didn’t think I could love Eli any more than I already did, and then this little peanut came along.
Already, I’m madly in love with him or her, and my love for Eli has grown even deeper.
I can’t imagine what it’ll be like once we’re holding the baby we made in our arms.”
“I hope Chance wants children,” Summer said. “It’s so early for us. We haven’t talked about kids.”
“He will,” Autumn assured her. “He’ll want to pass Blackstone Ranch on to the next generation of Blackstones.”
She glanced at her watch. “Chance will be here soon. We’re going to have dinner with West and Kelby tonight. He wants to tell them about us.”
“They’ll be pleased,” her twin said. “They both want the best for their siblings. You two finding one another will make them happy. Mom and Dad will also be glad. You know how much they’ve always liked Chance.”
“I know.”
Chance arrived and came in for a few minutes. Autumn hugged him tightly, and Eli gave him a big smile.
“I hear you’ve got a new lady in your life,” Eli said.
He slipped an arm about Summer’s waist. “She’s the last new lady in my life.”
“Until you have a little girl,” Autumn predicted. “It’s always you tough, silent types that go all mushy inside when you have a daughter.”
Chance gazed into her eyes. “This one already has me wrapped around her little finger. I’m going to be in a heap of trouble if we have girls.”
Autumn and Eli laughed, and Summer said, “We need to get going.”
Once they were in the truck, she asked, “Do you really want children? Or were you just kidding around in there?”
He reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “I had never thought about it too much before you. Now, all I want is a life with you and our kids, Summer. I don’t want to rush it, though. I want some time to ourselves before we even think about starting a family.”
“I’m glad you do want them,” she said. “And I don’t mind waiting for a while. We need to be together, and then we can think about babies.”
“But not too long,” he said. “I’m already thirty-three. You’re thirty. I don’t want to wait more than a couple of years, okay?”
“Okay.”
Truthfully, she would be happy to become pregnant tomorrow with Chance’s baby. Then again, they hadn’t even talked marriage yet. It just seemed assumed. She wanted to enjoy the here and now for at least a little bit before she talked to him about settling down permanently.