Chapter Fourteen #2
When Dylan and Daisy arrived at Becket’s place, he found Ellie alone in the kitchen. Daisy was immediately sniffed and welcomed by Becket’s and Ellie’s three dogs and their cat. Putting the six-pack of beer he’d brought along on the table, Dylan gave Ellie a quick hug. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Of course,” Ellie smiled. “I’m so glad you’re here. I have an idea Becket and June should be finished talking about work by now. Hopefully the steaks are also nearly done. Why don’t you get a beer and join them outside? I’ll be with you shortly.”
“Thanks, Ellie.”
Becket and June were still talking when he stepped out on to the back porch.
“Hi, coz,” Becket welcomed him. “We’ve just finished discussing the new project, I’m very excited. And”—he picked up a plate of steaks—“these are also ready. Let me take this inside, we’ll see you there.”
Dylan nodded, his eyes on June. “Hey, you.” He pulled her closer.
Smiling she moved into his arms as he bent down for a kiss. She smelled like flowers, like a cozy room, like home.
Lifting his head, his eyes took in everything about her. “You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Turning away, she pointed toward the mountains. “Those take my breath away. This ranch … you’re all so lucky to live here and wake up to this view every day.”
Putting his arms around her from behind, he hugged her close. “I’ll be forever grateful to Hayden for reaching out with the idea that we unite two ranches back again, as it used to be. With the added bonus of the ranch Hunter bought, it makes so much more sense.”
For a few moments they stood quietly, drinking in the scenery.
“You know,” he said after a while, “I have to admit, I’m so used to living on a ranch, I don’t always notice the beauty, but seeing it through your eyes …” He hugged her tightly.
“You guys still don’t know what the fight your dad had with his brother was about?” she asked.
“No, we don’t. I don’t even know if it matters any more. I was hoping if we knew, we’d understand better why my dad and mom acted the way they did.”
“Come on, you two!” Becket called from the door. “Dinner’s on the table.”
Having dinner with Becket and Ellie was easy, relaxing.
The only problem was with June sitting beside Dylan at the table, her arm touching his ever so often, the sound of her low laugh, her scent surrounding him, he struggled to focus on the conversation.
His whole being was aware of her every move.
By the time they’d finished dinner, he was aching to touch her.
But it was getting late, and they both needed to sleep.
He refused to leave without a kiss, though.
As he got up, he thanked Becket and Ellie for the lovely dinner before he touched June’s arm.
“What about a coffee at my house?” he asked before he turned to Ellie. “You don’t mind?”
“Please go with him,” Ellie smiled as she also got up. “We’ll clean up.”
“Are you sure?” June asked.
“Of course. Please let me know if you need anything else tonight, okay?”
With a relieved sigh, Dylan took June’s hand. He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted her to see his house. Or was it to see her in his house?
*
As Dylan helped her out of his truck, he put Daisy down. It was a beautiful summer evening. There was no wind and not a cloud in the sky. “Look at the stars! You don’t see this in the city, there are way too many lights. This is so, so beautiful.”
Watching her, he smiled. “Beautiful.”
“I’m talking about the stars.”
“I’m not. Kiss me?”
Her lips were warm and welcoming and within seconds, she felt his body react to her nearness. “Are you staying with me tonight?” he whispered.
Slipping her hands around his neck, she kissed him again. “Ellie will be waiting for me, maybe another night? You promised me coffee?” As she turned, her heart sighed. “You have a beautiful house.”
Dylan took her hand as they walked up the steps to the wide porch. “I wanted you to see where I live. It was built for Walker, so it’s a privilege for me to live here.”
“I’ve heard about him. He was so young. Why did you and Carson decide to live here and not stay on the other ranch?”
Dylan unlocked the front door. “Unhappy memories mostly, but living here, sharing meals make planning our days much easier. We each have our own space though which makes all the difference.”
As June followed Dylan into his house, her phone pinged. It was a text from Ellie telling her where she’d left a key for June. So Ellie wasn’t waiting for her. As her eyes fell on Dylan’s broad shoulders, the way his jeans fit snugly over his very sexy butt, her mouth watered.
“Kitchen, living room,” Dylan motioned with his hands as they walked through the space that was only separated by a kitchen counter. As he reached the corridor, he pointed toward a door. “This is the second bedroom, empty at the moment, and here”—he stopped at the last door—“is my bedroom.”
With their eyes locked, June’s heart sighed again.
It felt so right to be here, in this house with this man.
Which was why she had to go back to Seattle as soon as possible, no question about it.
It was going to break her heart, but leaving sooner was better than later.
Maybe if she were away from here, not close to Dylan, she would discover this feeling was just lust, pure and simple.
What made going back even more difficult was that for the first time in her life she felt as if she really belonged. In the quaint town, among the friendly people, especially here on a ranch.
This was not her home, though. This house, this man, this family, wasn’t hers.
Maybe she could stay one more day, walk through the streets of Marietta one more time, say her goodbyes without telling anyone she was leaving.
Friday would be a good day to go. It would then be exactly two weeks since her arrival.
He held out his hand. “I missed you.”
Without hesitation, she took his hand. “I’ve missed you too.”
Taking her hand, he led her to his bed.
This was what she’d wanted, what her body had been pining for. As she slowly undressed him, she reveled in his toned body, his muscled arms, his presence.
She was not going to cry. Not tonight.
As he picked her up and put her on his bed, she looked her fill. This would be one of the last times she could be with her cowboy.
As she reached out to bring him closer, she swallowed against the giant lump in her throat, trying to keep the tears at bay.