Chapter Two
S he should be shoving him away or, at the very least, moving as far as she possibly could away from him. Ellie’s whole body was strangely heavy, though, her feet not reacting to any of the hysterical messages from her brain.
Oh, he was a marvelous specimen of a man, nobody could mistake that. This close, his musky maleness was overwhelming. Those broad shoulders, the ripple of muscles under his denim shirt, that knee-buckling smile…
“What do you say?” he was muttering, his lips mere inches from hers.
“About what?” she got out, not sure what he was talking about.
“My suggestion we kiss and make out. Come on, live a little, be reckless.”
With his hot breath fanning the fire in her belly, kissing and making out sounded so exciting and, yes, reckless. She wanted to step closer, put her hands on those rippling muscles and kiss away that grin.
Sanity, fortunately, prevailed. Turning on her heel, she stepped behind the counter.
“So not interested. Thanks for your… um… help, but please don’t waste your lines on me.
I’m happily single; proud to be a spinster.
That… um… box you’ve bought is obviously intended for one of your conquests.
” To her chagrin, she was breathless, something he obviously didn’t miss.
“My offer stands; do let me know if you change your mind. I can always buy another box.” Lifting his cowboy hat, he flashed her another smile before he stepped out of her shop.
“Not ever gonna happen!” she called out after him before she could stop herself.
Stopping, he turned. “Never say never, sweetheart. Your button…” He motioned with his hand.
Looking down, she saw what he was talking about—the top button of her dress had come undone, exposing part of her breasts and her bra.
With a soft groan, she turned her back on him and fastened the button with unsteady fingers. Her breasts felt heavy… Oh, my goodness, she was imagining things.
Taking a couple of deep breaths, she tried to get her breathing under control. He was just another man. No need to get all hot and bothered and worry about heavy breasts, seriously.
She looked over her shoulder, her eyes searching for him without conscious thought. And, of course, he would choose that moment to look back, catching her watching him. Her face flaming again, she stomped away.
“Was that Becket Weston who just left your shop?” a voice behind her asked.
Ellie rolled her eyes before she turned around.
Of course, Janice O’Sullivan, teacher at the local high school—and apparently the town matchmaker—would choose this exact moment to walk into her shop.
“Hi, Janice. Yes, it was Becket. He thought I needed help with the ladder. It was really quite unnecessary for him to step in, because I was fine.”
Frowning, Janice looked at the ladder. “That thing is not safe. I have one at home I never use. I’ll ask Craig to drop it off for you.”
Craig, Annie’s husband, was also Janice’s nephew and, if the town gossip was anything to go by, Janice was the one who got Craig and Annie together.
“That’s really not necessary…”
But Janice had seen the new yarn and rushed forward with an excited exclamation. “Ooh, Ellie, these are so pretty. What other colors do you have in this yarn?”
As Ellie moved to show Janice more colors, she glanced across the street again. There was no sign of Becket. Why was she still thinking about the man? Irritated with herself, she tried to focus on Janice’s questions.
By the time Janice was paying for her purchase, Ellie had convinced herself she’d forgotten all about Becket Weston.
“I’m really enjoying our book club evenings,” Janice was saying. “I can’t wait to start reading Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South . It’s not your regular love story, I believe.”
“It’s not.” Ellie smiled. “The social disruptions caused by industrialization at the time is one of the themes, but don’t worry, there is also a beautiful love story.”
Janice picked up her bag of yarn. “Great, I’m looking forward to discussing it in our group.
” Frowning, she looked at Ellie. “I do worry about you, though,” she said.
“Reading is all good and well, but you’re still so young—you should go out more.
I don’t think you’ve been to any of the events in and around town since you’ve arrived. ”
“I’ve only been here since the beginning of February, remember?
” Ellie smiled. “And honestly, I prefer a night at home to going out. Too many people, too much noise. By the way, before I overstay my welcome at Annie’s, I should find my own place.
I’m looking for something to rent, so do let me know if you hear about anything. ”
“And there you go changing the subject again, as you always do.” Janice smiled.
“But if I hear about anything, I’ll let you know.
Talking about going out reminds me about something.
It’s probably a very selfish request and if you really don’t want to go, it’s fine, but there’s an outdoor music festival on the fairgrounds this Friday.
They’re grilling burgers, everyone in town usually goes.
We take chairs, have a picnic and listen to music.
I was wondering if you would like to go with me?
I mean, I’ll of course understand if you don’t want to go with someone my age, but I would like to give my godchildren a break for once.
They must always accommodate me when there’s an event. ”
Ellie knew very well she was being manipulated, and she honestly didn’t want to go anywhere on a Friday evening, but Janice had been so nice to her since her arrival in Marietta.
Also, the word ‘outdoor’ made the whole idea much more appealing.
Outdoor meant she didn’t have to be up close and personal with anyone.
“Thanks, Janice, you had me at outdoor .”
Janice beamed. “That’s great. We don’t have to stay late. The sun doesn’t set until after nine this time of year, and by then I’ll probably be ready to head back home. I’ll pick you up around six? And don’t worry about a thing—I’ll bring a picnic basket.”
“Oh, but…”
“Schools have closed for the summer break, so I have time on my hands while you’re working all day. This is my way of welcoming you to our town.”
“Okay, great, but let me meet you there. I’m not sure what time I’ll close. Sometimes clients wander in at the last minute.”
“Okay, if that’s what you prefer. I was also wondering whether Rose wouldn’t be interested in joining us?”
Ellie hesitated. They’d been having a surprise kitchen tea for Laura in the Yarn Cove on the day before her wedding, when a disheveled and crying redhead stumbled into Ellie’s shop. Rose Dalton. Even after a month, her name was still the only piece of information they had about her.
Since Laura had moved to the Weston Ranch, she’d offered her house in town to Rose to stay in for as long as she needed.
So far, Rose hadn’t talked to anyone about herself.
They still didn’t know where she was from, how she’d ended up in Marietta, nor why she’d been crying on the night they’d met her.
“I doubt she’d come—she still hasn’t left the house as far as I know—but I will ask her.”
Clearly worried, Janice nodded. “I’ve been there a few times to drop off books or something to eat, but she’s not talking. It’s such a pity; she looks so lost. I wish there was something we could do.”
“Give her time. Something very traumatic must have happened. I’m sure she’ll talk when she’s ready.”
“Okay, I’m on my way,” Janice said. “See you on Friday!”
As Janice left, Ellie glanced across the street again.
Becket was leaving the bookshop, another bag in his hand.
The dog in the truck right outside the shop barked joyously, tail wagging, waiting to be petted.
Grinning, Becket talked to the dog. To her surprise he got into the truck.
It was his dog. Well, well. She wouldn’t have thought he was a dog person.
Where would he find the time with all his womanizing?
Quickly, she turned away. Stop thinking about the cowboy.
Her eye caught on a packet lying underneath one of the cupboards.
Crouching down, she picked it up before realizing what it was.
A condom. “Skin-on skin feeling for enhanced sensation and pleasure.” Those words were forever engraved in her brain.
Muttering and blushing again, she quickly stuffed the package in her handbag beneath the counter. She still couldn’t believe she’d read the words out loud. What had she been thinking? In her defense, her mind had been so muddled by Becket’s presence, she hadn’t been thinking at all.
With a groan, she pressed her fingers against her eyes. She was happily single, she wasn’t getting involved with anyone and even if she was to start dating at some point, Becket Weston was so not the kind of man she’d even consider going out with. He was too big, too strong…
She waited for the fear she used to get in her belly when she’d been with Marcus, but strangely, Becket’s big frame didn’t frighten her. He did make her feel off-balance, though, not a feeling she was comfortable with.
Stop thinking about the man, for crying out loud! Checking her watch, she grabbed her bag. She was going to pick up something from the deli for lunch before dropping in to check on Rose.
*
By three o’clock, Becket was back in the saddle and riding along with his two brothers and sister to check on the bulls.
During summer, when breeding season was approaching, the herd was sorted into their different breeding groups.
On the Weston Ranch they’d moved away from single-sire breeding to managing the genetics in more specific ways.
To ensure the production of high-quality offspring, bulls and cows were carefully matched using genetic data and other factors such as birth weights, weaning weights, production history, and so on, with one bull covering twenty to thirty cows—his own harem so to speak.