Once a Rancher by Linda Lael Miller

Author:Linda Lael Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2016-03-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

WHEN GRACE OPENED her eyes she was disoriented for only a few seconds. All her law enforcement training might be responsible, but she realized quickly that while the surroundings weren’t familiar, she knew where she was. Knew that was Slater with his arm draped over her, and that the moonlight slanting through the window when she dozed off had given way to a faint hint of dawn.

The bed was too small to share with Slater, whose rangy body took up almost the entire space. He lay sprawled in a relaxed pose next to her, breathing evenly. Grace rose up on one elbow and watched him, resigned to the fact that their early-morning return to the ranch house would be duly noted and the correct conclusions reached. A walk of shame would ensue when she went back wearing the same clothes as she had the night before. Facing his family—and Ryder—with some semblance of dignity would be a challenge, to put it mildly.

Why did she have the feeling Slater would just shrug it off, tell her to not worry about it?

She started to move away, but to her surprise the arm around her waist instantly tightened. He mumbled into the pillow, “No you don’t. We haven’t even said good morning.”

It was impossible not to object. “You were asleep. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“I wasn’t asleep.”

“I believe I heard a snore.”

“I don’t snore.” He turned over and sent her a mock glare that she somehow found irresistible—despite having slept on the edge of a bed all night...

“People never admit they snore,” she pointed out, and if they’d been under the sheets, she would have pulled the top one up in maidenly modesty. He’d kept her warm through the night, and it appeared he wasn’t letting her go quite yet.

That lazy smile surfaced. “Say it after me. Good morning. It’s a great way to start your day.”

No one should wake up looking so sexy with that shadow of a beard and disheveled hair. But he did, damn him. “Good morning.” To her relief she sounded composed when she was anything but.

The night before had definitely rattled her.

He kissed her shoulder. “See? Not so difficult, is it? I take it you’re having some morning-after regrets.”

“No.” That was honest. No regrets, but she was testing her level of comfort with the idea—the possibility—of emotional involvement. Her divorce had been a less than pleasant decision. Hank hadn’t left her brokenhearted, but the experience did shake her faith in her own judgment, especially about men.

Yet, here she was.

“It’s still early,” she said, pulling free and searching for her clothes. “I’d prefer that Ryder didn’t find out we never went back to the ranch house. This is the wrong time in his life to give him the impression that casual sex is acceptable.”

“Casual?” Slater repeated. He sat up to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. The smile had disappeared. “Thanks. But I would’ve described it differently.”

She slipped on her underwear and stepped into her jeans.

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