The Rancher's Bride by Tara Taylor Quinn

Author:Tara Taylor Quinn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

HE’D FORGOTTEN that he’d prepared the cabin for his new bride. He’d had Lily bring in a dried flower arrangement the day before the wedding and set it on the plank wood table in his dining alcove. There was a bucket with a bottle of champagne and two glasses beside the flowers, just waiting for the ice. And the couple who were supposed to be popping the cork.

There were new cream-colored sheets on the king-size bed upstairs as well. His and her towels in the bathroom upstairs. And a couple of magazines he’d seen Rachel read on the coffee table in the living room, compliments of Lily.

Damn.

“You’ve made some changes,” Rachel said, coming in behind him.

He turned, a sleeping Ruby lying across his shoulder. “Just got rid of some of the old horseshoes.”

“A lifetime’s collection of them,” she said, a warm smile lighting her tired features. “I hope you kept them.”

“You can’t tell me you really want them up in your living room.”

“No,” she said, looking around slowly. “But maybe in that office we were going to add on for you.”

“I saved them.” He had one from every horse he’d ever owned. And from most of those he’d broken as well.

“Good.”

Rachel set her purse and Ruby’s bag down in one of the overstuffed brown armchairs that looked great in the home of a rugged man like Max. And very strange with a baby’s diaper bag in the center of it.

She turned around slowly, and then again, her gaze alighting on—and avoiding—the champagne.

“She sure is a heavy sleeper,” she said, her voice not quite steady.

He grunted. He supposed she was, but it was past the baby’s seven o’clock bedtime. What else would she be doing, but sleeping? “We’ve got that portable crib thing out in the truck. I’ll bring that in and set it up upstairs. You can have my—”

“No!” She stopped, looked down, her hands clenched in front of her. And then she looked back up at him, her gaze clear. “I’m not going to take your bed from you, Max.” When he started to protest, she forestalled him. “Don’t argue with me or try to convince me why it would be best because I don’t care. I’m not doing it.”

Max grinned. “I was merely going to say that it probably made more sense for you to take the guest room upstairs as all of my things are in my room and yours are still out in the truck and a bit more mobile.”

“Oh.” She grinned back. “Okay then.” Their eyes met, and had he not had a sleeping baby against his chest, Max would have damned caution and hauled her into his arms.

God, she was beautiful. And he’d been waiting for what seemed two lifetimes too long to taste the fullness of her sweet skin.

“Um...” Rachel looked away, licked her lips. “Would you like me to take her, or go get the stuff from the truck?”

“Take her.” He practically shoved the baby at her. He would

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