Rustlers and Romance [Saddle Creek 1] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Read online

  How can I? He’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a man.

  She glanced around at the Jack of Aces’s rich pastures. The horses and the beautiful, spacious horizon offered the most glorious sunsets and sunrises she’d ever seen.

  How can I just walk away from all this?

  A tear ran down her cheek, and she wiped it away. She loved the wide-open country spaces with all the room to breathe and ride. She loved the rockers on the front porch. She would miss the early morning talks with Chase as they shared a pot of coffee and planned their day. She would even miss Amos’s old, ugly mug and their talks around the dinner table discussing the day’s work and news.

  But how can I stay without Chase’s love?

  She hugged the horse’s neck. “How can I leave, Lucy, my best friend? I’d miss you way too much.”

  “Her? What about me?” Chase had quietly come up behind her as she talked to her beloved horse. He put a foot on the bottom rail. “Will you miss me, too?”

  “I’m afraid I would, more than you know.”

  “Then don’t go. Stay here with me, where you’re free and safe. The hard part’s out of the way, Lauren. I’ve already asked you, and you’ve already said yes, so just marry me.”

  “I wish I could, Chase. Really, I do, bu—”

  “But what, babe? You’d enjoy life for a change. Think of the love we could make. Maybe we’d even have children. You could do whatever you want to do here. At least give it a try for the year like you promised. Give me, or us, a chance.”

  Chase reached for her. He gently turned her face toward him and tears tracked down her cheeks. He took her in his arms. “Stay with me, Lauren. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” He pulled away and looked into her eyes. “I think I’m…falling in love with you.”

  Lauren stared into his eyes. “Me, too.”

  “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you.” Chase turned her face back toward him.

  “I said, me, too. I think I’m falling in love with you, too.”

  Chase pulled her close and wrapped her tightly in his arms. After a minute or two, he loosened his hold and looked into her eyes. “Then if you won’t marry me, won’t you at least stay for a while?”

  She looked into his eyes. “Okay, but just for a while.”

  He touched her lips with his, lightly at first, then more aggressively, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. He plundered her mouth, parting her lips with his tongue, and wrestled and danced with hers.

  He gently broke away from the kiss, swooped down, placed his arms behind her knees, and lifted her up against his chest.

  “Ohhh, Chase! Please put me down. What are you doing?”

  “Taking you to bed, woman”—he stalked toward the house—“for the day. And I’m gonna pleasure you in every way imaginable. We’ll sleep when we get tired, eat when we get hungry, and stay in bed while we do.”

  He kicked open the front door, walked down the hall, and into his room. When he reached the side of his king-sized bed he stopped. With great care, he slid her down his body until she stood on the hardwood floor.

  He took her face in his hands and studied her eyes. “I want to wake up with you by my side every morning. I want to feel your heat every night when I come to bed. I want to share my life with you, Lauren…forever.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes. When their lips were about to touch, she whispered, “Me, too, Chase. Me, too.”

  THE END

  WWW.LORELEICONFER.COM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I live on a peninsula in the mid west coast of Florida with my husband, two cats, and AJ, my long-haired Chihuahua.

  I wrote my first story in the fourth grade in the form of a play which actually was produced by my teacher for parents and students. I continued writing and majored in English in college. I practice every day to improve my craft.

  I love reading almost as much as writing and have filled my book shelves with my favorites, i.e. Harlan Colban, Eliza March, Johanna Lindsey, Kathy Carmichael, Terri Garey, Karen Rose, LuAnn Rice, and Bobbi Smith just to mention a few, as well as all the classics.

  I am a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America), TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors), Kiss of Death, PRO, CSI (Crime Scene Investigations), and I am an active editor for The Wild Rose Press.

  For all titles by Lorelei Confer, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/lorelei-confer

  www.BookStrand.com