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Beneath the Stetson(47)

By:Janice Maynard






It’s going to be a long, uncomfortable night. Every time I close my eyes and think of you, sleep is the last thing on my mind...





Finally, bravely, she replied with what was in her heart.





I miss you, Gil...





This time the long silence was on his end.

After two full minutes, his answer came.





I miss you, too, sweetheart. Sleep well...

* * *

Gil plugged his phone into the charger and prowled his bedroom, pacing from one side to the other. He’d told Bailey the truth. Everywhere he looked he saw her. Naked, sprawled across his mattress. Laughing. Panting. Crying out when he made her come.

How could two incredible sexual encounters turn his entire world upside down? Before he had gotten to know this woman, he had learned to live with loneliness, with sexual deprivation. Hard work and dedication to his son’s welfare had enabled him to forget—most of the time—that he was a man in his prime, a man who had the same needs as any other man.

Now that the genie was out of the bottle, though, there was no way he could go back to the way things were. He stopped dead in the middle of the room, struck with the knowledge that he was falling in love with Bailey Collins already. His subconscious must have known long before now, because the intensity of what he was feeling didn’t happen overnight.

He’d been so busy stonewalling her and arguing with her that it had taken him all this time to admit she was exactly the woman he wanted. She was tough and strong and not afraid to do what was right. She was gentle with his son and passionate in Gil’s arms.

The fact that she wore boring suits with naughty undies enchanted him. Knowing that she was a positive, upbeat person in spite of her sterile upbringing only added to his admiration of her character.

He couldn’t wait to see her again. Was the emotion he had seen in her eyes this afternoon more than simple hunger?

Was it possible that Bailey cared about him in return?

He considered himself a fairly intuitive person, though he’d be the first to admit that women were complex creatures. Was Bailey leaving because Gil had given her no reason to stay?

From her perspective, he’d done nothing concrete to say that he wanted her in his life permanently. It shamed him that she could believe he saw her as no more than a good time.

The fact that she had a job and a life in another city complicated things. Was there any point in trying the long-distance thing for a while? Gil couldn’t walk away from the ranch that was his son’s heritage and his family’s roots. Not to mention the fact that the Straight Arrow provided a considerable number of jobs.

But was it fair to ask Bailey to give up everything and Gil nothing? He had a lot of thinking to do and not much time to do it. With Bailey being summoned home on Thursday, he had less than a week to analyze his gut feelings and make a plan. And then there was Cade. Gil was pretty sure what Cade’s reaction would be, but he needed to sit down with his son and tell him what was going on. That his father wanted to include Bailey in their family.

Imagining the three of them as a unit healed a lingering hurt in Gil’s soul. A dream had been stolen from him tragically long ago. Now he had a chance to start over, to have the traditional family he had always envisioned.

As he showered and climbed into bed, he realized that he was far too wired to sleep. By this time tomorrow night, God willing, he and Bailey would have an understanding. Perhaps he could fly to Dallas with her when she went back and they could shop for a ring.

He would use any means in his power to make her happy. Everything was going to be perfect.





Fourteen



Bailey arrived in town fifteen minutes early. She was genuinely looking forward to spending the day with Cade, but even more than that, she wanted to see Gil. His mysterious promises had lit a tiny flame of hope deep inside her, hope that he felt the same connection, the same craving to make their relationship more than a passing fancy.

When Gil’s familiar big truck pulled up at the club, he and Cade hopped out. The two males were dressed similarly, both wearing jeans and cowboy boots with light rain jackets. The skies were dull, and the forecast called for showers.

Gil’s coat was black to match his hair. Cade’s was bright blue and reflected his eyes.

The boy ran across the pavement. “Hi, Miss Bailey! I get to stay with you today.”

She grinned, kneeling to hug him. “Yes, you do. And I’m excited about that. I thought we’d start with lunch if that’s okay with you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cade beamed.

Gil touched the child’s shoulder. “Take my phone and sit on the bench over there for a minute, please. You can play that new game we bought. I need to talk to Bailey.”