RANCHER BEAR’S BABY(58)

“Why? Did he bother you?”

I caught sight of him again and grinned when he looked my way. I bit my lip and then looked at Maggie. “Nope. I invited him to dinner at my house tonight. I think he’s sexy.”

I could’ve sworn I saw a blush tint his cheeks, but there’s no way he could have heard me from this distance. He stared at me for a few more seconds before heading off again. I had to fight the urge to follow him.

“Really?”

I nodded. “That man doesn’t get the credit he deserves.”



*



After work, I rushed to the market and bought groceries to cook for Michael. Then, I raced home and put a pot of boiling water on the stove for the start of my grandmother’s chicken and dumplings recipe. I wanted to impress him with my culinary skills.

My cheeks warmed as I thought about what I really wanted to do with him. The man had a physical presence that beckoned me and every time I thought about him, I imagined taking his shirt off with my teeth. I’d never fantasized about a man this way, and in such vivid detail. I’d never felt so lust-filled.

I wasn’t a virgin, by any means, but my experiences in the bedroom had been less than stellar. I had a feeling that Michael Long could show me a thing or two.

I showered and then changed into a white lacy dress that emphasized my curves. It stopped mid-thigh and dipped lower in the cleavage area than anything I’d ever wear to school. While waiting for the chicken to cook, I painted my toenails a pretty pink color and waddled around while they dried.

I’d gotten sun that day at the carnival, so I skipped most of my makeup and just applied mascara and a lip stain. I was ready early, so I stood in the kitchen, over my stove, and waited for eight o’clock.

Michael was right on time. I’d just tossed the dumplings into the pot when the doorbell rang. I stripped off my apron and raced to the front door.

There he was, so tall, that his face was dangerously close to my lit porch light. His eyes were pure gold in the light and I sucked in a breath as his male scent washed over me. Mmm… I didn’t know what it was he was wearing, but it reminded me of the woods. It also made me lust after things that I had no business lusting after from him. Yet.

“Hi.”

He braced his hands on my doorframe and I heard the wood creaking under his big fingers. “I shouldn’t stay.”

I pouted before I could stop the childish reaction. “You don’t want this, do you?” Why did I feel so heartbroken? “I’m sorry for pushing you, Michael. I just…got carried away, I guess.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t say that I didn’t want it.”

I tilted my head to the side and bit my lip. Confusion played at the edges of my conscious, but first and foremost was hot lust. “Michael, do you want to come inside?”

My doorframe creaked. “Yes.”

I stepped back to allow him to enter. When he didn’t move, I reached out and grabbed the front of his black T-shirt. I tugged him inside before kicking the door shut. “Well, look at that. You’re inside.”

He growled low in his throat and I forgot that I’d been cooking. I forgot Maggie’s whispered warning. I forgot that I’d only just met the man hours ago. I forgot that my momma had raised me to be a good girl.

I still had his shirt in my fist and I used it to pull him closer to me. When he wouldn’t budge any more, I brought my body into his and blinked up at him with wide eyes. I’d never been so attracted to anyone in my entire life and all I could think about was getting naked with him. Something was going on here, this wasn’t my normal reaction to any man, no matter how sinfully good looking he was. I was a kindergarten teacher for goodness sakes!

“What is this?” I wondered aloud.

His muscles tensed under my fingers and the muscles in his jaw worked as he stared down at me. “It’s dangerous for you.”

My heartrate spiked, but it didn’t stop the playful smile from quirking up one side of my lips. “Yeah?”

He grunted and backed up a step. “I’m serious. I should go.”

I matched his step and nodded. “If you want to.”

His back hit the door and he groaned as my body pressed against his. “Daisy…”

Hearing my name uttered in his rough voice sent chills down my spine. “Michael?”

Something flashed in his eyes and his expression changed from controlled to wild. He wrapped his hands around my forearms and tugged me higher against his chest. When just my tip toes were touching the floor, he lowered his mouth to mine.





CHAPTER 4: Michael




I’d come to cancel. What the fuck was I doing?

Daisy was just too tempting. I couldn’t leave. Not when I could smell her sweet scent and feel the warmth of her hand on my chest. Not when she was looking at me, the sweet, demure, kindhearted teacher with passionate carnal desires written clearly across her face.