When It's Right(89)

“Gillian, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I can’t be sure it’s real. The last thing I want is for you to think I’m crazy.”

“It’s never happened on the ranch, except that one time when Gabe surprised you?”

“No. Just in town. I get anxious when we leave the ranch.”

“Why?”

“I don’t really know my way around town or anyone here. I feel like I have to be on guard.”

“Okay, we can fix that. I’m happy to come to town with you, show you around, and introduce you to the ­people I know. Then you’ll feel more comfortable.”

That didn’t assuage the feeling in his gut that some guy was lurking in the shadows watching her. Who? Why?

He didn’t like it and tried not to let it show. She’d asked him not to be so overprotective, but he couldn’t help himself.

“Come on. You’re safe with me.” He wrapped his arm around her, and she snuggled close to his side. He walked her out of the restaurant to the truck and didn’t say a word about the tremble that rocked her body against his. He scanned every corner of the lot, every parked car, and the street. Nothing out of the ordinary.

He helped Gillian into the truck and smiled when she slid to the middle and set the pie on the seat closest to the door. He went around to the driver’s side and climbed in. She leaned into his side and rested her head against his shoulder, her arm tucked through his, her hand on his thigh.

Neither of them said a word until they were well on their way home and nothing but darkness, the stars putting on a show, and open land surrounded them.

“I had a really good time tonight. Thank you for everything. I loved it.”

“I’m glad, sweetheart.”

Her cell phone rang. She grabbed it out of her purse. “It’s Justin.”

“Take it. Tell him I said goodnight.”

Gillian finished the short call and stared up at him. “When you were gone, he told me what you said about how he’d always come first.”

“As it should be,” Blake confirmed.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you in my life, but I am so grateful and happy you are. I love you, Blake. I really, really love you.”

Blake wrapped his arm around her shoulders, held her close, and kissed her on the side of the head. He drove faster to get her home and into his bed. When they pulled up in the driveway that led to his house, she didn’t say a thing.

He walked her up the porch steps and straight through the front door. He left her in the great room only long enough to put the pie in the refrigerator. She stood before the mantel, staring at the pictures of him and his family, until he came back, took her hand, and tugged her along with him down the hall and straight to his room. He’d left a soft light glowing. She stood beside him and stared at the massive bed strewn with red rose petals. Their sweet scent filled the room.

Nervous about what she thought of his corny attempt at romancing her, he stared down at her and waited. She didn’t disappoint. Her face turned up to him, and a smile spread across her lips and lit her eyes.

“This isn’t what I expected.”

He’d tried to make the room nice for her. He’d even bought new sheets and a cover for the massive king-­size platform bed. He liked the clean lines and chunky wood frame and headboard. He’d tried to make the simple bed more appealing with a navy blue and white patterned quilt, with navy-­trimmed white pillow shams that looked like they belonged in some swanky hotel. Cost as much too, but he’d wanted her to feel comfortable here. He liked the effect and complement to his marblewood dressers and side tables. He tried to see the room through her eyes. It worked. Definitely nice, despite the sparse decorations, which consisted mostly of photographs of rocky streams and waterfalls with lots of green trees.

“You surprise me, Blake. I kind of expected nothing but cowboy country. This is country chic. I love it.”

He let out a heavy sigh.

She smiled, turned into his arms, and gave him a sexy smile. “Now love me,” she whispered a second before her lips met his.

He pressed her close and unzipped her dress. He trailed his fingers up her spine to her shoulders and pushed the dress down her arms to puddle at her feet. He stared down at her, standing in her white lace bra and panties. His mouth watered and his hands ached to get a hold of all that creamy skin.

“I liked the dress, but I love you naked even more.”

She smiled, then giggled when he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off her feet, took her mouth in a deep kiss, and walked her to the bed. He laid her down under him, crushing the rose petals at her back, and trailed kisses down her neck to her soft breast. He licked the top and slid his hand to the bra clasp in back, unlatched it, and pulled the pretty, but offending, barrier away. He took her tight nipple into his mouth and sucked hard, just the way she liked it. He loved the moan that escaped her lips. Her whole body went lax beneath his in a soft exhale of surrender.