Rocky Retreat (16 page)

She nodded, pressing a kiss to his fingertips. “I’m glad we get more time with just the two of us.”

“You sure your mom doesn’t want grandkids ASAP?” he teased.

“Bite your tongue. Plus, we’re not planning our lives around making my parents happy.” Rachel grimaced. “Although it would be good if you work that patented Coleman charm hard when we have dinner with them next week.”

“Trust me, they’ll love me.”

She stared at him as worry drifted over her expression.

“Or…they won’t,” he admitted. “Either way, they’ll know how I feel about you, and that’s all that matters. I’m not Gary. I’ll never hurt you like he did.”

“He’s an ass.” Some of her tension evaporated as righteous satisfaction replaced it. “
And
he’s no longer in my life—thank God for cross-country transfers. I hope he enjoys driving deliveries in rural Quebec. I hope he gets lost. Often.”

“Vindictive woman. I like your claws.”

“
Rawr
.” She scratched his chest, and something other than ex-husbands or worrying about family shot back to the top of his agenda.

“Not to change the subject, but…” He glanced at his watch. “If you plan on giving me that blow job before we leave, get cracking.”

Her smile turned mischievous. “Are you sure? Because with our track record, chances are your brother Trevor will show up at exactly the wrong moment, and you’ll spend the rest of the evening with a problem in your pants.”

Lee didn’t bother to stop his laughter. The past week had held more emotion than he’d experienced in all his previous years. Passion, excitement, fear, anticipation—sorrow.

And intermingled with all of them was the special joy Rachel had brought to his life.

“Fine, I can wait.” He curled himself to a sitting position and brought her with him, hungrily taking her lips because he couldn’t stop himself.

When they parted breathlessly, she offered him a huge smile. “Maybe we can find a broom closet at the party, or something.”

Lee reached under the nearest pillow, cupping the box in the palm of his hand so Rachel wouldn’t see it. “That’s a dirty offer.”

“You bring out the best in me,” she replied with a wink.

She did the same for him. “I know Valentine’s Day isn’t your favourite thing, but because I’m a guy, this is the best time to do this so I have an easy date to remember.”

He held out his surprise.

Her smile froze. “Lee?”

He bumped the box into her fingers. “Trust me.”

Rachel cracked it open as if a spider were going to leap out, and the breath she’d been holding released in a long, steady stream. “My God,
really
?”

He pulled the ring from the container and caught her fingers in his. “It’s not what you think.” He looked into her big brown eyes earnestly. “It’s a promise ring. It means I want you in my life, but I know we need time before we take the next step. I want you to wear this
until
you’re ready.”

She laid a hand over her chest. “Something in here just expanded a few sizes.”

“Good to know branding you ‘taken’ gives you heartburn,” Lee teased. He slipped the ring on her finger, wrapping his hand around hers. “Now it’s up to you. When you’re ready, let me know. Waiting won’t change the way I feel about you, so there’s no rush.”

It had seemed a little juvenile when he’d come up with the idea, but from the moisture in her eyes and the smile she offered him, he’d done the right thing.

“I’ll let you know,” she promised, leaning into him and offering her lips all over again. “I love you, Lee Coleman.”

“I love you too, even though you seem hell-bent on us missing tonight’s party.” He laid his hands over her wrists where she was working on undressing him.

Rachel raised a brow. “Tell me you’d prefer to go out instead of us having our own party here at home. Tell me that truthfully, and I’ll stop.” She undid his zipper and reached into his pants, wrapping her fingers around him. “Well?”

She gave a damn convincing argument.

“Why fight fate? I’m putty in your hands, Rachel Malone.” He folded his arms behind his head and offered his most risqué smile. “Happy Valentine’s Day, honey.”

It was so much more than he’d set out to find that cold November day. What had been planted in the midst of a winter storm had taken root. Like a crocus pushing through the lingering snow, joyful anticipation had bloomed into brilliant love.

They never did make it to the party.

I hope you enjoyed Lee and Rachel’s story. You can receive updates on new releases (like Trevor’s story, coming summer 2015!) including free vignettes by signing up for
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If you’d like to find out more about how Steve and Melody got together, you’ll find their story in 
Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch #7):
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. Even though that’s book 7 in the Six Pack Ranch series, it’s completely stand alone, and a safe place to jump in.

Or if you’d like to go back to the beginning, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEAT: Six Pack Ranch 1 is available for
FREE
.

The other series you can check out is the Thompson & Sons, which starts with Mitch & Anna’s story—the cop and the town bad boy!

Thompson & Sons

Rocky Ride:
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One Sexy Ride:
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Let It Ride:
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Second chances are the sweetest—and the hottest.

It took a spectacularly embarrassing break-up to knock Steve Moonshine Coleman off his lazy butt. In the ten months since that night
,
he’s changed his ways. Now that Melody’s back in town, it’s time for this sweet-talking cowboy to convince her to get back in the saddle with him.

A return to her veterinary position in Rocky Mountain House was always in the cards for Melody Langley. Getting back together with Steve? Never part of the plan. He had lots of potential but zero ambition, and there’s no way she’ll accept anything less than a man who can keep up with her, in and out of bed.

But the new-and-improved cowboy is impossible to resist, so Melody issues a challenge. Three months to prove he’s reformed. Three months of Steve orchestrating one sexual indulgence after another—?wicked distractions from the old boys’ club Melody faces at work and Steve’s growing responsibilities.

He’s got one shot to prove with more than words what’s in his heart and soul.

Read on for an excerpt…

“I want to see you again,” Steve blurted out.

Maybe if she’d never imagined hearing those words this would’ve been more awkward, but she’d had enough time to think it over. She’d prepared for every possibility when she’d decided to return to Rocky Mountain House, even this one.

Prepared, and planned to enjoy it.

Melody kept walking. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t think we had an actual relationship, not one that I’m interested in rekindling.”

“I get that. I told you I was a fool, but I’ve changed. I want a chance to prove it.”

“Prove it?” A burst of laughter escaped before she could stop it. “Steve, when we were dating, half the time you didn’t know what day it was. And I don’t even know that I want to call it dating. More like
conveniently seeing each other when it worked out
. That part wasn’t just your fault. I’ll take some of the blame, because I was damn busy with my job.”

“We were both busy, but that doesn’t give me an excuse for being a shit. It also doesn’t have anything to do with what I’m talking about right now.”

Melody jerked to a halt so she could toss him her most disdainful expression. “What happened between us a year ago, and more? How does
that
have nothing to do with the fact you want to see me again? You’re not making any sense.”

His lips twitched upward as his gaze drifted over her, his attraction apparent. “Let’s start with a clean slate. Hi, you must be the new vet in town. I’m Steve Coleman, and you’re going to be seeing a lot of me.”

Unbelievable. And yet…interesting. The old Steve would have joked around, but never with that intense focus as if he was prepared to actually do something if she argued with him. “Well, it appears you’ve grown some balls since the last time we met, but I don’t know that it’s enough.”

“Trust me, I’ve got the balls, for many things.”

She shook her head, clicking her tongue as if in disbelief. “If that was some sly reference toward your sexual prowess? There’s another place you’re mistaken. I’ll give you points for knowing where to find a woman’s clit, and I had more than a few orgasms with you—thanks for them, by the way.”

His grin broadened, and she was almost reluctant to deliver the killing blow.

“But, Steve? I’m afraid you’re just too vanilla for me.”

Melody spun on her heel and marched away, her own grin breaking free as he stood frozen on the spot behind her, sputtering in response. She kept walking, catching hold of her door and quickly crawling into the borrowed truck.

She got the door shut before he caught up with her, but there was no way she could ignore him. Steve stood inches from her closed door, his expression folded into a frown until she relented and rolled down her window.

He started in right away before she could speak, his utter shock apparent. “Too
vanilla
for you?”

Melody answered briskly. “I found out a few things about myself while I was away at school this year. So, I’m glad we’re going to be friends, and I look forward to working with the Colemans now that I’m back, but that’s pretty much all
us time
is going to be. Have a nice day.”

She put the truck in drive and left him standing in the dirt, containing her laughter until she was on the main highway and headed for home.

This was where the Steve she’d known would saunter back to the party and forget about her. Oh, maybe he’d give a few moments’ thought to challenging her comments, but then something would distract him, and the next time they met? It would be as if this conversation had never happened. He’d ask her out again, she’d turn him down.

Eventually he’d get bored and move on. It was sad, but inevitable.

Except…the flash of fire she’d seen in his eyes in her rearview mirror as she drove away wasn’t familiar. Something fluttered in her belly, and she wondered if maybe she’d poked a little too hard.

Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch #7):
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is available now

Vivian Arend in one word:
Adventurous
. In a sentence:
Willing to try just about anything once
. That wide-eyed attitude has taken her around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water.

Her optimistic outlook also meant that when challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictive as traveling the real one. Now a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of both contemporary and paranormal stories, Vivian continues to explore, write and otherwise keep herself well entertained.

 
Vivian Arend:
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Six Pack Ranch

Contemporary western romance

Rocky Mountain Heat:
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Rocky Mountain Haven:
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Rocky Mountain Desire:
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Rocky Mountain Angel:
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Rocky Mountain Rebel:
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Rocky Mountain Freedom:
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Rocky Mountain Romance:
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Rocky Retreat:
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