LITMIR.BIZ

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my career is, how much I want to make it as an actor. So forget what I said. For sure she wants us to get along for our mutual benefit, but that might be the extent of it.”

      “Even though she put us in adjoining rooms?”

      “Yeah, she did.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure what she had in mind when she did that, but in any case, it won’t work for me. I’ll take a bedroll down to the barn.”

      “Is that a veiled invitation to join you there?”

      “No, ma’am, it isn’t.”

      “Getting it on in the barn has a certain ring to it.”

      “Been there, but with country girls. I’m not subjecting you to that.”

      She looked him in the eye. “What if I want to be subjected to it?”

      His reaction was all she could have hoped for. His eyes darkened and his chest heaved. But he didn’t give in. “Maybe before you leave, but not the first time. For all you know you’re allergic to hay. Or horses. Hear me out on this and don’t get crazy on me.”

      “I’m already crazy, and it’s your fault because you kiss like no man I’ve ever known.”

      “So I’ve been told.”

      She groaned. “You could have warned me! I wasn’t the least bit prepared!”

      “Oh, Geena.” Moving closer, he pulled her into his arms. “We’ve started this thing between us and I promise we’ll finish it. I bought a ranch, and I’m thinking that maybe we—”

      “A ranch? A whole ranch?”

      “I’m hoping it’s a whole ranch. I’d hate like hell to buy half a ranch.”

      That made her laugh. “So, where is it?”

      “Right down the road.” He rubbed the small of her back. “I vaguely remember the place from when I lived at Thunder Mountain but I’ve never been inside the house. Rosie and Herb looked it over for me and said it was a good buy, although it needs work. I want to go see it tomorrow, so if you’d like to ride along, you’d be most welcome.”

      “I’m way ahead of you. I accept your invitation to visit your ranch.”

      “Excellent.”

      “Now, let me go or I’m liable to drag you into my SUV and drive you over there tonight.”

      He backed away. “You’re good for my ego.”

      “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

      His gaze swept over her. “We need to get back inside before I change my mind about the barn.”

      “I’m not allergic to hay. Or horses. I just remembered that I’ve been exposed to both at Disneyland. I’m good with goats, too.” His laughter made her smile. “Well, I am. They came right up to me wagging their little tails.”

      “I’ll bet they did. But please don’t come down to the barn tonight. It’s not an appropriate venue for what I have in mind, and anyway, I didn’t anticipate this so I don’t have supplies.”

      Supplies. He really was a gentleman. “Okay. I’ll respect your wishes.” She put on her glasses and tucked a few strands of hair back into place.

      “Besides, you should get a good night’s sleep after what you’ve been through today.”

      “What about you, bedding down in the barn? Surely you won’t get a good night’s sleep.”

      “Actually, I will. I love listening to the horses moving around in their stalls, munching on hay, making snuffling sounds. It’s comforting. I used to do it all the time when I lived here. I’d pretend I was John Wayne, banished to the barn by Maureen O’Hara.” He took a deep breath. “Ready to go in?”

      “Do I have a choice?” Now she wished that nature had given her red hair so she could be Maureen O’Hara to his John Wayne.

      He shook his head. “We’ve already been out here long enough to raise suspicion. And you must be exhausted.”

      “I used to be.” She glanced at him. “But thanks to you, I’m all revved up again.”

      “Sorry about that.”

      “Are you really?”

      He grinned. “No, ma’am.”

      “I didn’t think so. When I first arrived and saw your face, I thought I’d made a terrible mistake by coming here. But it wasn’t a mistake, was it?”

      He met her gaze and his eyes crinkled with laughter. “If it was, I hope you keep on makin’ ’em.”

      Dear Lord, his kiss had been enough to seduce her without adding country charm to the mix. Apparently being in this setting highlighted all his considerable attributes. She could hardly wait for tomorrow’s trip to his ranch so she could sample every one of them.

      * * *

      The woman was hotter than the griddle at a Chamber of Commerce pancake breakfast. Matt was forced to call on his acting skills in order to appear in control as he walked back into the living room with Geena. He was congratulating himself on his smooth entrance when he tripped over a footstool and barely saved himself from a face-plant.

      “I saw that!” Cade smirked at him. “It was totally the stool’s fault.”

      His face heated. “I was...uh...”

      “Distracted?” Lexi gave him an innocent smile.

      “Poor guy’s worried about Briana.” Geena’s color was high and she avoided looking at him.

      “That’s the truth.” He appreciated her attempt to excuse his clumsiness but he could tell the rest of them weren’t buying it. Even his dad, usually the last to catch on, wore a knowing expression.

      His mom stood. “Briana’s lucky I don’t live in her town. Miserable woman.” She turned to Geena. “I’m sure you’re ready to crash. Let me show you where everything is. Your bathroom’s down the hall and the shower has some idiosyncrasies you’ll need to know about.”

      “I appreciate that, because I would love to take a shower before I go to bed.”

      Great. Now he’d picture her naked in the shower in the bathroom they’d be sharing during this visit.

      “I’m going to turn in, myself,” his dad said. “See everybody in the morning.”

      Once all three had left, Matt sank down on the sofa and blew out a breath.

      Cade pushed back his hat and gazed at him. “I don’t know if it was good or bad, but whatever happened out there sure has you going, bro.”

      “It was obviously significant,” Lexi said. “You’re one of the most coordinated guys I know. You took fencing lessons, for God’s sake. You don’t trip over footstools.”

      Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “I kissed her.”

      Cade nodded as if he’d expected to hear that. “Judging from the glazed look in your eyes, she kissed you back.”

      “Yes.”

      “Ah.” Lexi chuckled. “What a wealth of information is contained in that one little word. So is it okay for the rest of us to like her, now that you’re kissing each other? Because we all pretty much do.”

      “Yeah, sure.” He had trouble collecting his thoughts when his brain had been hijacked. “Do you think Mom’s matchmaking?”

      “Good question.” Cade scratched his chin where the shadow of a beard was starting to show. “Normally I would say yes, but I don’t get that vibe from her. We talked about Geena while you two were out there smooching, but—”

      “It was one kiss.”

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