Page 31 of My Cowboy Valentine

I can tell she’s on the verge of tears again, so I keep talking to give her a chance to recover. “All I’m saying is with a little balance, you could have your work and this life, and me, too.”

Lesley smiles, her expressive eyes fluttering toward my face and conveying everything I need to know. “I want you. You’re my new non-negotiable.”

My heart thumps against my ribs, and without hesitation, I reach into the pocket of my black duster, pulling out a small box. I was torn about when to give her this little surprise and originally planned on it after dinner with roses and chocolates. But in this stunning place, wild and free together, it makes the most sense.

I say, “I would like to do this right later, but with the media swamp we’re wading into, you need a ring to wear that shows the world you’re mine. It belonged to my mama, and it would mean the world to me if you’d wear it.”

“Your mother’s ring?” Red’s eyes flash to the box poised in my hands. “I can’t let you do this, Ronald. No, I can’t take this from you.”

“Yes, you can, and I hope you will. It’s all I have left of her, and I want you to have it. I know it’s not much. The diamond’s tiny, and the band’s nothing special, so we can get you a replacement later. But until then, please do me the honor of wearing it.”

Tears flood her eyes, and she leans towards me. I finish closing the distance, wrapping my arms around her and finding her juicy pink lips. Red tastes like the only forever I want, and as I slip the ring on her finger, she swallows hard, beaming at me and saying, “This doesn’t feel fake, does it?”

“No, Lesley, there’s nothing fake about this.”

Chapter Fourteen

ROWDY

Red’s no morning person. But I can’t blame her, seeing as I kept her up most of the night again. Fire ignites in my chest, thinking about our horseback ride and my mother’s ring on her finger, the dinner I had catered at the ranch to avoid the paparazzi, and another night of mind-blowing sex.

My mind flashes back to the redheaded vixen on her knees, sucking my cock until her cheeks hollowed, staring up at me with those gorgeous green eyes of hers as she uncoiled my self-control, one swirl of her tongue at a time. And the way she swallowed without hesitation before licking her lips and wiping her chin. It makes the blood rush straight to my cock again.

Whatever beast this woman has awakened in me is greedy as hell. But I can tell by her soft breathing and relaxed pose she needs some rest. So, I crawl out of bed, quietly padding across the carpet and grabbing my robe and slippers before beelining for the kitchen to make coffee.

The maker drips and percolates, wafting the robust aroma of French roast in the nippy morning air. I pull a stool up to the kitchen counter, and open my phone, finding a string of texts and calls from Shelley that breed immediate concern. Each text and voicemail says the same thing. “Please, Mr. Jameson, I needto talk to you.” Even more alarming, her last voicemail sounds like she’s been crying.

Seeing a couple of texts from this morning, I dial her number, assuming it can’t be too early. I stride into the kitchen, grab a mug, and fill it with my brew, lightening it with creamer before heading into the living room to sit at the dining table. The call goes to voicemail. I try again, and she answers on the first ring.

“Oh, I’m so glad you called back.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I really, really need to talk to you. But I need to do it in person, and I don’t want your…um…you know, fiancée or whatever she is there.”

My brows furrow, and I straighten, feeling uncomfortable about the direction this call is heading. “Ms. Cash is half-partner in the company. Anything you need to say, you can say in her presence,” I bark.

“Please, Mr. Jameson. I’m begging you, and so are your other employees. You hired us,not her. And before this partnership goes any further, you owe it to us to explain what’s happening.”

Well, fuck. I shake my head. “What do you propose?”

“Can you meet us at the office this morning?”

“How soon?” I grumble.

“The sooner the better.”

I exhale sharply. “Alright, give me a half hour. If the whole crew feels it’s urgent, I’ll make time to address their concerns.”

“Thank you.”

I grunt, hanging up the phone. After dressing quietly, I scrawl a note, leaving it on the kitchen counter for Red.

Thirty minutes later, I pull into the Jameson & Cash parking lot, seeing Shelley’s car. Thankfully, no rogue camera people lie in weight, but where are my other employees’ cars? I find Shelleyupstairs in the conference room, and an uncomfortable feeling seizes me.

“Where’s everyone else?”

She sports a PINK jogging suit with a tank top that shows more of her cleavage than I care to see, so I avert my eyes. She could show up in a fucking bikini or her birthday suit, and I would be no more interested. Red is my everything. No other woman will ever come close to her.

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