Page 14 of Rancher's Heart

Slowly, I lifted the window and held my breath as I shimmied through the small opening, landing on the ground with a thud,the gravel crunching under my feet. Holding my breath I waited for footsteps on the porch, but there wasn’t anything, and his yelling wasn’t getting any closer. Closing my eyes, I sighed and pulled open the door of my truck. Reaching in, I flicked off the interior lights, and I felt around for the keys. Starting my truck would alert him, so I needed to be fast. Turning the key, the lights lit up the darkness ahead of me, and the engine cut through the stillness of the night. Slamming on the accelerator the wheels spun, and I lurched out, spewing dirt and gravel all over the place.

The headlights illuminated the yard, and I saw Billy stumble to his truck out of the corner of my eye. The interior light came on and quickly went out when he started the engine. Shit, of course, he’d follow me. The man sounded like he was hammered; he shouldn’t be on the road, but right now, my only concern was my own safety.

Keeping my eyes locked on the rearview mirror, I watched for lights following me. Although that old truck probably didn’t even have working lights. The only sound I could hear was the continual pounding of my heart. I was sure my knuckles were going to pop through my skin with how tightly I was gripping the steering wheel, but right now it was my only lifeline to safety.

What was I going to do? I didn’t want to lead Billy to Troy’s, not with Parker there. There wouldn’t be anyone at the sheriff’s office this late, so that wouldn’t work.

Griffin.

Pressing my foot harder on the accelerator, I barreled through the night, silently praying I would get to his ranch before Billy caught me. Slowing enough to make the turn into Griff’s place, I fishtailed, and the gravel from the road tinged and clanged in the wheel wells of my truck. That’s when I saw the glow of yellow headlights coming up the road. “Fuck.” I groanedand pressed the gas harder, my hands shaking and my breathing becoming choppy as I needed to drive faster.

Skidding to a stop, I looked up at Griff’s house. His lights were off, of course, he was asleep. “God damned cowboys going to bed early,” I grumbled to myself. Jumping out of the truck I ran up the porch steps and banged on the door. “Griff, let me in,” I called as I continued to pound on the door, keeping my head turned to the road. “Griff, please, I need help.”

The door swung open, and I slammed my fist against his chest. Standing before me was a sleepy, bare-chested Griff frowning, his hair wild and sticking up all over his head, but thankfully, he’d opened the door. “Elle?” He rubbed his hands over his face.

“Hi, umm. I’ve got a small problem. So, umm, well, could I possibly, maybe, crash here?” I talked fast and smiled at him. Turning again, I looked over my shoulder when I thought I heard gravel crunching under a tire behind me. “Please?” Griff looked over my shoulder and I didn’t have to ask again.

“Get your ass in here, where’s Parker? Is he safe?” He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the house before looking back out into the darkness.

“Yeah, he’s still with his dad.” He’d thought of Parker in his half-asleep state, he’d thought of my son and wanted to know he was safe. My heart of stone might have just started to crumble.

“Explain.” His deep voice made my stomach flutter, and the door closed with a slam. Without a second thought, he opened the closet, and pulled a rifle out of the back, and set it on the table inside the door.

He guided me to the kitchen and grabbed two beers out of the fridge and set one in front of me. “I’m waiting.” His voice made me look from the gun back to him.

“Okay, so I was awake looking online at places I could rent, and someone started banging on the door, trying to get in, so Iclimbed out my bedroom window and came here.” Grabbing the drink, I took a long pull and avoided looking at the handsome, shirtless man with a chest full of ink and dark hair, who was also glaring at me.

I swore I could hear him grinding his teeth as his jaw flexed. “What did they want?”

“Umm, well.” I stumbled over the words that I should have been able to say easily. “They, rather he, wanted, umm, me.”

“Who was it?” He growled, his eyes wide and filled with anger.

“Billy Hays,” I whispered as I bit the corner of my mouth and looked down at the counter.

“Fuck, Elle, I told you this would happen.” He grumbled at me and ran his hand through his long, dark hair. “Tomorrow morning, we’re going to get everything, and you’re moving in here.” I opened my mouth to argue. “You don’t have a say in this, you’re not staying there alone again. I won’t allow you and Parker to be in danger.” He set his drink on the counter and left the kitchen in a huff.

He was gone for a minute and came back carrying a shirt. “Here, this will be more comfortable.” He held up a T-shirt. It had a Western brand logo on the front, and the black shirt looked like it would wrap around me three times, it was so large. But I guess a man as big as Griff would need a big shirt.

“Thanks.”

“I’m going back to bed. You know where your room is.” He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. Hopping off the stool, I turned to go to my room, but Griff grabbed my hand, and pulled me to him.

Instinctively, I brought my hand up to rest on his chest so I wouldn’t slam into him. “I’m glad you’re here, and I’ll deal with everything tomorrow.” His eyes burned into me. I should be pulling away. My head should be screaming against him, holdingme, but it wasn’t. Calm need filled me as I stood in this man’s arms. All my thoughts quieted, and the anxiety that plagued me on the way over was gone.

“You need to turn around and go to bed.” His raspy voice by my ear, snapped me out of the haze that was overwhelming me.

“I know.” Two breathy words escaped my lips, but my body didn’t move. My oversized sweater slid off my shoulder as I moved closer to him. The blue strap of my bra drew his eyes, and I swore I saw flames flash in his rum-colored eyes.

He slid his hand up my back and burrowed his long fingers into my hair. I moved my hand up his broad chest to rest on the side of his neck. Were we just going to stand here staring at one another? Would he walk away? Licking my lips, I wanted to taste this man who’d come to my rescue without knowing anything about me. I’d never known a man so good.

A low rumble from deep in his chest and a clench of his jaw was the only warning I had before the warmth of his mouth was pressed against mine. Slipping my hand around his neck, I closed the microscopic distance between us and leaned into him. He smelled like sage and cedar, mixed with leather and hard work. My senses were completely filled with this man. His powerful hand on the back of my head, his soft lips against mine. His body pressed against me, towering over me, making everything that happened tonight disappear.

I’d built a wall around myself after Troy left, I didn’t date, and I definitely didn’t go around kissing men I’d known for less than a week. But my heart was screaming for this. My body ached for the touch of this man. His tongue swept against mine, and I took a ragged breath, filling my lungs with his scent.

Gone was the tense kiss, and in its place, we stood devouring one another. Griff let go of my head, hooked his hands under my ass, and set me on the counter. We were as close to the same height as we’d ever get now. He moved his hands to cup my faceas he pulled his mouth from mine and trailed kisses down my neck. Letting my head roll to the side, I gave him better access. His hands were clamped on my upper thighs as if he had to hang on to me not to let them wander. Oh god, I wanted them to wander. I silently begged for them too wander.

As if he’d been burned he pulled his hands off me, wrenched his mouth from mine, and took a step back, breathing heavily. “Go to bed, Elle.” His eyes were wild, raking over my body, and he clenched his fists before letting out a frustrated groan and turned away from me. I watched the muscles of his back ripple as he walked down the hallway. The slam of his door made me jump. Closing my eyes I pressed my lips to my mouth, wanting to hold on to the feeling of his mouth pressed against mine, aching for that closeness.

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