Page 59 of Ranch Rules

“Well, assumin’ you’re plannin’ on finishing out your stay...”

She nodded.

“Why not now then?”

“Now? I mean, don’t you have to work?”

“I reckon I’ve got a few vacation days due to me that I could use.”

Natalie brightened with excitement. The idea of getting to spend the next few days with him uninterrupted by tasks around the ranch sounded wonderful. “Really?”

He chuckled and pulled her in for a kiss. “Yes. I’ll let Nate know. Now scoot over and we’ll head on back. I’m thinkin’ some little girl needs a nice, hot shower before lunch.”

Grinning, she obeyed. Once she was over in the passenger side, she reached for her pants, but stopped at his “Uh-uh.” “What is it?” she asked.

“Leave them.”

“But—”

“I said leave them. You can pull them up when we get to the ranch, but not before, understand? I think your red bottom needs to stay bare on those leather seats to give you a little longer to think about where you went wrong.” He winked.

Natalie smothered a groan. She had a feeling she’d never be able to ride in this car again without thinking of this moment.

But they didn’t end up heading for the ranch after all. Thomas made a quick call, and after a brief exchange with Nate announced they would be going to his cabin.

“You’re all packed, after all.” He glanced at her, the corners of his lips twitching.

Natalie was becoming even more excited. First, she had the promise of a few days on her own with Thomas, and now she was going to see firsthand where he lived. Though they exchanged a few words on the drive over, they mostly sat in companionable silence while she gazed out the window.

There were tall thickets of trees on either side of them—was it her imagination or did the road appear to be getting narrower? She glanced at Thomas, but he appeared unperturbed, his gaze straight ahead.

“Getting closer?” she asked.

He glanced at her with a grin, apparently hearing her excitement. “You could say that. In fact...” He pulled her Spider convertible in front of a small but nice-looking white house with a wraparound porch. “We’re here.” Thomas turned off the ignition and pulled the keys out before hopping out and walking around to her side to open the door.

Natalie took her time, accepting the hand Thomas offered with her wide-eyed gaze on the house.

“It’s not much, but as they say, it’s home.”

She laughed. “Thomas, this place makes my apartment look even dinkier than I already thought it was.”

He arched an eyebrow, but she could tell that he was pleased.

“You have this place all to yourself?” As she stepped out, she noticed things she hadn’t initially. There were potted flowers on the steps leading up to the porch.

“Yep. My home away from the ranch. Don’t get too excited now. It’s a bachelor pad.”

“I don’t know many bachelors with peonies on their steps,” she commented, stepping out of spanking range just as he tried to swat her. “I’m sorry! I take it back! Peonies are a very masculine flower!”

“You’re damn right,” he mock growled at her. “Come on in. First, a shower, then I’ll make you some lunch.” Thomas lifted his arm and checked his watch. “Actually, it’s pretty much dinnertime now.”

“You cook, too?” she asked, impressed.

“Well, I can’t eat every meal at the ranch, though God knows I try.” He looped an arm around her shoulders and began to lead her up the stairs. “It’s a bit rustic out here, so don’t be surprised if you see some critters.” Once he’d unlocked the door, he held it open for her to walk in ahead of him.

Despite his protests, Thomas’s house didn’t look like what she’d expected a ‘bachelor pad’ to look like. There weren’t piles of newspapers and takeout cartons obscuring every surface, nor were there dirty clothes littering the floor.

“Go ahead and take your shower and I’ll get dinner started,” he instructed after she’d had a few minutes to look around. “Bathroom is all the way down, last door to the left.”

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