Page 67 of Ranch Rules

Chapter Ten

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

Natalie’s eyes slid open as she felt herself being shaken awake. “Mmm? What time is it?”

“Time to get up.”

She sat up, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. “Do we need to get back to the ranch?”

“Not this morning.”

“Really?” she asked, surprised.

“Really. I’ve got a few vacation days due, so I’m takin’ ‘em. Justin has wake-up duty and he’s not exactly thrilled about it, but that’s life.” He laughed, not sounding one bit sorry.

“You’re taking time off for me?” Maybe it shouldn’t have, but Natalie thought it might be the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.

“I can’t think of a better occasion to save them for.”

She blushed.

“Besides, I told you I was going to give you a reward for being such a good girl, didn’t I?”

“Well, if I’d known this was the prize I never would have gotten into trouble.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

“Somehow I don’t think that’s exactly true,” he answered with a laugh. “And me taking the day off isn’t your reward.”

“It isn’t?”

“Nope. Now hurry and get dressed. Wear something comfortable. We’ll eat on the way.”

Her interest piqued, she scurried off the bed to obey. Natalie wasn’t a person who wasted time, especially on such trivial things like dressing. She had a rotating wardrobe of business suits that she wore, and one pair of earrings and a tube of lipstick for special occasions. But she found herself wanting to look nice for Thomas and took a little extra time curling her hair and pulling her top so that it fell off her shoulder.

The way that his eyes lit up when she walked out of the bedroom made it all worth it. Heck, maybe she’d even invest in eyeliner when she got back to town.

“So, where are we going?”

“Didn’t I tell you it was a surprise?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“No buts, little girl, if you know what’s good for that cute ass of yours.”

“Yes, sir,” she demurred, glancing up at him through her lashes.

Thomas opened the car door for her with a flourish.

“Thank you, kind sir.” Then to her surprise he reached over and buckled her in, kissing her cheek before he closed the door.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, they were off.

“Give me a hint?”

“Natalie...”

“Just one teeny, tiny hint?”

“Do I need to turn this car around, young lady?” he asked, mock stern, making her giggle.

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