Page 55 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
His voice took on that hoarse note again.“Oh, this qualifies as an emergency in my book.”
“Mine, too,” she whispered.And meant it.Because no matter what did or didn’t happen later, right now there was absolutely nothing she wanted more than this man.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Hickory CreekInn did indeed have a room set aside.And Frank Buckley, although he looked to Miles every inch the tough Texas Ranger he’d once been, took one look at Riley, smiled, and handed her the room key card without comment.
But he did have something to say to Miles, gripping his arm to slow him as they turned to go.“Good to see,” he murmured.“But don’t hurt her and make me come after you.”
One glance at the man’s steely eyes told Miles he meant exactly what he’d said.
“No, sir,” he said, making sure his tone was beyond respectful.He saw it register in the now innkeeper’s face, and with a nod the man sent them on.This Last Stand was indeed a different sort of place.
“What was that about?”Riley asked as they headed for the back of the spacious inn, where apparently that room was kept open.
“A warning.”
She looked up at him, looking almost worried.“To you?”
He nodded.“That if I hurt you, he’ll come after me.”
She looked nothing less than startled and turned her head back toward the lobby.“But why would—” She broke off, then smiled.“Oh.Because right now my dad can’t.”
“Sounds about right, for this place.”
She sighed, rolling her eyes.“Good Lord.I can look out for myself.”
“Maybe I should be the one he worries about then,” he said, barely hiding his grin.
When she looked up at him then, with an entirely different expression, she said huskily, “Maybe.”
That opened up a rushing stream of images in his head that took his breath away.And he couldn’t find another word before they were at the door of the assigned room.She slid the card through the lock and he heard it release.She started to open the door, then looked back at him.
“You know, somewhere in town somebody’s probably laying odds on this happening.”
He had a feeling Nic might be at the head of that betting pool, but right now he didn’t care.He reached out and pushed the door open.
“That’s not the laying I’m concerned about,” he muttered.
Riley gave him a startled look.And then a peal of laughter burst from her, a light, unfettered, delighted sound that made him feel as if he’d slain some dragon or something.
She stepped into the room.He followed, closing the door behind him and making sure it was locked.He wanted no interruptions tonight.Or tomorrow.Maybe the next day.Maybe the next week.
But when he looked around the room, he was a little surprised.He’d expected some small nook tucked away, but this was a suite, with large windows that faced the stream outside he gathered must be the Hickory Creek of the place’s name.It also had a fireplace fronted with a comfortable-looking sofa, and from what he could see a spacious bathroom with a big tub.
A big enough for two tub.
He mentally filed that away for future reference, then looked to his right.That bed, he thought, just might be big enough.Maybe.
Riley tossed her small bag on the bench at the foot of the bed.She really didn’t carry much around with her.And suddenly something he’d totally forgotten hit him.
“I…Riley, I didn’t think to…I’m not prepared for this.I guess I should be, but—”
She stopped him with a hand placed gently on his chest.“It’s all right.That is, if you’re talking about what I think you are.”
He tilted his head, trying to figure out what that undertone in her voice was.It seemed, sad, regretful, almost dark.“Riley?”
“I won’t get pregnant, if that’s what you were worried about.”
