Page 76 of On the Mountain

Never, Anna thought. She loved him with all her heart.

Turning around, she was to see his face looking both troubled and hurt. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. It was not my intention to scare you. Hell, not that way.”

She thought of the women down on the stage and understood this last comment. He came toward her and dropped down on his haunches, taking her hands into his. “Why are you still frightened of me?”

Anna felt uneasy and turned her head away. However, Wade captured her face between his two large hands forcing her to look at him. “Why did you want to leave?”

His touch on her skin felt so warm and welcoming, and without thought Anna’s eyelids fluttered shut to savor the feel. When she opened them again, he was staring into her face with the most peculiar look, but it was the first time Anna ever saw him appear so vulnerable. Instinctively, she reached up and covered his hands with her own. His brows quivered in confusion. Her gaze dropped to those wonderfully shaped lips of his and noted how soft they seemed. And close. Unconsciously, she gravitated ever so slowly toward them.

“Anna,” he whispered in warning, but she leaned closer yet.

He was so near and his body only inches away, all Anna wanted was to melt back into his arms and feel his lips upon her.

However, he visibly arched away from her as she drew closer. “Anna. Stop.”

She froze, then blinked, confused. Wade released her and got to his feet. She heard him sigh, but was too embarrassed to look him in the eye. “Let’s deal with one thing at a time.”

She kept her gaze downcast.

“There’s no sense my asking you any questions as you won’t be able to answer.” He walked toward the window and looked out and down the street. “Prescott is on his way back.”

He dropped his head and rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “Look, Anna, I believe the best place for you is at the Circle H. If you feel otherwise, I would sincerely be surprised. If I’m not mistaken, you love that mountain as much as I do even with all the attached nightmares.”

Raising her arms she wrapped them around herself protectively, suddenly feeling very cold.

“If you got the message that either I or Prescott wanted you gone, then you got the wrong one,” he told her and drew her attention to his face. He noticed her look and nodded his head in understanding. “So that’s it?”

Anna nodded vaguely and a sad look crossed his face before he went to take a step toward her, then caught himself short. Shoving his hands into his pant pockets, he told her, “I once told you that you were welcome to stay at the ranch for however long you wanted. That offer was made to a boy. I’d like to extend that same offer to the woman.”

She took a deep breath and felt the heaviness in her heart begin to lift.

He cocked his head and studied her face. “Well? Will you accept?”

She nodded and wondered why her chest still felt heavy.

“Good.” He smiled and this time did come over to sit next to her on the bed. “That’s settled.”

Automatically, her eyes shot to his face. In particular, his lips. He sighed softly and began with, “We need to talk about that.”

Anna looked away. She knew what his next words were and didn’t want to hear them.

“I find you to be a very nice young girl, but—”

The door to his room swung open and Prescott entered. He looked anxiously at both Anna and Wade. “Thank God. I thought you might have strangled her.”

Wade actually grinned and got up off the bed. “Not this time.” But he gave her a gentle smile and a playful wink. “Were you able to settle everything over there?”

“Yes.” He nodded and looked at Anna. “His wife sends her well wishes.”

She nodded and felt guilt sweep over her. Prescott looked from one to the other and asked, “Has everything been settled over here as well?”

Wade hesitated, but avoided making eye contact with Anna. “I think we understand each other.”

Prescott seemed satisfied and broke out into a bright smile. “Good. So, if my services are no longer required here, I think I will turn in for the evening.”

Wade nodded and reached out a hand toward Anna. “I agree. It’s been a long day. Would you mind escorting Anna to her hotel room?”

“Of course.” He took her arm from Wade’s and Anna felt a sense of loss. She would have loved dearly to stay with him all night long.

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