Sara Orwig - The Ransomes - Matt, Nick and Katherine

“Don’t worry about that one,” she said. “We’ve already agreed to be faithful to each other.”

“At this point that’s merely lip service.”

“Not for me,” she said, solemnly, her excitement diminishing.

He took the ring from her and slipped it onto her finger.

“It’s a perfect fit,” she said, wiggling her fingers slightly and watching the huge diamond sparkle. “This has to be the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“Good. It’s eight carats and that should be big enough to keep guys away and earn you respect from the women.”

She looked at the glittering diamond and then at him. He was being generous beyond her wildest dreams. She pushed back her chair and walked around the table and something flickered in the depths of his eyes. As she approached him, he scooted his chair and she sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she said and leaned down to kiss him.

His arms enveloped her and he shifted her closer, kissing her in return until she forgot all about the dazzling ring and was lost in Matt’s kisses.

His hands brushed her bare shoulders and nape, sliding down to twist free her buttons. He pulled down the front of her sundress to cup her breasts in his hands. When his thumbs drew circles on her nipples, she moaned with pleasure, a sound that was muffled as his tongue plunged deeply into her mouth.

Then his hand was beneath her full skirt, pushing it high while his fingers caressed the inside of her thigh. He turned her on his lap so he could slide his fingers into her lacy panties.

“Matt!” she gasped.

Shifting her over him so she was astride him, he cupped both her breasts and lowered his head to her breasts, to kiss first one and then the other. He drew his tongue in slow circles around her nipple while his thumb continued to circle her other nipple.

Bombarded by sensations and desire, she clung to his shoulders and then let her hand slide down to his hard shaft. With a pounding pulse, she unbuckled his belt and unfastened his trousers, trying to free him from the restraints of clothing. She wanted him totally, yet she clung to her resolution to wait until their wedding night to give herself fully. She refused to fall into his arms and his bed so quickly even though every caress and kiss was fueling the bonfire that consumed her.

Lost to his lovemaking, she moved her hips while trying to fight through the fog of need back to caution and patience.

Catching his wrist, she held his hand. “You’re going too fast again.” She swung her leg over him and straightened her clothing, trying to pull the top of her dress back in place.

His blue eyes had darkened with passion and the heated look in them made her heart pound. When he fastened his clothes, she returned to her chair and studied her new ring. “I’ve never dreamed of owning jewelry like this.”

She looked at him and her heart missed a beat because the desire in his expression shocked her.

“I want you, Olivia. I want you in my arms in my bed and I want all that passion you have bottled up turned loose.”

“You have to wait only a few more days,” she reminded him, wondering if either one of them could resist that long. Already, they weren’t able to keep their hands to themselves and when they started kissing, they almost lost all restraint.

“Let’s clean this up—”

“Nope,” he said, standing and taking her hand and crossing the patio to a cushioned glider. “Later. Let’s sit and talk.”

Olivia moved to a chair close to the glider and received a mocking smile from Matt. She looked at the ring again. “This is absolutely fabulous. Thank you so very much.”

He nodded. “Wedding dress, ring, minister, wedding planner, caterer, band and lawyers. We need to get in touch with my family and get our attendants lined up. Your attendants will need to get dresses. As soon as we go to the courthouse tomorrow and take care of the legal stuff with the county, I think we’ll have everything else in order.”

“I can’t believe you’re getting all this done this quickly,” she said, knowing she could always expect him to try to take charge and go at a gallop to get what he wanted.

“We have parties out here and some of the arrangements aren’t that different,” he said.

Butterflies flitted in her stomach at the thought of talking to the rest of the Ransome clan.

Matt took her hand, lacing her fingers in his. He raised her hand to brush her knuckles with kisses, his warm breath a caress that made her want back in his lap. As she talked about classes she could take in the fall, Matt scooted his chair against hers. Finally, she stood. “I insist we clean. Mrs. Marley won’t be here tonight or tomorrow.”

He waved his hand. “Sit and talk. I’ll clean. It’ll give me something to do because I’m not going to sleep.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m not going to ask why you won’t sleep,” she said as she sat again.

“You know exactly why,” he replied in a low voice. He reached over to lift her into his lap.

She wound her arms around his neck and smiled at him. “I think we did this a short time ago.”

“I can’t remember,” he said, looking at her mouth.

She inhaled and pulled his head down as she placed her mouth on his to kiss him, knowing every kiss made her want more. “Matt,” she whispered, kissing him between words, “you’re making it harder to wait—”

“Darlin’, you’re definitely the one making it harder,” he drawled in a sexy innuendo that she barely heard over her pounding pulse. Matt’s arm tightened around her and his tongue went deep. He kissed her long and thoroughly before she made him stop again. Standing, she moved away. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”

He gazed at her with a smoldering intensity and she hurried away, knowing a few more seconds and she would have been right back in his arms.

That night she was restless, worrying about Matt’s father and how his family would accept her after learning she had talked Matt into a loveless marriage of convenience.

Tuesday morning at breakfast, she could feel the tension in spite of Matt being charming and his father chatting easily. Duke Ransome was a large, powerful-looking man with shoulders as broad as Matt’s and a deeply tanned complexion. Dressed in western shirt, jeans and boots, he still was a handsome man. He had brilliant blue eyes and a scar across his temple that was a testament to his rugged ranch life. He could be as charming as Matt, but his smiles ended before ever reaching his cold blue eyes that continually bored into her.

It was no surprise to her when breakfast was over and they moved to the family room to have Duke look at his son and announce, “Matt, I’d like to talk to Olivia for a few minutes, just the two of us.”

“I’d be happy to talk to you, Mr. Ransome,” Olivia said, trying to sound collected. She had dressed with care and was thankful in her shopping yesterday that she had bought a new, tailored navy suit and matching silk blouse. Ignoring her churning stomach, she hoped she looked poised with her hair looped and pinned behind her head.

“Dad, I think anything you have to say might be well said with all three of us together,” Matt suggested.

“Nope. I want to talk to Olivia. I’m not going to bite her head off,” Duke said and smiled at her, but it was a smile that chilled her and she wondered what he intended to say.

“I’m staying to hear whatever you have to say,” Matt said in a voice that was as firm and direct as his father’s and she knew at this point the decision was between the two males so she remained silent.

“Very well,” Duke said and nodded, motioning to her. “Please sit down.”

She sat in a leather wingback chair and Matt perched on the arm of the chair beside her.