Cathy Gillen - A Texas Soldier's Christmas

Nora winced and ducked as another sharp zigzag of electricity lit up the sky and thunder rumbled half a second later. Wow, that was close. Dangerously so.

A fact that left her no choice.

She had a duty and responsibility here to maintain his safety, just as he’d done for her half an hour prior.

Her heart racing, she countered in exasperation, “No, you won’t,” she said.

He quirked a brow.

She dragged in a bolstering breath, then stepped closer, determined to try and talk sense into him. “You know how it is in Texas, Zane, particularly this time of year. This storm could go on for hours.” She gave him a long level look. “There is no reason to huddle out here on the porch, never mind risk life and limb, waiting for a reprieve that might not come until dawn. I have a guest room. You can bunk there tonight.” She waved an amiable hand, deciding if she was in, she might as well be all in. At least when it came to reluctantly hosting. “I’ll even wash your pee-soaked shirt.”

He waved off her offer of aid, then cupped her shoulders warmly. “I can do that if you point me toward the laundry room. You look ready to collapse on your feet.”

She was.

“So how about you go on to bed?” he suggested, seemingly oblivious to the way the casual contact was affecting her. With another brief companionable squeeze, he let her go. “I’ll start the washer and close up down here.”

Had she acted too hastily? Could they still actually be friends?

Savoring the possibility, she reluctantly gave in. “Okay. Thanks.”

He nodded at her, like the Texas gentleman he’d been raised to be. “See you in the morning.”

His innate gallantry brought forth another slew of memories. Time seemed to be suspended. Suddenly it was just the two of them again, their only duty and responsibility to each other.

Her heart racing, she jerked in a steadying breath, inhaling the brisk masculine fragrance of his hair and skin. It had been hours since he had shaved, and the stubble of new beard on his jaw only enhanced his raw sex appeal. “You know which one the guest room is?”

He cocked a brow, his gaze drifting over her lazily. “The one on the other side of the nursery, with the silver comforter on the bed?”

Trying not to wonder if his mind was traveling down the same forbidden paths as her own, Nora smiled. They were both adults. They could handle this.

“That’s the one,” she confirmed lightly. “There are towels, washcloths and soap in the hall bath, extra toothbrushes and toothpaste, if you need that.”

Thunder roiled, even louder.

He nodded again. “Thanks.”

She felt him watching her as she headed upstairs, realizing that despite everything, even when they were moving apart, fate kept throwing them back together again.

* * *

NORA FELL ASLEEP listening to the sound of the rain still drumming on the roof and thinking about Zane. She woke to the sound of an even softer rain and Liam starting ever so gently to fuss.

By the time she had changed her son’s diaper and put him in a new playsuit, the sumptuous smell of breakfast cooking filled the air.

She went downstairs, not all that surprised to see Zane standing at her stove, making himself completely at home. Bare-chested, with his jeans riding just below his navel, he looked sexy as hell. It was all she could do not to run her fingers through his rumpled hair and rub her cheek against the morning beard lining his square jaw.

HE SMILED WARMLY at her and the baby in her arms. “I’ll be out of here as soon as my shirts are dry. In the meantime I thought you might be as hungry as I am.”

She was.

Trying not to think how often he had made breakfast for her in the past, never mind how often they had made hot, passionate love to each other after that, she eased past him. Retrieved a bottle of formula from the fridge. “What are you making?”

He looked in the pantry, emerged with a bag of tortilla chips. “Migas.”

Her favorite.

And he’d brewed coffee and poured juice, too.

This was all so cozy. Too cozy.

She put Liam’s bottle in the warmer, still cuddling her son close, then looked out the window at the water pouring down.

He followed her glance. “Yep, it’s still raining.”

She had hoped it would have stopped by now, but that did not look very likely, given the gloomy skies overheard.

Zane cast a glance at her drenched shrubbery and lawn. “No thunder, though.” He beamed as Liam offered him a toothy grin. Reaching out, he gently touched her son’s cheek. Liam chortled softly in response.

Zane slid his little finger into her son’s tiny fist.

Liam held on tight.

The way Nora wanted to hold on...

Oblivious to her forbidden thoughts, Zane regarded her son, then lifted his glance to meet her gaze. “I forgot to ask you last night. Do you have to work today?”

Acutely aware of how wonderful it would have been if Liam had been Zane’s child, Nora shook off her wistful mood. She swallowed around the sudden parched feeling in her throat and forced herself to meet Zane’s eyes. “No. I’ve got the day off.”

Liam jerked on Zane’s hand. Grinning at the mingled demand and curiosity in her son’s baby blue eyes, Zane stepped closer still. His smile widened as Liam chortled happily.

Zane nuzzled Liam’s knuckle, eliciting another happy gurgle, then smiled again and turned his attention back to her. “Any plans?” he asked, that charismatic intensity solely focused on her now.

He smelled like toothpaste and soap. And pure, primal man.

Blushing at the memories the tantalizing fragrance elicited, Nora turned her attention away from Zane and plucked the bottle out of the warmer.

Working to corral her escalating feelings, she sat down at the table to feed Liam. “My sitter is coming at ten o’clock. I was going to go get a Christmas tree, but with it raining, I don’t know that it’s the best time to try and pick one out. I wouldn’t be able to bring it inside until it dried out anyway, so I’ll probably get a jump on my holiday shopping instead.”

Still listening, he crumbled chips in his fist, and stirred them into the pan of scrambled eggs and cheese.

Nora drew a deep breath as the Tex-Mex aroma filled the room. “In any case, not to worry,” she continued, giving him a look to let him know this meal would not be followed with the usual passionate lovemaking. “I can drive you over to get your pickup truck and drop your jacket off for cleaning on the way.”

Zane flashed a sexy smile. “Actually, I’ll take care of the dry cleaning if you do me a favor.” He spooned up a plate of migas and a side of salsa, and carried both over to her.

Curious, she met his eyes. It was unlike him to drive a bargain. Usually he gave, then walked away. Thereby keeping control of the situation. But now he clearly wanted something from her. Something he seemed unsure she would be willing to give.

Aware this was a first, she looked at him, waiting.

He grabbed his breakfast and sat down opposite her, their knees touching briefly beneath the table. Then, his emotions suddenly as fired up as hers, said, “Come out and see the ranch my father left me in his will. And give me your unvarnished opinion about what you think I should do with it.”

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.