Curves and the Rancher (8 page)

She smiled up at him,
delighting
in the warmth and concern in his eyes.
“
I
’
m
fine. Phillip was just leaving.
”

“
Your
ex?
”
Luke scowled and turned to the
man sitting in the booth.
“
Why are
you still here? You’ve been dismissed.
”

Phillip started to speak,
then thought better of it. He surged out of the booth, almost
jostling Luke
’
s shoulder as he
stormed out of the diner.

“
Are
you sure you
’
re okay?
”
Luke clasped her shoulders and searched her expression.

“
I
’
m
fine. In fact, I feel great. I stood up to Phillip on my own.
”
She smiled in satisfaction, her face flushed.
She
’
d
come a long way since her car had broken down in Coldwater Springs
two months ago.

“
My
beautiful Cassie,
”
Luke murmured,
drawing her to him for a long, lingering kiss. The few customers in
the diner cheered and they broke apart.
“
Come
on, let
’
s get out of here for a
minute.
”

He clasped her hand and
led her into the break room. Relief had smoothed the creases in his
face. “I wanted to take care of that smug jerk myself, but I’m
proud of the way you stood up to him, Cassie. You’re safe, and
that’s all that matters.”

He shut the door and drew
her to him. Cassie sighed as he kissed her thoroughly, her hands
clasping his shoulders.

Luke finally lifted his
lips and looked down into her eyes, his expression grave.
“
Sweetheart, we need to talk.
”

Her heart twisted. She
’
d
never seen that expression on Luke
’
s
face before.
“
What is it?
”
she managed to whisper. His large hands still clasped her waist. If
he was going to break up with her, would he still be holding her?

“
Cassie,
if you want to be free, I understand.
”
His dark brown eyes were unfathomable.
“
If
you want to travel or need some space, after what you
’
ve
been through with your ex, you
’
ve got
it.
”

She blinked up at him,
her breath skipping
.
“
What
are you saying, Luke?
”

“
I…just
want you to be happy.
”

Cassie frowned.
“
But
I am happy,
”
she murmured.
“
Or
I was, until three seconds ago.
”

Luke
’
s
only reaction was to tighten his hands on her waist, his expression
unreadable.

She took a deep breath.
Now seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell Luke what her
feelings were - if she had the courage.
“
I
’
m
in love with you, Luke. Coldwater Springs is my home now. Even if
we weren
’
t together, I
’
d
still feel the same way. I love living here.
”

“
Thank
God,
”
he muttered, crushing her to
him. He drew back, looking deeply into her eyes.
“
You
’
re
the woman of my dreams, Cassie. I was trying to be noble.
”
His mouth twisted wryly.
“
I didn
’
t
want you to think you were trapped here. I wanted you to love me of
your own free will, just as I love you.
”

Joy lit her heart.
“
You
love me?
”
His molten brown eyes gave
her the confirmation she searched for.

“
I
think I fell in love with you the day you spilled those eggs on my
lap.
”
His finger traced a path along
her cheek.
“
I don
’
t
know what I would have done if you said you wanted to spread your
wings.
”
He grimaced.
“
I
would have coped somehow, but I
’
d be
counting down the days until you came back.
”

Her smile blazed with
happiness
.
“
I
’
m
not going anywhere.
”

His lips seared hers,
promising love, desire and tenderness as he molded her body to his.
Cassie wanted to remain
in his embrace forever.

###

“
Toss
the bouquet!
”
A wedding guest called
out, as Sarah and Chase stood on the porch of the Grant farmhouse.
Smiling, Sarah complied, turning around and throwing the bouquet over
her shoulder.

Libby jockeyed for
position, jumping in the air, but barely grazing a petal with her
fingertips.

Cassie instinctively put
her hands out in front of her face as the bouquet seemed to head
straight towards her.

Cheers rang out as she
caught the bouquet. Startled, Cassie looked down at the pink and
white roses in her hands and inhaled their heady scent, before
looking across the garden at Luke. His heated gaze held a promise of
future and forever, and her heart melted with love.

“
Why
couldn
’
t I catch the bouquet?
”

Cassie was barely aware
of Libby beside her, mock-pouting. She bent her blond head over the
flowers and breathed deeply, before lightly punching Cassie in the
arm.
“
Your turn next.
”
She smiled.

Sheriff Jake Morgan
strode toward them, and Libby whispered,
“
Hurry
up and marry Luke. And make sure I catch the bouquet when you do so
it will be my--
”

“
Excuse
me, Cassie.
”
Jake effortlessly
lifted Libby into his arms and carried her off, Libby giggling
against his broad chest as they headed toward a secluded part of the
garden.

The last words Cassie
heard were a muffled,
“
Don
’
t
forget, Cassie,
”
before Libby
and
her boyfriend vanished out of sight.

###

EPILOGUE

One
year later - Aruba

Luke carried her over the
threshold into the honeymoon suite. Cassie gasped at the gauzy
canopy bed amid the opulent décor.
“
It
’
s
beautiful.
”

“
Not
as beautiful as you.
”
Heat stirred
within him at the faint blush on his bride’s face. This
beautiful woman was his - and he was never going to let her go.

The tropical breeze
stirred the curtains at the open window.
“
Put
me down, Luke.
”
She smiled up at
him.
“
I want to see the view.
”

He reluctantly released
her and followed her to the balcony. People sunbathed on the white
sand, while the frothy ocean waves lapped at the shore.

“
Mmm.
”
Cassie closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of the sun. He
slipped his arms around her, cradling her against his chest. Drawing
her hair back, he placed a kiss on her neck, his body tightening with
anticipation.

“
I
think you should book all our honeymoons.
”
She moved her head slightly, allowing him greater access to the
sensitive spot on her neck.

“
You
mean we
’
re going to have more than
one?
”
he teased, his breath fanning
her ear.

She shivered and placed
her hands on top of his.
“
I think we
should have a honeymoon every year.
”

His body ached at the
promise in her words. He turned her around and ravished her lips,
need sizzling his nerve-endings. The honeymoon
was going to
start right now.

“
What
a great idea,
”
he murmured thickly.
Luke picked her up and carried her to the large bed, knowing he was
going to spend the rest of his life demonstrating just how much he
loved her.

THE END

About the Author:

Jenn Roseton believes
that romance and happy endings go together. When she's not writing,
she indulges in delicious gourmet chocolate.

I hope you enjoyed
reading this sexy contemporary romance. If you believe this story is
worth sharing, please consider leaving a review and/or telling your
friends about it so they can enjoy it, too. On the last page of this
book is a Tweet/Share link. By clicking on this link, you can tell
your friends immediately that you've just finished reading Curves and
the Rancher, and I will be very appreciative if you do so.

Sign up to my Hot New
Release Alerts at:

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to be among the first to discover my new releases.

A
special free short story featuring Chase and Sarah from Curves and
the Cowboy is now available through my website at
www.jennroseton.com/free-reads/

I hope you enjoy it!
(Note: it's a little spicier than Curves and the Cowboy, Curves and
the Sheriff, and Curves and the Rancher)

The next book in the
Coldwater Springs series should be available in December 2013.

Connect with Jenn
Roseton:

Email:
[email protected]

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/JennRosetonauthor

Blog:
http://jennroseton.blogspot.com

Other Titles by Jenn
Roseton on Amazon:

Curves
and the Cowboy (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 1)

Curves
and the Sheriff (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 2)

Hot
and Sexy 1: Seductive Persuasion
- should be free on Amazon.
If it isn't, please visit
www.JennRoseton.com
to find out where you can download it for free

Hot
and Sexy 2: Bridal Jitters

BBW
Needs Hot Sex (BBW Erotic Romance)

Seduced
by the Boss 1: Pent-Up Passion

Seduced
by the Boss 2: Spanking Miss Jones

Seduced
by the Boss 3: For Her Pleasure

Seduced
by the Boss 4: Loving Miss Jones

Curves
and the Cowboy (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 1)

When curvy Sarah Grant
comes home to Coldwater Springs after spending six years in the city,
the last person she expects to bump into is sexy Chase McCord. After
having a teenage crush on him for years, she thought she was finally
over him. After all, why keep fantasizing about someone you can
never have? But when Chase makes it clear he’s ready to claim
her for his own, Sarah finds it hard to believe him. Can he convince
her they were made for each other?

Curves
and the Sheriff (BBW Romance - Coldwater Springs 2)

When Libby Grant breezes
into Coldwater Springs, Wyoming, the last thing she expects is to be
pulled over on the highway by Sheriff Jake Morgan. Sparks fly when
Jake suspects her of being a con-artist and is tempted to arrest her!

But
when he discovers the real reason she’s in town, he finds he
can’t get curvy Libby out of his mind - or his heart. Can he
convince her that his feelings for her are real?

Hot
and Sexy 1: Seductive Persuasion
- free download! (Visit
www.JennRoseton.com to find out where you can download it for free if
it's not free on Amazon.

From mild-mannered
architect to hot and sexy ex-commando!