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Taking a deep breath in, she pulled herself up, swinging her leg around and settling onto the back of the animal. As she boosted herself up, Connor’s hands slid down and across her bottom and back of her thighs; the tension between her legs intensified. How would his hands feel running along her naked body? Sure and confident, she had no doubt.

She inhaled sharply, forcing her desire down.

“You’re all right. Don’t worry,” Connor said, confusing her sharp inhale as fear rather than what it really was.

“Thank you.” She smiled down at him and their gazes locked. There was no confusing the look he gave her and she knew the previous night hadn’t been a fluke. He was feeling it then and he felt it now, just like her – the connection. The question was, would he do anything about it? If he didn’t, would she?

“You ready to go for a ride, Princess?” There was no condescension in his tone this time and her smile widened.

Funny how the way a word is spoken can change the entire meaning
, she mused. “Can’t wait, Cowboy.”

Laughing he gave her a wink, grabbed the reins of her horse and led her over to the black stallion that was to be his.

~*~*~*~*~

Connor was experiencing feelings he hadn’t felt in years, not since Rebecca.
He’d done a pretty good job of keeping himself secluded from any possibility of romance by holing himself up at the farm. He wasn’t sure the best way to approach the attraction; go for it or bury it deep. He was leaning toward burying it; starting something with her would be just too complicated and would only cause more problems.

“We’re here.” He glanced over his shoulder to see Samantha bouncing on the back of Chelsea, a wide grin on her face. Sometime along the way she’d pulled the band from her hair. The light wind kept catching her hair, blowing it and around her face, but she didn’t even seem to notice or care; her eyes were too busy scanning the scenery.

She looked so carefree and real at that moment, no pretenses or attitude – her beauty at that moment took his breath away. Feeling his eyes on her, she shifted her focus to him and waved. She didn’t even resemble the woman who’d shown up at his farm a few days prior.

“Where are we?”

Connor dismounted, and tied his horse to a nearby tree. Once done, he grabbed the reins of her horse and tied hers up as well, close to the riverbank so the horses could indulge in water of the cool stream. “I thought we’d give the horses a rest before continuing.”

“Okay. My bum is starting to get sore anyhow.” She looked around her, her expression becoming worried. “Ummm, Connor, how do I get down?”

Chuckling he reached up for her, preparing to grab her waist as she lowered herself from the animal. “Just swing your leg over my way and step down, I’ll catch you.”

Samantha didn’t hesitate or second guess him. She swung her leg over the horse and literally fell into his arms. He held her tight to his chest for a moment before allowing her body to slide down his and to the ground. The apple scent of her hair taunted his nose and he leaned in, indulging in her.

She spun around to face him and he found his lips mere inches from hers. His eyes dropped to her lips, which were lightly glossed, the only stitch of make-up she’d bothered to apply. He touched her cheek, sliding his thumb along her lips. Her lips parted slightly and when he raised his gaze he found her staring up at him, anticipation in her eyes.

He clenched his jaw and with deep regret took a step away. The disappointment in her eyes challenged his resolve. “Come over here, I want to show you something.” He began walking to the bridge; when he didn’t hear her follow he turned back and looked at her.

“Okay.” With a nod she followed behind him until they were standing in the middle of the bridge, which was just large enough to allow a single truck to drive over.

“Look down into the water.”

She stepped up to the rail and leaned over, peering into the clear blue water. The water was so clear that they could easily see down to the bottom. “What am I looking for?”

“Just wait.” Smiling, Connor watched her expression as she patiently gazed into the shallow, slow-moving river.

“Oh my god! Look at them!” A wide grin spread across her lips and she pointed to the fish appearing from under the bridge and down the river.

“They’re rainbow trout,” he explained, enjoying her excitement. Turning his back to the rail, he braced his elbows on the rail behind him, crossing one ankle over the other. She was such a different person in this setting, the polar opposite of the woman who’d arrived demanding to be treated like royalty and berating every and anyone who dared stand in her way.

“Really cool.” After a couple of minutes watching the fish, her smile faded and her expression grew serious. Samantha caught her lower lip between her teeth as she continued to watch the fish passing under them. “Can I tell you something?”

“Sure. Of course.” By the graveness of her tone it sounded like she had something important to say; it had him curious.

She refused to look at him, continuing to stare into the river. “No one really likes me.”

His brow furrowed. That certainly wasn’t what he expected to hear from her and he had no idea how to respond, so he remained silent, hoping she’d explain further.

She huffed. “I mean, I thought I had dozens of friends. Hundreds of acquaintances. People acted like they’d die to be me until this happened. But as soon as Mother cut me off, black marked me to all the designers and photographers so I couldn’t get any work, I wasn’t any use to anyone so they all bailed. Not a single person offered me a place to stay, or to lend me some money until I got on my feet. You were right, all my friends are trust fund babies so they have the money, but they didn’t want to get on my mother’s bad side.” She shrugged. “They wanted to be me so bad, they didn’t think twice about bailing hoping they’d have a chance to take my place with modelling gigs and whatnot.”

“I’m sorry sweetie.”

“It gets worse.”

“Why?”

“My real father doesn’t have any desire to spend time with me. I’ve done everything I can think of to get his attention. I got straight A’s all throughout school, excelled at sports. The whole bit, but he’s too preoccupied with his new family to care about what I’m doing. So after high school I decided to try something different. I caused as much shit as possible, hoping that seeing me in the society pages acting out would get his attention.” She glanced over at him and gave him a half-smile, tears rimming her eyes. “I did some horrible stuff, from drugs to being arrested. You name it, but nope, he just doesn’t care.”

She was about to let go; he could see the sob caught in her throat. Her story and actions began to fall into place and make sense to him.

“Come here.” Connor stepped over to her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. The dam broke and she began sobbing in his arms, her hands fisting the back of his t-shirt, her tears beginning to saturate the front of his shirt.

Holding her tight, he brushed his lips across her temple, stroking her satiny hair. He wished he knew what to say to do to make things better for her, but he didn’t – but he didn’t doubt her words.

Once the tears began to slow, she glanced up at him with her eyes red and swollen, but didn’t leave the protection of his arms. “And Mother. She doesn’t give a shit either. She’s been too interested in whatever new husband she’s married to to care about what I did.”

“I’m sure she loves you.”

She huffed, giving her head a disgusted shake. “Your brother is husband number five, you know. I give it two years tops.” Her eyes grew dark, bitterness in her tone.

“My brother’s a grown man, I’m not worried about him; I’m worried about you.” He huffed. “Besides, your mother is number three for him.”

“I can’t even find a good man to love me. Just a bunch of assholes.”

Connor cupped her heart-shaped face in his hands and stared down into her eyes. “You have to let people in, sweetie. You’re such a stunning woman and I was right the first time. You’re beautiful inside and out. But no one can see it behind the hostility. They need to see you like I’m seeing you now.”

“Like a weeping, weak mess?” She swiped at the tears in her eyes with the back of her hand. Even with puffy eyes she was stunning, especially with her being so open and vulnerable.

“No, like someone who feels something, someone who cares.”

“That won’t fly with the people I date.”

“As for the assholes. Well, not sure what to tell you about that. Maybe you’ve been looking in the wrong places. Maybe you should consider changing the types of men you date.”

Chapter 7

Samantha’s eyes lowered to his chest, which sported a large wet spot courtesy of her tears, embarrassed for telling him what she did. It had just been gnawing at her, and she just needed to unload. Although, she knew he was just being kind. What guy would want a crying wreck who didn’t have a single person in the world who gave a shit?

“What are you thinking?” Connor asked, lowering his hands from her face and slipping around her waist again. “You can talk to me. Not sure what I can do to help in this situation, but I’m a pretty good listener.”

She lifted her gaze back to meet his. There was so much caring and concern in his eyes it nearly set her off again. “I’m glad I’m here.”

Feeling her face growing warm, she looked around them. Everything was quiet and serene. The soft whoosh of the river below them, occasional chirps from various birds hidden from view in the forest around them – it was soothing. There was no stress or sense of urgency like she was accustomed to.

When she redirected her attention back to him, the corners of his lips started to turn up.

“What are you grinning for?” She attempted to give him a stern look, but his smile was contagious and she found herself smiling back. She never would have guessed that the man she’d considered an arrogant jackass a few days ago could turn out to be the one person she felt she could confide her fears in.

“You realize that just a few days ago you accused my driver of kidnapping you and abandoning you in Farmville.”

Her blush deepened. “Okay, maybe I was overreacting.”

“And?”

“I was acting…” she held her index finger and thumb out before his eyes, leaving a little space between them. “Just a little bit like a diva.”

“Wow, we’re making progress.” He pulled her a little tighter to him. His grin widened and she felt a little flutter in her stomach as it had a tendency to do each time he smiled at her like he was.

Sliding her hands up his chest, she laced her fingers behind his neck and pressed herself tight to him. She waited for him to step away, but he didn’t. Their eyes locked as tension began to build and she feared that at any second he’d break the connection.

Her eyes lowered to his lips. She wanted to kiss him, she wanted that intimate connection with him that she’d been wanting since the previous evening.

“Connor?” Her gaze lifted to meet his eyes again and all humour was gone and something more intense was beginning to fill his grey eyes. She could feel his body beginning to tense and indecision filling his eyes and knew that if she didn’t take advantage of the moment there may never be another one.

Grasping the back of his head in her hand, she urged his head down as she stretched up against him. He gave in to her and as their lips connected she moaned. She needed a connection with someone, she needed it with him.

There was tension in his kiss – at first – as if he were holding on to the last bit of restraint he had in him. But her moan seemed to break through, crumbling the wall of resistance and he returned her kiss, his tongue slipping past her lips in search of hers. As their tongues touched her body came alive, the simmering of desire between her legs flaring up and demanding more of him. She rubbed herself against him, satisfied to feel an erection beginning to swell beneath the denim restraining it.

Connor growled low and deep in the back of his throat, pinning her against the railing and running his hands down her back to caress her bottom. Pulling his lips from hers he began trailing a string of kisses along her jaw and to her neck. Letting her head fall back, she arched her back, allowing him better access to the soft sensitive flesh. The nips and flicks of his tongue sent delicious shivers of arousal through her.

“My god, you smell. Taste. So incredible darlin’,” he murmured against her neck.

“Mmmm, oh Connor.” Her hands tugged at his t-shirt, pulling it up and sliding her hands up and along the hard muscle of his abdominals and further up to his chest. The muscle flexed and tensed under her fingers’ exploration. Her pussy ached as she rubbed up against him, but it wasn’t enough, not near enough; all it did was fuel the fire burning within.

Connor pulled back from her to look down into her eyes, but kept her firmly in his embrace. His grey eyes were stormy with his desire and all she could think about was how desperately she wanted to see and feel more of him.

She looked around them. The setting was perfect, beautiful. With her eyes locked onto his her hands lowered down his chest and grasped at his belt buckle. She was about to undo it when his hands slid from her ass to cover her hands, stopping her.

Swallowing the lump forming in her throat she lowered her gaze. He didn’t want her.

“Hey. No.” He hooked his index finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I know what you’re thinking and I want you to know, it’s not that.”

“Then why? I mean…”

Oh my god, I feel stupid. Of course he got hard, he’s a guy. At least he’s decent enough to stop me… unlike the others…

“I want you to have a clear head, Sam, before we do something like this.” He shook his head, giving her a soft smile. “Not like this.”

“But, I –”

“I’m stopping you because I care for you, Samantha.”

She saw the sincerity in his eyes and for the first time that she could remember she felt like someone actually did care for her. He’d just turned her down and he had no reason to lie to her. Unlike everyone else in her life he didn’t want anything from her.