Bewitching the Reclusive Billionaire Cowboy (17 page)

After he was dressed, he made his call. “Hi, Mom, how are you?”

“I’m fine. What have you been doing all day?”

“I started a new book last night, wrote until dawn, and just woke up a little while ago. May I speak with Gina? I meant to call her earlier.”

“She’s gone.”

“Gone, like to town?” he asked. An uneasiness settled in his stomach.

“Gone, like back home to Orlando.”

“What? Why?”

“I think you should ask her. But she won’t be landing for another few hours.”

“Why didn’t you call me?

“Why would I, Graham? It was her decision to make.”

“I’ve got to go. Bye, Mom.” He hung up the phone and started pacing the room. She’d left without calling. He didn’t understand. Yesterday had gone so well. He paced around the small cabin. His plan to court her slowly had just gone to hell. What now?

He sat in a lounge chair in the living room. She was right. This room was plain and not comfortable. He walked into the bright kitchen, made a pot of coffee, and sat at the table. In here, he could visualize her puttering around in those short shorts. He smiled at the picture. She’d left on purpose. He knew that. She’d called his hand, and he couldn’t blame her. She had no way of knowing about the house plans or his desire to marry her. He’d have to speed up this courtship. He was a good fisherman, and this was one catch he wasn’t going to let get away.

He called the airport. The next plane to Florida was early tomorrow. He made the reservation.

Gina had slept in her own bed last night. She got up and made coffee then wandered around her apartment. If she moved, she’d have to ship the pieces of furniture she wanted to keep. She might need it all if she had to get her own place. But if Graham would ask her to marry him, she’d only need a few treasured items and most of her kitchen supplies.

She dressed and left the apartment. Driving around town, she realized there were places and people she’d miss. But her friends would love to visit Montana if she had a place for them to stay, and they would reciprocate when she got homesick. After all, she’d lived most of her adult life in Orlando. Downtown, she parked in the garage across from the library. The parking attendant waved hello.

Could she settle back into her old life and forget Graham?

She wandered down the street and into a small cafe where she’d often had lunch.

“Welcome back, Regina. We’ve missed you. Have you been on vacation?”

“Yes, I went to Montana.”

Her regular waitress Jackie brought her a tall glass of tea with lots of ice. Just the way Gina liked it.

“I’ve heard Montana is a beautiful place, but cold in the winter,” Jackie said.

“It’s still cool in early summer. But it has gorgeous scenery, and the people are so nice.”

“Girl, you have a glow that tells me you found a man.”

Jackie had a bluntness about her. Gina smiled. “I might have.”

“Then what are you doing back here?”

“I’d be taking a big chance going so far away.” She ran her finger down the condensation on the side of the glass.

It was early, and they weren’t busy yet. Jackie sat in the chair across from her. “Honey, if you love him and he loves you, what more can you want?”

“We haven’t known each other very long.”

“You have the rest of your life. I know you, lady. If you love him, he must be some man.” She stood and picked up the menu on the table by Gina’s hand. “You having your usual today?”

“No. I’m going to have one of your juicy burgers and fries. You’ve given me my appetite back.”

Jackie smiled and shook her head. “The girl’s in love. She hasn’t never ever ordered a burger.”

Hope and love overflowed inside Gina. It was as though Jackie’s pep talk jerked her awake. She knew what she wanted. She flipped open her phone and rang her supervisor. They’d meet in an hour. Gina snapped her cell shut and took a long swallow of her tea. The burger, when it came, was juicy and delicious. She ate all of it and the hot fries.

“Thanks for the advice, Jackie. I’ll send you a postcard from Montana.”

“You do that. I’ll miss you around here.” Jackie hugged her, and Gina got a lump in her throat. The hard part was saying good-bye to her friends.

Mrs. Grimshaw waited in her doorway. “You’re back. Come in and have a seat.” She walked behind her desk and sat down. “We’ve missed you. I’ll put you on the schedule for tomorrow. Did everything go well with your family?”

“It did. My sister is doing better.” She hesitated and looked around the familiar room. Outside she heard the muffled sounds of staff and customers. This was her world, or had been, she corrected herself.

“Mrs. Grimshaw, I appreciate all you’ve done for me over the years. You’ve been a great supervisor. But I’m not coming back. I’m resigning.” There, she’d said it. Mrs. Grimshaw looked stunned.

“Resigning? But next year when I retire, you’ll be up for my job and probably get it.”

“I know, and this hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s the best for me. I’m going back where my sister is recovering, and I’ve been offered a job at the local library. Although it could probably fit on one floor and in one corner of this building. They’re talking of expanding. It’s an adventure.”

“And a risk. Small libraries can be closed for monetary reasons or lack of use.”

“This one is busy and has been there for many years.”

Mrs. Grimshaw put her hands together. “You look happy with your decision.”

“I am.”

“Then I wish you well. You’re young. Now is the time to go on adventures.” She surprised Gina by hugging her. “Keep in touch.”

“Most certainly, and thank you again for everything.” Gina blinked her eyes to keep back the tears. She stopped at the desk to tell her fellow workers her plan and to promise to invite them out to Montana. Then after cleaning out her cubicle in the employee lounge, she finally got on the elevator and slumped against the wall. She’d invite her closest two friends and their families for a barbecue this evening. It was short notice, but she wanted to get all the explanations done.

When she got to her car, she called and talked to both of them. Luckily, everyone could make it. On the way to the apartment, she stopped at the grocery and got the food. Then after she got home, she changed and cleaned her grill. She’d just leaned over to pick up some trash when a man whistled.

“What’d I tell you about short shorts. They bring out the animal in a man.” Graham’s husky voice spilled heat into every cell of her body. She whirled around.

“I might have known it’d be you lurking around.” Joy rushed through her veins. She wanted to grab him and never let go. He’d come to her, all the way to Florida.

He sauntered up to her. “I don’t lurk. I come right out in the open.” Graham pulled her body tight against his. His hands cupped her butt.

“We’re outside. People will see us,” she whispered.

“Ah, yes, I have the right woman. My prudish, sexy woman.” Lifting her in his arms, he carried her inside.

“Which way to the bedroom?”

“Just like that?”

He nodded. “Yes, aren’t you hungry?”

“Starving. It’s the last room on the right.”

Graham dropped her on the bed and immediately undressed. She watched as he sheathed his large cock.

“Now for you.” He grabbed her small top and pulled it over her head. Then he unzipped her shorts and had them and her panties off in a second. “One thing about this outfit, I can remove it quickly.” He leaned back and studied her body. “You’re as delectable as I remembered.”

“It’s only been two days.” She grinned.

“Really? I’d have sworn it was at least a week.” He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. “I’ve missed you every minute you’ve been gone from my cabin. It echoes loudly with silence and emptiness. I didn’t expect to miss you. I thought I’d go back to my usual routine and enjoy my solitude, but you’ve destroyed that for me and left me confused and uneasy.”

She ran a finger across his mouth, and he nipped at her fingertip. Her whole body had melted into his. She was so glad to be back where she wanted to be.

“Don’t stop me. I’ll never talk this much again.”

“Then go on, and say it all.”

“I fought with the idea of change. I’d been the same way since birth. But you made me want more. You made me see the possibilities of more. I love my nieces and nephew, and now I want my own children, ours. The date the other day was to see if I could take you places that held no interest to me and enjoy myself. I did, vicariously, through seeing your enjoyment and happiness. Don’t think I’d want to do those type of outings all the time, but once in a while would be all right.”

He kissed her mouth. “I missed your taste, your smell.” He nuzzled her neck and teased her ticklish spot. “I missed touching you and being deep inside your sweet, hot pussy.”

His lips moved down and caressed her breasts. He nibbled on her peaked tips.

An aching desire had coiled in her lower abdomen. She reached down and rubbed her finger across the top of his cock.

“I’ve missed all of you, too,” she said. “I thought you’d enjoyed our outing the other day, but then you didn’t call.”

“Being with you exhilarated me. I started my next book. After writing all night I slept until afternoon. When I called, Mom said you’d gone.”

“She only said I’d gone?” Gina asked.

“Yes. I’d planned to court you slowly to be sure I could make a commitment, but hearing you’d left brought me straight to the reality that I loved you and wanted you by my side forever.”

Graham kissed her mouth and hugged her close, then put her on the bed and slid all the way down and separated her lower lips. His tongue brushed across her clit, and her body bowed. He licked the nectar seeping from her pussy.

“You taste like the sweetest cherries. Your scent of arousal spikes my desire tenfold.” He kissed her soft tummy and positioned his cock at her opening. “I can’t wait any longer.” Graham thrust inside her pussy, and his mouth sucked on her breast.

Pleasure shot up Gina’s spine like an arrow and made her whole body tingle. She raised her hips and met his every stroke. His hard cock filled her pussy completely, and her walls pulsed around him.

He raised his head. “You are mine forever.” His dark-blue eyes stared straight into hers.

“As you are mine?” she asked.

“Always.” Then he grinned. “Can you imagine there being another woman in this whole world I could put up with, or more importantly, one who would put up with me?”

Gina hit him in the shoulder and moved to make him turn over. “Now I’m on top. I rule.” She moved up and down slowly as she studied his dear face. She loved him so much.

“Don’t go getting soft on me,” he said. He clamped his hands around her hips and moved her up and down quicker. She rubbed against him where his cock touched her sweet spot, and ecstasy lifted her up and away.

Graham rolled her on her back and plunged in deep and hard. When his orgasm hit, she felt the pulsing and ripples in her pussy as her second orgasm shook her. Graham moved to her side. Gradually, her breathing returned to normal and the ripples of delight subsided.

“Wow, maybe I need to go off once in a while so you’ll miss me.”

“Don’t even think about it. I’ll be two steps ahead.” He kissed her mouth. “What were you going to cook on the grill? I’m hungry.”

“Grill?” Gina jumped out of bed and ran for the bathroom. “My friends and their families will be here in”—she looked at her clock—“one hour.”

“Hurry and dress. I have two things I want to show you before they arrive.”

Gina took a quick shower and dressed in a white-and-green sundress and sandals while Graham showered. She combed her curls and put on pink lipstick. She’d do. Her friends would faint if she put on a lot of makeup.

She went to the kitchen and prepared the food for the grill. Graham walked by her and went out to start the fire. He’d dressed in dark slacks and a light-blue shirt with regular shoes.

When he came in she stared at him. “I haven’t seen you so dressed up before.”

“What do you think?”

“I like it, but I like my cowboy best.”

“I’m thankful you do. You won’t see me dress up too often.”

“What’s the occasion? We’re grilling. Your jeans would be fine.”

Graham went down on one knee. “I was going to wait and take you out for a fancy dinner, but I can’t…wait, that is. Will you marry me soon?”

Her eyes filled with tears. He stood and took her into his arms. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just love you so much, and you kept saying you were never going to marry.”

“I wasn’t, until I met you.”

She kissed him. “Yes, yes, and yes, I’ll marry you.”

He swung her around the room. When he sat her down, he took out a small velvet box and opened it. “It should fit you. I sized it by Mom’s. Her ring fit you well on our trip.”

Gina stared at the large diamond with baguette-cut stones on the sides. “It’s beautiful. I think you mother was very relieved when she got her ring back. I understand. I’d never loan this one to anyone. What was the other thing you wanted to show me?”