Second Chance Ranch (27 page)

This time she didn’t resist.

Holding her close, he wanted to hang on forever. “I’ve been a fool because I never thought anyone would take me seriously. But you always have, haven’t you? You understood my dreams and sacrificed your own for them. You still do. I never meant to hurt you.” He buried his nose in her hair, her sweet scent making him realize what he’d lost. “The Trails’ End is yours.”

“No, it’s not. It’s your family history, you love it.”

His jaw brushed along hers, trailing kisses he couldn’t stop. “I love you more.”

* * *

She pulled back and finally met his gaze. He stood before her, no longer the little boy who’d been her best friend, nor the teenager she’d given her heart to so many years ago. This was Zac, the big, strong man with the killer smile. An irresistible blend of financial genius and easy-going cowboy. The man she’d never stopped loving.

“The ranch is yours, Jennifer O’Reilly.” He gave her a weak smile, uncertainty etched in his deep, brown eyes. “No strings attached. It will always be in your name and your possession.”

She shook her head. “What will your family think if I run off with their property?”

His warm palms rubbed her arms as his gaze locked with hers. “It’s not theirs; it’s mine. And now it’s yours.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. Zac had always lived for the moment, rarely giving thought beyond his mercurial emotions. She wasn’t going to let him throw away his dreams for her. She bit the corner of her bottom lip and let her forehead drop to his chest. “Zac…” His name escaped her lips on a surrendering sigh.

Strong arms tightened around her. His cheek brushed her hair as his breath tickled her ear. “Yes?”

Lord, I want this so much. I’m not strong enough.
Another tear squeezed out as she clamped her lids together. “What about you?”

“Don’t know. I could stay here.” A note of longing in his voice. “Maybe go back to Denver.”

Rubbing her nose on his chest, she tightened her arms around him. “Please, stay. Don’t you see? I don’t want the Trails’ End.” Her breath caught in her chest as she fought to keep the words back and losing the battle. “Not without you.”

He kissed the rim of her ear. “Marry me, Jen. Make my world complete.” Holding her close, he sunk his hand into her hair as his kisses trailed down her cheek. “I’ve been off kilter for a long time.”

A fire ignited in her soul chasing away the cold that had surrounded her heart ever since she’d walked away from him so many years ago. This was real, she knew it. This was what she’d been waiting for and until the day she died, she’d give thanks to her awesome God of mercy and grace for giving her a second chance. She chuckled as she buried her face in his chest.

He stopped kissing her and drew back. “What’s so funny?”

Straightening within his embrace, Jen looked into his gorgeous brown eyes and saw a love to match her own. “Zac, I’ve been holding on so hard, praying for things to turn out right. When I finally let go, God answered my prayers better than I ever would have dreamed.” She leaned forward and touched her lips to his.

His lips claimed her with a hunger that sent a fire down to her toes. She snaked her arms around his waist and hooked her fingers into his belt loops, tugging him closer. He deepened their kiss making her heart pound until pressure built in her ears. She turned her head and he trailed kisses along her jaw until her laugh caused him to stop.

“What?” he asked, the rough hint of stubble along his jaw sending tingles down her neck.

“We’re causing a scene.”

“I don’t care.” His fingers trailed along her collarbone. “So, will you?”

Goosebumps formed in the wake of his touch. “Hmm?”

“Marry me.”

“I’ve never wanted anything more, Isaac Davidson, so yes, I’ll marry you.” She pushed back from his embrace and smoothed the wild ends of her hair in place. She couldn’t contain an ornery smile. “But first, I should probably go back and sign my life away.”

A slow grin traveled his lips as he fished a pen with the Circle D logo from the back pocket of his jeans. He handed it to her and claimed another slow, leisurely kiss. She melted in his embrace, returning his kiss with a slow, decisive claim of her own.

“Oh, yes, ma’am, you should,” he whispered, trailing his mouth to the lobe of her ear. “To me…I’ll throw the ranch in as a wedding gift.”

THE END

Dear Reader:

Thank you for choosing
Second Chance Ranch
. Hawk Ridge, Colorado is a special place filled with special people. If you enjoyed Zac and Jennifer’s story, please consider leaving a review.

Sign up for Audra Harders’ newsletter at her website
http://www.audraharders.com
to be notified of her next release and for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card each quarter — winner to be announced in the newsletter.

Look for the third book in the Circle D series releasing Fall 2014. You won’t want to miss the sparks that fly between oldest Davidson brother, Nick, and Rachel Hill, a gal who knows her way around rodeo stock…and cowboys.

Discussion questions for Book Clubs:

1. When Zac left Hawk Ridge, he never planned to return, yet the opportunity of a lifetime lured him back and he realized that maybe home wasn’t such a bad place after all. Have you ever yearned to get away from a situation, and then returned? How did you feel about it?
   
2. Jennifer faced a difficult decision as a teenager. How do you feel about her decision to give her child up for adoption?
   
3. When Jennifer was a child, her mother died. This event left a brutal scar on her soul, affecting much of her outlook on life. Have you experienced a loss so great it colored your perception of life for years to come?
   
4. When Zac was a teenager, he couldn’t wait to leave Hawk Ridge and the shadow of his family. Why do you think he felt such a strong conviction to leave? How do you think his family, the small town, his own restlessness figured into his decision? Do you think he returned a wiser man?
   
5. If you were Zac or Jennifer, would be able to forgive the other for decisions made without the consent of the other?
   
6. Zac and Jennifer each have a deep, strong faith in God. How does their faith aid in healing their hearts?
   
7. Zac and Jennifer each had different reasons for wanting the Trails’ End Ranch. Had the outcome been different, who do you think should own the ranch?
   

Books by Audra Harders

From Love Inspired Books:

Rocky Mountain Hero

For Kindle:

Circle D series:

Second Chance Ranch

Rough Road Home (Fall 2014)

About Audra Harders

Award-winning author,
Audra Harders
, writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring cowboys who haven't a clue about relationships rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has two adult children, and is surrounded by everything conducive to writing about farming, ranching and cowboys at her day job in the county Extension office. She began writing right after her son was born and sold her first book to Steeple Hill Love Inspired mere months before that same son graduated from high school. Surviving those years in-between reminds her God does have her plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor.

You can visit her at
www.AudraHarders.com
. Readers and writers alike are invited to visit
Seekerville
, a group blog where Audra, along with twelve other inspirational authors, share wisdom and ideas about writing, life, and of course, food!