Page 42 of One Texas Night...
Her heart lurched. Her first reaction was to say yes, to share what they had and hold on to it. She wanted to be with him. These past few days she had missed him far more than she had dreamed she would. It seemed her love for him grew with each day. Move in with him and he might not want her to ever move out.
“Did you hear me?” he asked, shifting to his side to prop his head on his hand and look down at her.
“I heard you, and I’m thinking. Jared, you’re alone. You’ve lost your dad now. You have close friends, but you’re alone. I’m not. I have my dad and my brother.”
“Darlin’, I can take care of your dad if we need to. Right now you said he’s doing well, and he sounds well and as full of life as ever.”
“He may sound that way, but he’s changed. He’s more frail than he used to be. And I can’t ignore Sloan.”
“No, but you don’t have to let him live your life for you. He’s not your parent. He’s a brother, and a worrying one at that.”
“I know. I just have to think about it because that’s a big step. It’s a commitment. Actually, a huge commitment for me.”
“Yes, it is,” he said solemnly. “It’s a commitment for me, too. You take my breath away. You were all I could think about. You’ve interfered in my work because you weren’t here, and I was so busy thinking about you that I couldn’t concentrate.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t think so, Jared. Besides, you just got another woman out of your life.”
“I’m not making that up about you interfering in my work,” he said solemnly, toying with her hair with his free hand. “As for Dawn and any other woman in my life, I have not asked anyone to move in with me. Not ever.”
Shocked, she sat up to look at him. “Are you telling me the truth? Why would Sloan tell me you have so many women in your life?”
“I don’t think it’s as many as your brother tried to indicate, but I didn’t ask any of them to move in with me. I may have lived at their place—which may be splitting hairs to you, but it isn’t splitting hairs to me. This is far bigger,” he said, giving her a direct look that sent a streak of fire to her toes.
“Then I’m surprised,” she said, her mind reeling over his request.
“Frankly, I’m a little surprised myself. You do something to me,” he whispered, reaching up to kiss her.
She placed her hands on his broad shoulders while she kissed him in return. Finally, he paused, his gaze drifting over her features. “I may be falling in love,” he said gruffly, and her heart thudded.
“But you don’t know?”
“What I feel for you has never happened before.” Her heart pounded, and she kissed him passionately.
Later, he wound long locks of hair around his fingers, pulling gently. “Can I take you to dinner tonight?”
“Sorry. Dad has already asked me to come over. He’s cooking. I’m sure you can join us if you’d like.”
“Since it’s your first time to be with him in a while, I’ll wait. Next time I’ll take you up on it. Of course, it will bring Sloan on the run.”
“He probably wouldn’t even know.”
“Are you going to work tomorrow—actually, today?”
“I’ll tell Dad I’m exhausted and I’ll be in in the afternoon. So you’ll have to shuffle off then.”
“I’ll disappear then, but right now I’m here, and I’m going to make the most of the moment.” Drawing her closer, he leaned down to kiss her.
* * *
All afternoon while she worked, she thought about Jared. An inner debate raged furiously, and she could argue for either side whether to move in with him or not. Give in to passion and what she wanted, move in with him—that way, he might not ever want her to move out. Would he fall in love if they were together longer? Or fall in love if they were deep in an affair?
On the other hand, he wouldn’t change his pursuit of wild adventures. His life would be at risk continually. She couldn’t cope with that. She was torn between the choices. She’d give him an answer Friday night. If she could accept watching him in the rodeo, then she’d try moving in with him and see what happened.
* * *
Friday afternoon she left work early and went home to dress for the rodeo, her eagerness to be with Jared churning in her. She had lectured herself to not worry about him tonight because he was doing what he loved, and he could take care of himself.
She changed twice, finally settling on light wash jeans that had blinged hip pockets and a snakeskin belt with a silver buckle. She wore a black Western shirt and let her hair fall freely around her face. As she brushed her hair, the doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock. “You’re early, Jared,” she said to no one, hurrying to the front door and thankful she had given herself plenty of time to get ready.
