Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range Danica Favorite (warren buffett book recommendations .txt) 📖

weeks here, he realized he’d done wrong in keeping her so isolated. Seeing her with Josie, it had become obvious she loved children. Maybe even wanted a family of her own. Sometimes he worried he’d stolen that from her by keeping her so comfortable at the ranch that she rarely left.

Yes, she’d needed time to heal from her kidnapping, but that didn’t seem reason enough now for her isolation. A deep compulsion drove him to do something more, make sure she was okay before he left Harney County for good. But what could he do?

The front door creaked and then there was the click of it closing. Mary appeared in the doorway, her hair neat and shining, her face devoid of emotion. He gestured to the chair near the window where he’d set the supplies. “Have you ever done this?”

“A long time ago.”

Her voice wobbled, betraying what her face hid.

A fierce surge of protectiveness shot through him. And uncertainty, because something about him was making her nervous lately. Was she feeling what he was? That could be dangerous for both of them.

The thought soured his positive feelings and turned his voice curt. “Just don’t cut me, then. Try to make things even in the back.”

“I’ll do my best.”

He settled into the chair. At least he wouldn’t have to see her face, look into her eyes. The deep calm of them had always pulled at him, drawn him in a way he’d hated. But as her fingers combed through his hair, wetting and straightening, he realized that being in this vulnerable position was infinitely worse. Silently groaning, he forced himself to ignore the warm strength of her fingers against his nape.

She worked in silence for several long, torturous minutes. The sound of the scissors snipping took the place of any words they might’ve shared.

“Have you packed?” he asked at last. Staying quiet seemed worthless when there was something to be said.

“Not yet.” Her voice, a lyrical blend of sound, floated over him.

“You should do that. Make sure Josie is ready, too.”

“I will.” Now she sounded defensive. “She needs time to adjust. We should have given her that.”

“She had to know she would go home eventually,” he pointed out, despite the guilt twisting his gut.

His head tugged back a little more roughly than normal.

“For some reason, she doesn’t want to return home. Don’t you find that suspicious?”

“Yep.”

“And yet you’ll still send her?”

“I told you that I’ll be arranging for her protection, but can we talk about this when you’re not armed with scissors?” He tilted his head to meet her rather serious gaze. When he winked at her, the color in her face deepened. Yep, definitely not immune to him.

Despite the inconvenience of this unfortunate attraction, he settled back in the chair again with a satisfied feeling. He could handle things. Get Josie out of danger. Find the shooter. Settle James and Mary before he moved on.

Based on that telegram he’d picked up in town, he had a couple of options.

The clink of the knife against the washbowl drew him out of his thoughts. Mary, armed with a towel and shaving cream, hovered in front of him.

“Ready?” she asked.

He nodded and closed his eyes as she dabbed the cool cream across his skin. Then there was the rasp of the razor against his throat. She moved quietly and smoothly, making no conversation. Her scent hovered just beneath the scent of his shaving cream.

As she worked, the unease in his gut spread. Ever since that day he’d seen her in the valley with Josie... This wasn’t good. Attractions were best left alone. Then again, sometimes all it took was a kiss to know the woman he’d been mooning over wasn’t for him. There’d been a couple like that, women he’d thought might ease his loneliness, maybe help him forget Sarah and Abby.

They never did.

And Mary, well, he didn’t even know if she’d ever been kissed. He cracked a lid. Her eyes were focused somewhere around his chin and her brows narrowed in concentration. His mouth twitched. Her attention shifted to him.

Her gaze lingered a little too long before darting away. He shut his eyes but couldn’t temper the emotions ricocheting through him, nor the knowledge of what he’d just seen.

Mary felt drawn to him.

Something deeper and more elemental than mere attraction rushed through him. The emotion settled in his chest, patient and alert, waiting for expression.

He forced steady breaths and held perfectly still while Mary continued the shave. His biceps bunched when her skirt brushed against him. Mouth dry, he waited.

For what, he wasn’t sure, but suddenly things changed. Moved to a different place. He opened his eyes again. Mary looked at him, soft lips pursed. What would it be like to kiss her? She, who seemed so unreachable?

“Can you turn your head just so?” Her palm cupped his chin.

He reached up and encircled her arm, resting his fingers against the warmth of her inner wrist. Her eyes widened. She began to pull away, but he stood and slid his hand down to hers, lacing his fingers within hers. With his other hand he reached for the towel and roughly brushed it against his lips.

He tossed it to the ground.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Her stammer did nothing to ease the pulse hammering through him. No, those wide eyes only beckoned him closer. To know exactly what he was dealing with.

“Are you afraid of me?” he rasped.

Her eyes held his, so deep, so full of mystery. “No,” she whispered.

His chest tightened and he reached for her, pulling her close to him, drawing her lips to his, searching yet careful, probing yet holding back.

Until he felt her resistance crumble.

When she responded, that band inside his chest snapped and he became voracious, longing, wishing for something that seemed so far beyond his reach. Home. The scent of flowers and sage swirled around him in a heady, pulsating rush.

He was the first to pull away. He forced himself to separate from her. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes