Chapter Seven

Grace

Throughout the night I wake often because I’ve never slept naked. And I’ve never slept next to a great big cowboy. When I drift from sleep, flashes of memory spark in my mind. What I’d done with Ben. What he’d done to me. I’d cringed inwardly as I told him my dirty fantasy about him chasing me down and I’m more than a little overwhelmed when I wake next to him.

Each time I wake, he senses my fretfulness and soothes me with a few words. He tells me I’m beautiful. That I’m perfect. How he wants to make me happy.

I wake in the morning, alone, but I hear him downstairs in the kitchen. A pan bangs. Dishes clatter. He mutters a curse. The sounds make me smile.

Dressing in a pair of yoga pants, I look around the bedroom. My tattered nightie lies on the floor. The lace trim of my ripped panties peek from the edge of the sheets. The memory of last night makes my face heat. I’m mortified. First, I make Ben swear he won’t touch me, and then I basically throw myself at him.

Downstairs, Ben’s looking through the fridge. He’s wearing a pair of jeans and boots, no shirt, and with his back to me, I’m greeted by the sight of scratches on his shoulders.

“Did I do that to you?”

He takes a carton of eggs from the fridge, shuts the door and turns to face me. Smirking. “Yes, ma’am.”

He sounds almost proud. And he definitely looks proud.

“I’m sorry, Ben.”

He shakes his head as he sets the eggs on the counter. “Don’t be.”

And his teasing expression fades. He crosses the kitchen and folds me into his arms. His arms wrap around me and I recall the way it felt sleeping next to him. Sleeping beside Ben made me feel sheltered. When he’d spoken to me in the night, his voice had been like a rough scrape of steel, but his words were tender.

“I was going to have breakfast ready for you,” he murmurs. “But I know shit about cooking. I need to tell you that. You should know what you’re getting into.” He strokes my back. “Since we’re getting hitched.”

My breath catches. He lifts my chin to look at him.

“Gracie. We didn’t use anything last night.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“And I’m guessing-”

“I’m not on the pill.”

His eyes darken with what looks like some sort of primitive satisfaction. My heart flutters inside my chest. I’ve never even had a serious boyfriend. I never got on the pill because there wasn’t anyone I wanted. Boy, did that change in a hurry. I guess I made up for lost time. I would think most men would panic if they thought their hook-up might be preggers.

Not Ben.

“I should have been more careful,” I say softly.

He puts his finger over my lips to stop me. “Let’s go into San Felipe and get married. Today.”

Everything’s happening so fast, I’m practically dizzy. He holds my gaze, waiting for an answer. I’m drawn in by the desire in his eyes. I know he wants this land, but I’m sure he wants me too.

“Yes,” I tell him.

He smiles and then his expression grows more serious. “Your sister’s been texting since I got down here. Pretty sure she’s not going to be meeting us at the courthouse to congratulate us.”

“She doesn’t want me to have another vote. She’s wanted to sell this place ever since my grandfather died.”

“I’ll just buy her out. How would that be?”

I draw a sharp breath. He has to know the price of land around here. Vivian’s half of the ranch is fifty acres, and at ten grand an acre, he’d need to pay her half a million. He watches as I do a mental tally, and shrugs a shoulder like that kind of money’s no big deal.

I make breakfast for both of us, while Ben goes and feeds the horses. I watch him walk to the barn, my heart fluttering in my chest. I can’t stop smiling as I watch him cross the barnyard. Between last night and the prospect of marrying this man who’s haunted my dreams, I realize with astonishment that I’m giddy with happiness.

Ben gets back from the barn and we eat breakfast.

When we’re done, Ben takes the plates to the sink. “What did your sister have to say?”

“I didn’t read the texts. I wasn’t ready to face her.”

“Maybe you should wait till we get married, just in case she talks some sense into you.”

“You think so?” I smile at him. He’s still bare-chested even though he just went to the barn. I think he likes walking around showing off his broad shoulders. Of course, if anyone had been around, they would have seen his scratched shoulders.

“Maybe.”

“You have any deep, dark secrets?”

He eyes the phone on the counter. “Maybe. I’ll tell you after we’ve said our vows. Then you’ll be stuck with me.”

I glance at the phone, and decide against reading the text messages. She’ll just try to rain on my parade. Vivian’s always acted like she got every bit of the looks in the family and no one would give me a second chance. Part of me believes that too, I suppose. More than anything I hate the idea of her coming back to the ranch and turning her charm on Ben. The thought makes something twist inside me.

Upstairs, I dress in a simple sheath dress. It’s a pale pink and I pair it with some strappy heels. I bought this last spring to go to a bridal shower. Most of my friends left San Felipe to go to school, but they’re drifting back, drawn home by the charm of our small town. When they find out I married Ben, I’ll get non-stop grief for my quickie wedding. What can I say? Thanks to my grandfather’s will, things are complicated.

Ben emerges from his room in a button-down shirt, khakis and boots. He shaved, and his usually tousled hair is freshly combed. He eyes me with a look that’s practically X-rated. His eyes smolder as he lets his gaze wander down my body. His attention makes me feel sexy and desired. I never cared about attracting a man until I met this man.

Without a word, he closes the distance between us and kisses me. It’s a long, heated, devouring kiss, and when he finally breaks the kiss, I feel light-headed.

“How’s this going to go?” I ask. “Isn’t there a waiting period?”

He shakes his head. “Not with the right connections.”

We leave the house, and he takes my hand as we walk to the truck. He whistles “Going to the chapel…” and smiles at me.

When he opens the passenger-side door, I’m touched by his chivalry, but I can’t resist teasing him. I’m nervous and need some of our usual banter.

“Sure you don’t want me to drive?”

He grins and swats my ass as I get in the truck.

We pass the time as we drive to town, talking about the ranch and the broodmares I want to bring in.

When he tells me he wants to raise bulls, I shake my head. “I guess I shouldn’t have taken down all that barbed wire if you’re going to bring in cattle.”

“We might end up splitting the land down the middle. Half for your horses and half for my cattle,” he says, as he parks the truck in front of the courthouse.

“Sounds like a good compromise.”

For a moment, we sit in the truck without speaking. It’s morning and people hurry around the old limestone building. It was built over a hundred years ago and has been renovated a few times over the years. A couple comes out the front door and pauses at the top of the steps, arms entwined. A woman hurries down the walk and snaps a few pictures of them.

They’re newlyweds. They laugh and kiss and the woman taking pictures waves her hand, fussing at them. They pose for a few more shots. Then they get into a waiting car and drive away.

“Are you ready to do this?” Ben asks, startling me.

I nod.

“You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted.”

“You’re the only man I’ve ever dreamed of.”

Color warms his face and I know he’s thinking about last night. I am too. But I’m also thinking about how I’m getting ready to marry Ben Calhoun. I know he’s had his sights on the Hopkins Ranch for a long time. Owning the land or a piece of it might be some sort of revenge for what he probably considers theft. I know what I’m getting into, but I cling to one single hope.

The hope that Ben wouldn’t ever cheat me any worse than Vivian.