Midnight Wrangler (21 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Bonnie woke in the bed in Rohn's guest room and glanced at the empty space next to her. Judging by the bright sun she saw streaming through the window, it was late.

No wonder he'd already gotten up. Work started early on a ranch.

It was also no wonder she'd slept in. They'd both been up late. That they'd made love before dinner hadn't helped them get to sleep any sooner, since they'd done it again later. Twice.

She stretched and felt the stiffness of sore muscles.

It sure had been nice sleeping in a real bed, though.

The air-conditioning kept the room cool. Snuggled down naked beneath the comforter, she'd slept like a baby. Once Rohn had finally let her sleep.

She'd have to bring a bag over so she had clothes and toiletries. As it was, she'd have to do the walk of shame in yesterday's clothes this morning.

The scent of bacon wafting into the room had her mouth watering and served as inspiration to get up and moving, even with as comfortable as the bed was.

Bonnie hoisted her body off the mattress and felt the plush rug beneath her bare feet. She padded to the dresser where Rohn's shirt from last night lay. That would do for now, at least to get her to the bathroom in the hallway. She couldn't go prancing around the house completely naked, and she felt too lazy to put on her clothes just yet.

The shirt fell past her midthigh. He was tall. She loved that about him. She wasn't petite herself, but she had always felt small next to Rohn and she liked it.

The hardwood floors in the hall felt cool beneath her bare feet as she padded her way to the bathroom.

Inside, she flipped on the wall light and smiled. He'd left a brand-new toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste next to the sink for her to use, along with a bar of soap, washcloth, and towel. He always had been one to think of everything.

Anxious to get downstairs, she brushed her teeth and washed her face fast. She couldn't stay too long. There was more work to be done at her place and she still had to make an appointment to meet with the real estate agent to decide if she should rent or sell the house. And then her meeting with the lawyer to finalize the inheritance was set for tomorrow.

So many details to handle, but she'd make time for breakfast.

Right now, all she wanted to do was go downstairs and kiss Rohn good morning. She almost ran down the stairs, she was so anxious to see him. She wasn't disappointed when she arrived in the kitchen. He stood at the stove, flipping the strips of sizzling meat in the cast-iron skillet and looking like her dream come true.

“Good morning.” Her greeting sounded breathless after her sprint down the stairs.

He glanced at her over his shoulder and smiled. She didn't miss his expression of appreciation as he looked her up and down. “Nearly good afternoon.”

Bonnie cringed. “Sorry about that.”

“Don't apologize. You obviously needed the sleep. And I did keep you up pretty late.” He shot her a sexy grin before flipping off the burner and turning to come to her. “You looked so cute sleeping I didn't want to wake you.”

“That smell of bacon did it, though.” She happily accepted the kiss he pressed to her mouth.

“Yeah, I kind of did that on purpose. The guys will be in for lunch in about an hour. I didn't want you to come downstairs and be surprised by a kitchen full of cowboys. Especially dressed like this.” He grinned.

Her eyes widened as she latched on to what he said. “Colton, Tyler, and Justin are here?”

“Yup. It's a normal workday for the rest of the world. We don't all have summers off from our jobs like you teachers do.” He tapped her nose with one finger as he teased her.

“But they'll know I spent the night.” She had to get dressed and get out before they came in.

“Darlin', that ship has sailed. You think they didn't see your car here when they arrived just after dawn?”

“Oh my God.”

“Bonnie. I'm a grown man. You're a grown woman. We're both single and free to do whatever the hell we want.”

“But I don't want them to know we're having
sex
.” She hissed the last word in a whisper.

Rohn laughed, which only made her frown. “I'm sorry, sweetheart, but they were assuming we were having sex even before they saw your car this morning. Tyler offered me condoms last night, in case I needed them.”

“Oh my God.” She couldn't look at Rohn. Couldn't stand the thought of them knowing.

Rohn let out a breath and pulled her back to him just as she was trying to get away. “Stop. I won't have you being embarrassed. There's no need.”

“But—”

“But nothing. I won't have it. You're moving in here with me.” When she opened her mouth to protest he pressed a finger over her lips. “For the duration of your time here. That's all. And if you don't, if you insist on going back to that house, then I'm coming with you. The boys will figure out I'm sleeping at your place soon enough, so why should both of us be uncomfortable there when it is so comfortable here.”

Bonnie drew in a deep breath hoping to quell the embarrassment that had her pulse speeding.

“Okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. Okay.”

He grinned. “Good. Now grab a seat. The bacon is cooked. I'll throw some eggs in a pan and be done in a jiffy.”

“What if the boys come in early?”

“Then they'll see how cute my girlfriend looks in my shirt and be jealous as all hell.”

She frowned and pulled the hem of the shirt lower as she sat. “You're awfully flippant about this.”

“Darlin', I'm so happy to have you here I'd dance naked down Main Street.”

“Just don't expect me to do the same.”

“Hell, I'd knock out any man who dared try to see you naked.”

Even with as appalled as she was at the whole situation, she couldn't help but smile at that.

“When you go home to work on the house today, make sure you pack up all your things and throw them in the car. Okay?” He glanced at her from behind the refrigerator door before he emerged with a carton of eggs.

“Okay.” There was no use fighting him.

He had an answer for everything. He was like a force of nature. It was just easier to go along for the ride rather than try and fight him.

“And you'd better go dress shopping this week because unless you packed something semiformal, you won't have anything to wear when I take you to our reunion.”

“Okay. I'll go shopping.” She could only see his profile as he cracked eggs into the skillet, but from what she could see, Rohn was smiling.

Yes, he'd won this battle. She'd stay for the reunion.

It would be next to impossible to leave him at the end of the summer and go back to Arizona to work as it was. She'd have to pack every ounce she could into every moment they had together.

 

 

After breakfast, work awaited her at the house. It consumed her enough she didn't have too much time to miss Rohn.

The rest of the day moved at a surreal pace as Bonnie anticipated going back to Rohn's with equal excitement and trepidation. Staying with him felt like a huge step. But staying away from him seemed impossible.

Then there was the situation with his ranch hands. She remembered her embarrassment about them knowing she'd spent the night as she drove into the driveway and saw the line of trucks parked by the barn.

One cowboy ambled across the yard toward her. He reached her car just as she parked, and reached out to open her door for her.

“Miss Bonnie.” Justin tipped his hat to her as she climbed out of the car. “Nice to see you again.”

She might never get used to having men open doors for her. That never happened in Phoenix. “You too, Justin. How are you?”

“Real good. Thanks. You doing okay at your place? You need any help moving anything?”

“I'm still going through all the paperwork. I swear my father must have kept every tax return, receipt, bill, and bank statement he ever got.”

“Yeah, my mom's like that, too. A real pack rat, but you gotta love her.” His dimples showed as he grinned. He hooked a thumb toward the house. “Rohn's inside.”

No surprise, he'd guessed who she was there to see.

“Okay. Thanks.” She hesitated.

Her bag was in the trunk, but she didn't want to get it out while Justin was here. It would be obvious she was planning on staying the night.

Nope. She couldn't do it. Couldn't look this young cowboy in the eye while carrying in her luggage to move in with his boss. Rohn could just come out later and get her bag. He was so anxious to have her stop staying at her house and sleep here instead, it would be the least he could do.

“So I'm gonna go on in.”

“A'ight. I'm heading out myself.”

“Okay. Have a good night.”

“Y'all have a good night, too.” And there it was, a knowing smirk he tried to hide but didn't.

Another tip of his hat and he was off, headed for his truck and whatever his evening plans were. She watched him walk away. It somehow wasn't fair that she knew nothing about what he was doing but he seemed to know—or at least assume—what she'd be doing.

“Hey. About time you got here.” Rohn pinned her between his body and the hood of her car, encasing her with two thick arms. “I missed you.”

He leaned in and kissed her, right on the mouth, in broad daylight. Bonnie pulled back. “Rohn. Your guys are still here.”

“Yeah. So?”

“So, they'll see.”

“And?”

“They'll know.”

“I already told you, darlin', that ship has long sailed. But come on. Let's go inside and I'll kiss you in private if it'll make you feel better.” Looping one arm around her neck and shoulders, he steered her toward the door. “That'll be better, actually. Dinner won't be ready for a while and we'll have some time to kill.
That
will have to be in private.”

Her cheeks warmed as she remembered how they'd killed time before dinner the night before.

Rohn glanced down at her. “Damn, how I love when you blush.”

“It that why you make me do it so often?”

“You make it so easy, I don't even have to try.” They were inside the kitchen when he turned her to face him, backed her up against the counter, and moved in for another kiss. “When those boys are gone, I think we should christen the kitchen.”

“What?” she squeaked at the suggestion.

“You heard me.” His mouth covered hers in a kiss that didn't tell her if he was serious or not. With Rohn in this frisky of a mood, he might actually mean what he'd said.

His tongue was warm as he slid it into her mouth. He groaned and stepped closer, pressing against her and letting her feel exactly how serious he was about his suggestion.

She wanted him as much as he obviously wanted her. Being with him all night had only made the need stronger. He moved from her mouth to nuzzle her neck just below her ear. “I loved waking up next to you this morning.”

“I wish I could say the same. You were already gone when I woke up.”

He laughed. “Sorry. Want me to wake you up at six tomorrow morning when I get up?”

“No. Thank you. I have to get up that early when I'm working. This is my summer break. I'm sleeping in.”

“That's fine with me.” He drew her earlobe between his teeth and groaned. “Mm, maybe I'll get the boys started and then crawl back into bed with you. How's that sound?”

“It sounds perfect.” She turned her face and captured his lips with hers.

Rohn kissed them both breathless and then broke away. He moved to the back door, flipped the lock, and then grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

She didn't need to ask where they were headed. She knew. “My suitcase is in the trunk—”

“I'll get it later.”

“Okay.” Smiling at his urgency, she let him lead her upstairs. She could definitely get used to this schedule.

Upstairs, in the bedroom he'd decorated just for her, Rohn made love to her so sweetly, she had to turn her head and wipe away the tears before he saw them.

How could she possibly leave him?

But how could she stay?

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Hey, boss!”

Rohn turned when Tyler called to him from across the yard. “Yeah?”

Tyler ambled closer. “You know that Justin, Colt, and me are riding Saturday. Right?”

“Yeah.” Now that Tyler had brought it up, Rohn remembered them talking about some big competition this weekend. “And?”

“Well, you just told Justin you wanted to start plowing that south field on Saturday. So which is it? We working or can we take off?”

Cussing beneath his breath, Rohn ran a hand over his face. He'd been distracted for days. It was only a matter of time before the guys noticed.

“Right. Sorry. We can start on that field next week. Take Saturday off.”

“You sure?” Tyler cocked one dark brow high.

“Yeah. Positive.” It would be better if he didn't have a bunch of guys running around the place on Saturday, anyway. Just in case things went bad.

“A'ight.” Tyler nodded. “I know you're not bringing any stock for this one, but are you coming to watch the competition? It's close by.”

“No. I've got that high school reunion Saturday night.”

“That's right. Your big date with Miss Bonnie to the prom.”

Rohn rolled his eyes. “It's not the prom.”

“No, but it might as well be. You two are acting like teenagers since she moved in.”

“She didn't move in. She's just staying here instead of at her place.”

“Uh-huh. Gotcha. I gotta go finish up for the day.” Cocky as usual, Tyler grinned and spun away to saunter toward the equipment shed.

Rohn let him go. No use fighting the point. He did wish Bonnie's move into his house would be permanent. His guest room had become his bedroom over the past week and he'd gladly make that permanent if she'd agree to stay.

Saturday was the reunion, but tonight, he planned to take the first step in making her presence in his home and in his life permanent.

Nearly a week of her living under his roof, sleeping next to him, making love morning and night, was enough to convince him even the rest of his life wouldn't be long enough to spend with her. But it would have to be, because it was all they had, and he wasn't about to waste another moment of it.

It was risky, asking her to marry him just days before their reunion. If she said no, it would be awkward as all hell. But if she said yes, then she'd be there sporting his ring and he'd be the proudest man on earth as he introduced her to their old classmates as his future wife.

Future wife.

It had been a long time since Rohn had really felt like he had a future. Not since losing Lila. Now, he knew he could, and he hoped it was with Bonnie. Strange how a girl from his past had turned out to be his future.

The ring box in his pocket pressed into his leg. That was another surreal part of his past. The ring.

He'd bought it with his earnings that summer. Saving every paycheck from her father until he had enough to buy a tiny chip of a diamond in a gold band. It was meant to be a promise ring. He was going to give it to her before she left for college to let her know that he loved her. That he wanted her in his future even if they were apart for college. It was to tell her that he'd wait for her and that he'd hoped she'd wait for him.

Things hadn't worked out as he'd planned and he still had no idea of what the hell had happened to them. Why she'd left early without a good-bye. Why she'd acted so odd when he'd called and then avoided all contact after that.

It had hurt like hell, but more than that, it had been so unlike her it was perplexing. It had never felt right. Breaking up was one thing, and he might have been able to handle that if they'd had a fight or if she'd outright dumped him so she could go to college and see other people. That would have hurt, but it would have seemed more normal than her disappearing so completely.

It was something they should talk about if they were going to start a new life together.

Then again, did it really matter?

It was so long ago. They were different people now. They'd been kids then. They were mature adults now. A whole lifetime had passed for both of them.

A fresh start, that's what they needed. To start from ground zero and build a future. He wanted that future to start now.

Bonnie's car pulled into the driveway just as Rohn made the decision to ask her tonight.

Perfect timing.

He waited by the house for her to park, and then he opened her car door for her.

“Hey, darlin'.” He enveloped her in his arms, kissing her right there behind the open door of the car. The guys were still there, but she was his and he didn't care who knew it. She still got embarrassed when he kissed her out in the open. Her blush only made him want to do it more often.

Rohn cupped her face and smiled down at her. “It's about time you came home to me.”

“I wanted to finish before I quit for the day.”

“Finish? Did you finish?” He asked the question with mixed feelings.

“Almost. I finished cleaning and making piles. I still have to get the piles out of the house but after that, I'm done.” She shrugged.

He'd be happy when she wasn't working in that dusty old house pawing through the past any longer. But her finishing the cleanup would mean it would go on the market. Once it was listed with the real estate for either sale or rent, what reason would she have to stay in Oklahoma? He'd have to give her a reason to stay.

“I'll send my guys to you in the morning with the truck to haul it away.”

“Rohn, you don't have to—”

“Shh. No arguing. It's done. Now come on inside. I, uh, want to talk to you.” He hoped he'd be enough of a reason for her to stay, but the nagging doubt in his mind continued to remind him that he might not be enough.

“Talk to me? About what?” Bonnie asked.

“You'll see.” The thought of proposing had his hands shaking. He didn't remember being this nervous asking Lila to marry him all those years ago.

“Okay.” She let him lead her inside by the hand.

Once there, he realized he didn't have a plan in place to do this. Hell, he hadn't thought this through at all. Which was funny since proposing had been all he could think of over the past couple of days. He'd just never gotten around to deciding how to actually accomplish it.

No guardian angel was going to swoop down and make this easy for him so he pulled out a kitchen chair for her. “Sit.”

“Okay.”

The moment she was perched on the edge of the chair, he dug the ring box out of his jeans pocket where it had been for the past two days.

He dropped to one knee, holding the box in front of him.

Bonnie drew in a sharp breath and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God.”

He let out a nervous laugh. She knew what was coming and she hadn't run out the door yet. That was a good sign.

“Bonnie Blue, I loved you before. And amazingly, now that you've come back into my life, I've been blessed to be able to love you again. I bought this ring years ago when we were dating. It was to be a promise to you that I wanted a future for us together. I still want that and if you say yes, I swear I'll buy you the biggest and best diamond I can afford, but it seemed right to give this one to you now.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears as he opened the box and took out the ring. His hands shook as he held it out to her. “Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?”

He'd hoped her tears were happy tears, but Bonnie shaking her head was his first clue things weren't going well. When she jumped up from the chair and ran out the back door, he was sure.

Squatting on his heels on the kitchen floor, alone, Rohn realized if that wasn't a big old
no,
he didn't know what it was. The embarrassingly small diamond that he'd felt so sentimental about was still in his hands as he cussed aloud to the empty room.