away again.” He took her hand. “And before you start thinking that I wanted to do just that, you’re wrong. I’ve been trying to tell you since that night at the bar. It’s why I came to your work for lunch. I tried to tell you when you came to the ranch. It’s what I came here tonight to tell you.”
“The kisses told me a lot, but what exactly are you saying?”
“It’s simple, Liz. Be mine.”
She went up on tiptoe and kissed him softly, eyes locked. “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”
“You’re in mine.” His dazzling smile made her belly flutter. “And they’re really hot.”
He never failed to make her laugh, even at the end of a very difficult day. His words and what they shared today held a truth she couldn’t deny.
He pressed his forehead to hers. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
He gave her a quick kiss because the doorbell rang. “Good. And if that’s Clint and not the pizza, I’m going to deck him.”
Liz held her breath while Tate opened the door. He looked completely at ease and ready to take on any threat at the same time. He just had that kind of confidence. Luckily, the only thing he needed to do was pay the pizza guy.
Tate handed her the box and went into the kitchen to get napkins, plates, and drinks while she set the pizza on the coffee table and pulled up the haunted house series everyone had been talking about at work.
Tate took the seat beside her.
“Since you’re my new boyfriend, I thought we could start a new series together.”
He chuckled and shrugged one shoulder. “Why not.” He read the series description. “I heard Trinity talking about this show. Sounds good, but I thought you hated scary movies.”
“Well, I have you here to chase away the ghosts.”
And so they sat eating pizza like they’d done a hundred times or more. After they ate, she snuggled against his side with his arm around her and laughed when he poked her in the side during a particularly tension-filled scene where she anticipated a scare, but he jumped the gun and spooked her instead.
She didn’t think about Clint at all because all she could think about was the buzz of electricity between her and Tate and the anticipation that he’d kiss her again.
She wanted him to stay the night. The desire in Tate’s eyes said he did, too. But after three episodes, he stood, helped her clean up, then kissed her like he wanted to do a hell of a lot more, said, “Sweet dreams, Liz,” and went home, leaving her giddy with anticipation to see him again.
As soon as possible.
And she did in her dreams that night, though they didn’t do justice to one real-life kiss from Tate.
For the first time in a long time, and with Clint in her rearview, she woke up smiling and happy and eager to start her day because she’d get to see Tate later that day.
Chapter Nine
Liz jumped when Trinity came up behind her and put her hand on Liz’s shoulder.
“What is with you today?” Trinity reached past her for another postcard advertising Almost Homemade to add to the bag that held her customer’s order.
People crowded the farmers market. They’d had an endless line at the Almost Homemade booth, which Tate helped them set up this morning before he rushed back to work on the ranch.
Ever since he left, she got this creepy feeling. Like someone kept staring at her. But no matter where she looked in the crowd, she couldn’t pinpoint anyone paying her special attention.
She didn’t see Clint, but she felt his presence. Whether real or imagined, the sense of danger loomed.
And she didn’t like it.
After the events of the last few days, she anticipated seeing him here. Lurking. She hoped he’d given up, let her go, and it was over. She wasn’t so sure.
It creeped her out.
She hated feeling paranoid.
The growing anxiety, tightened her gut and notched up the dread building inside her.
When Tate got ready to go home last night, she’d desperately wanted to ask him to stay. Yes, because she wanted to finally get her hands on him, though she appreciated that he wanted them to take their time. But also because for the first time she’d been afraid to be alone at home.
Thanks Clint.
The last thing she wanted to do was ask Tate to stay because she was scared of Clint—instead of simply wanting Tate.