Read Online By the Book Bride: Ryder (A BBW Western Romance) (Matchmaking A Marriage 1) by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Mason, Joann Baker
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headed out to the barn. After an early afternoon nap, even Gabe had stopped in to see her, leaving his usual ‘Casanova’ attitude outside the door as he replaced her ice pack and re-wrapped her ankle. Behind his Lothario actions was a man carrying a load of weight on his massive shoulders.
Now, however, it was well past supper and the evening sun had already sunk below the horizon. Gramps had brought her a tray and the remains of the succulent pot roast sat there, congealing on the plate. She’d been unable to muster up much of an appetite.
He had also informed her that Gabe had gone into town; Cal had ridden up to the Mesa—wherever that was—and that he and Pops were going to the bunkhouse to play cards with some of the hands. He’d told her they wouldn’t be out long, but had left the number for the bunkhouse written down on the bedside table, telling her to call if she needed anything. He hadn’t mentioned Ry.
She was contemplating going to bed when the door opened again. She looked up expecting to see Gramps or Pops—or even Cal—but it was Ryder that stood there. The first thing she noticed was the paint splotches on his worn jeans. The second thing was the small duffel bag in his hand. The third thing was the look on his handsome face. Her heart turned over.
“Where have you been?”
“Painting the kitchen so you won’t take any more unnecessary risks.”
A slow thudding kicked through her veins.
“What’s that?” Her slight nod indicated the bag in his hand.
“I brought you a few items from your closet.” He sat the bag on the chair by the window, then seated himself on the side of the bed facing her. “I thought you’d like to get out of those things and into something more comfortable.”
Though completely innocent, his low remark sent heat hurdling through her. Yes, she wanted to get out of the constricting clothing and she wanted him to watch while she did. The thought shocked her. She’d never before imagined herself being confident enough to let a man watch her undress. Her one and only sexual experience had taken place in a dark motel room on prom night. She’d even redressed afterward in the bathroom with the door firmly shut.
The thought of Ryder handling her intimate things made her go all warm and gooey inside. She wondered if he’d been surprised at her choice of under things. Had he thought it odd that a woman of her size would wear such lacy lingerie?
His hand reached for hers, his thumb making small, warm circles in the center of her palm. “I should have thought about it last night but, honestly, all I could think about was getting you here, where I could make sure you were okay.” His breath huffed out. “Then I screwed everything up this morning. I shouldn’t have bothered you so early, but I wanted to check on you before…”
Georgia twined her fingers with his, stopping the intimate stroking of his calloused fingers. “It was sweet of you to check on me, Ryder. I’m sorry I got so…” She shrugged. “It’s just that I’m not used to all the attention. I’m more the wallflower type.”
“Baby,” he breathed, his eyes tracing her face, “you’re all I’ve thought about since I met you. Unless you’re not interested in being anything more than neighbors, you’d better get used to it.”
Georgia couldn’t breathe. Was he serious? She’d spent most of her life living in the shadow of her much thinner, much prettier sisters. Not that they’d made her feel that way, but Georgia was nothing if not pragmatic. She had no illusions that she was most men’s idea of the perfect woman.
“Georgia?”
“I’m definitely interested.” She licked dry lips. “But I have to ask, what exactly do you expect from us being together?” There was so much more she wanted to know. Like how long he expected them to be together. Was he talking about a hookup or an actual relationship? But that was way too deep for a new… whatever he was proposing.
“I’d
Now, however, it was well past supper and the evening sun had already sunk below the horizon. Gramps had brought her a tray and the remains of the succulent pot roast sat there, congealing on the plate. She’d been unable to muster up much of an appetite.
He had also informed her that Gabe had gone into town; Cal had ridden up to the Mesa—wherever that was—and that he and Pops were going to the bunkhouse to play cards with some of the hands. He’d told her they wouldn’t be out long, but had left the number for the bunkhouse written down on the bedside table, telling her to call if she needed anything. He hadn’t mentioned Ry.
She was contemplating going to bed when the door opened again. She looked up expecting to see Gramps or Pops—or even Cal—but it was Ryder that stood there. The first thing she noticed was the paint splotches on his worn jeans. The second thing was the small duffel bag in his hand. The third thing was the look on his handsome face. Her heart turned over.
“Where have you been?”
“Painting the kitchen so you won’t take any more unnecessary risks.”
A slow thudding kicked through her veins.
“What’s that?” Her slight nod indicated the bag in his hand.
“I brought you a few items from your closet.” He sat the bag on the chair by the window, then seated himself on the side of the bed facing her. “I thought you’d like to get out of those things and into something more comfortable.”
Though completely innocent, his low remark sent heat hurdling through her. Yes, she wanted to get out of the constricting clothing and she wanted him to watch while she did. The thought shocked her. She’d never before imagined herself being confident enough to let a man watch her undress. Her one and only sexual experience had taken place in a dark motel room on prom night. She’d even redressed afterward in the bathroom with the door firmly shut.
The thought of Ryder handling her intimate things made her go all warm and gooey inside. She wondered if he’d been surprised at her choice of under things. Had he thought it odd that a woman of her size would wear such lacy lingerie?
His hand reached for hers, his thumb making small, warm circles in the center of her palm. “I should have thought about it last night but, honestly, all I could think about was getting you here, where I could make sure you were okay.” His breath huffed out. “Then I screwed everything up this morning. I shouldn’t have bothered you so early, but I wanted to check on you before…”
Georgia twined her fingers with his, stopping the intimate stroking of his calloused fingers. “It was sweet of you to check on me, Ryder. I’m sorry I got so…” She shrugged. “It’s just that I’m not used to all the attention. I’m more the wallflower type.”
“Baby,” he breathed, his eyes tracing her face, “you’re all I’ve thought about since I met you. Unless you’re not interested in being anything more than neighbors, you’d better get used to it.”
Georgia couldn’t breathe. Was he serious? She’d spent most of her life living in the shadow of her much thinner, much prettier sisters. Not that they’d made her feel that way, but Georgia was nothing if not pragmatic. She had no illusions that she was most men’s idea of the perfect woman.
“Georgia?”
“I’m definitely interested.” She licked dry lips. “But I have to ask, what exactly do you expect from us being together?” There was so much more she wanted to know. Like how long he expected them to be together. Was he talking about a hookup or an actual relationship? But that was way too deep for a new… whatever he was proposing.
“I’d
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