Romancing the Ranger Read online

  “Who cares?”

  “You do. Or you will. Whether he’s too protective or not, you’re his only daughter, and you two have a bond. I don’t want to be the one to stand in the way of that. And I know he’ll probably let you try this little experiment, then he’ll start pressuring you to leave me and go back to Denver, and you’ll go.”

  She was stunned. Hadn’t she just been telling him how she was breaking away from her dad’s control? “You’re wrong.”

  “Am I? This is a different world than you’re used to. There’s no theater or elegant restaurants for me to take you to. Your fancy little car is always gonna be covered in dust, and there’s no shopping malls or department stores. You think you want this, but you’ll eventually want back that wealth and luxury you’re used to. You’ll get tired of small-town life, and you’ll get tired of me. I’m just saving us both the heartache by leaving you first.”

  “You’re not saving me any heartache. You’re breaking my heart right now. Please don’t do this.”

  “I’m sorry, Reese.” He climbed into the truck, his own eyes filled with the same pain she felt. “It’s not worth it. It’s over.” He slammed the truck door, as if emphasizing the closing of their relationship.

  Why was he doing this?

  She knew he cared about her. He had to.

  How could the last few weeks mean nothing to him? Maybe she hadn’t really meant anything to him at all.

  Maybe she’d just been a distraction, something to pass the time. She had to know.

  She clung to the open window of the truck, desperate to hear the truth. “Wade, please, if you don’t want me in your life, I guess I have to accept that. But I just need to know that these last few weeks meant something to you. That I meant something to you. Just tell me that I mattered. Give me one small sign that shows that you cared about me.”

  His voice broke as he quietly said, “I can’t.” He started the engine and threw the truck in reverse.

  She lifted her hands from the window of the truck, her last connection to him broken.

  Gravel flew as he put the truck in gear and sped down the driveway.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Reese couldn’t believe it.

  She drove down the mountain in stunned silence. What had just happened?

  Last night, she’d had it all, with a cherry on top. A cherry in the form of a hot ranger filling her bed.

  Now she had nothing.

  She passed the sign for Cotton Creek Falls and rubbed a hand across her aching chest. As if on autopilot, she turned into the parking lot and parked in front of the new outhouse.

  The outhouse that she and Wade had built.

  She was tempted to burn it down again, just to bring them back together. But she couldn’t do that. They’d built it together, and it meant something to her even if it didn’t mean anything to him.

  It was almost laughable. Wouldn’t it have been fun to tell their friends that they’d met because she’d burned down his outhouse?

  Memories of the last few weeks filled her head—the sound of Wade’s electrical drill, the dry woodsy scent of sawdust, she and Wade in the bathtub at the inn, in front of the fire at the lake.

  He’d taught her so much. How to fish, how to pound a nail, how to measure twice and cut once. He’d introduced her to maple-iced donuts and picnics in a boat and the best fried chicken she’d ever tasted.

  He had made her feel. Feel like she had worth.

  Feel sexy. Feel like a woman. Feel alive.

  And she loved it.

  She loved him.

  She sighed as she got out of the car, a deep shuddering sigh. Her feet took her to the path, and she walked slowly up toward the falls.

  The rushing water of the waterfall filled her vision as she rounded the corner to the outlook. How could he throw her away? Act like this never happened?

  All she’d wanted was one hint, one clue, anything to show that he had cared about her. That she had meant something to him.

  And there it was.

  Sitting at the outlook, in “their” spot.

  A new bench made of oak and iron filigree.

  Had he done this?

  Or had the park just finally decided it needed a bench here?

  She crossed to the bench, ran her hand across the fresh wood. The back of the bench curved along the top rail, and a small plaque was embedded in the wood in the center of the rail.

  Reese leaned forward to read it. “In memory of Bud and Dorothy O’Neal: For loving the falls and sharing it with their granddaughter.”

  A sob burst out as she sank onto the bench, the warmth of the wood surrounding her like an embrace. As if she could actually feel her grandparents here with her.

  That was silly. Her grandparents weren’t here.

  And neither was Wade.

  But she swore she could feel her grandparents’ spirit, and she drew strength from it, soaking it in like the warm sunshine against her face.

  And now she knew.

  Wade did care about her. She had meant something to him.

  But was that enough?

  It had to be.

  She’d wanted to take control of her life and this was her life now. With or without Wade, this new life in Cotton Creek was what she wanted.

  Despite the jagged pain in her heart, she was still excited about the opportunity to work at the newspaper. Harry had told her he had a nephew in publishing, and when her book was ready, he would get his nephew to take a look at it.

  The possibilities seemed wide open to her, from choosing her own place to live and picking the decorations she wanted. She could wake up in the morning and be excited to go to a job doing something she loved.

  She would miss a few of her customers, like the Donaldsons. But she had told them her plans last week, and they’d applauded the idea and promised to drive into the mountains and take her out for coffee to celebrate her new job.

  Everything seemed to be working out.

  Everything except Wade.

  Stop it. Pull yourself together. She’d be okay. Everything was going to be fine.

  So why were her hands shaking? And why did she feel like she was going to throw up?

  She finally had the life she wanted. She was going to make this work.

  She swiped the back of her hand across her cheek, wiping away the single tear that had leaked from her eye.

  Taking a deep breath, she ignored the bone-deep ache in her heart and steeled herself to embrace her new life.

  The sun shone down on the water, making rainbows in the air. It was a warm summer day, and she was in the place that her grandparents had loved. That she loved.

  Where she had met a man who had filled her life with happiness and tears. With joy and sorrow. With fried food, iced coffee, and a whole lot of crazy fun.

  She could do this.

  She stood and turned toward the falls.

  And he was there.

  Her breath stopped, and the fist that had tightened around her heart let loose. “Wade?”

  He strode toward her, his steps full of purpose, and he pulled her into his arms. Cupping her neck, he tipped up her face and crushed his lips against hers, taking her mouth with heat and passion.

  He pulled her tighter against him and kissed her neck, her shoulder, that spot right below her ear. “I couldn’t go. God help me, I couldn’t walk away from you.”

  Wrapping her arms around him, she held on tight, afraid to let go. “You came back.”

  He looked down at her. “I don’t know what the future holds or how this idea of you living in Cotton Creek is going to go, but I don’t want to miss the chance to find out.”

  She gripped his face between her hands and looked him straight in the eye, trying to convey the depths of her feelings. “This isn’t all just some experiment to me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay. This is the life I want. You are what I want.”

  His voice was gruff, hoarse with emotion. “You’re what I want, too. I tried t
o fight it, tried to tell myself I was better off without you. I tried to drive away. But I couldn’t. I want that life with you. I want to wake up every day with your beautiful face on the pillow across from mine. I want to bring you maple donuts and take you dancing. I want to go hiking and fishing and skinny-dipping in the lake with you.”

  Her heart filled to overflowing.

  He was saying everything she longed to hear. Except the most important thing.

  His actions of putting in the bench proved he cared about her, but she still needed to hear him say it. “So I do mean something to you?”

  “Mean something? You mean everything. I love you, Reese. And I even love that funny dog of yours.”

  She laughed. His last comment sealed the deal. That was all she needed to hear.

  She pulled his face down and planted a fierce kiss on his lips. “I love you, too, Wade.”

  He drew her tighter against him and slid his hands under her sweatshirt. A surprised look crossed his face, and he arched an eyebrow. “Are you not wearing a bra?”

  She giggled. And it felt good. Everything felt so good now. So right.

  Her soul filled with happiness, here in her favorite place, with the man she loved.

  She looked into his gorgeous eyes and teased, “I figured the best way to romance a ranger was to get back to nature and bare it all.”

  He grinned. “You figured right.”

  The End

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  Acknowledgments

  My thanks always goes first to my husband, Todd, the one who supports me and believes in me. I love and adore you. Thanks for taking this and all journeys with me.

  Thanks to my sons, Tyler and Nick, for your love and support. You guys make it all worth it.

  Thanks so much to my amazing editor, Allison Collins for your hard work and dedication to making this book happen. And thanks to the whole crew at Entangled Publishing for giving your valuable time and energy to publish this book.

  My thanks always goes out to the women that walk this writing journey with me every day. The ones that make me laugh, who encourage and support, who offer great advice and sometimes just listen. Thank you Michelle Major, Lana Williams, Anne Eliot, & Cindi Madsen. XO

  Special thanks goes out to Kristin Miller—you have taught me so much—your friendship and plotting help is invaluable.

  My biggest thanks goes out to my readers! Thanks for loving my stories and my characters and for continuing to ask for more. I can’t wait to share my next story with you.

  About the Author

  USA TODAY Best-selling author Jennie Marts loves to make readers laugh as she weaves stories filled with love, friendship and intrigue. Reviewers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and full of great characters.

  She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her own Prince Charming. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.

  Her books include the following series: the Hearts of Montana, the Page Turners, the Bannister Brothers Books, and the Cotton Creek Romances.

  Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com.

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  Reviews help other readers find books. We appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank you for reading!

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