Beauty and the Bull Rider (Hotel Rodeo #3)(11)

“What did you expect?” she snapped.

“All right. I know I was about as subtle as a bull in a china shop, but how else was I supposed to bring it up?”

“You shouldn’t have brought it up at all!”

“I’d like to be able say I’m sorry about being so blunt tonight, but I can’t, because I’m not,” he said. “I blew my first chance with you, so I figured I might as well just lay it out on the line.”

What did he just say? She whirled around to face him. “What do you mean, you ‘blew your chance’?”

He slid his hand under her chin and tipped her head until her gaze met his. “I’m sayin’ that Ty wasn’t the only one who had his eye on you that night we met, but I didn’t think either of us had a snowball’s chance in hell. But while I stood back all chickenshit, Ty two-stepped you right out the door. After that, it was too late. You were with him.”

She stared speechless as his words sank in. Zac had a thing for her? Had it always been there, simmering deep beneath the surface all these years? How could she not have known? Then again, he was hardly a man to wear his heart on his sleeve.

“If it had been any other man, I might have still tried,” he answered her unspoken question, “but Ty was my best friend so I walked away. That was another mistake. I’ve never met any other woman that made me think about settling down. You made me think about it, and I’m still thinking.” His intense deep green gaze swept slowly upward to hold hers for several long and breathless heartbeats.

“I don’t get it, Zac. Ty and I have been apart for eight years. Why now?”

“Because I never make promises I can’t keep. But I’m done bull riding. I want to settle down. In life, as in bull riding, timing is everything and the timing was never right—until now. Eight years ago you were with Ty. Now you’re not. I was riding bulls. Now I’m not. You want a baby and I’m willing to give you one, but frankly, I don’t see how you can do it all alone. I also don’t understand why you’d want to. A child is a huge responsibility, especially if you intend to keep running the ranch by yourself. I’d like to lighten your load if you let me.”

“I won’t be alone. I’ll have Rosa to help me. She practically raised me. I don’t want another relationship, Zac. I only want a baby. I’m doing just fine on my own,” she insisted again, but her words felt as hollow as the empty place in her chest. Part of her longed to have someone to talk to, someone to share the load. She knew there was only one way to get over a heartache, but she didn’t know if she could ever trust enough to take another chance. She’d married her one and only lover, and Ty had hurt her deeply. She still wasn’t over it. Maybe she never would be.

“You might be doing fine,” he said, reading her mind, “but that doesn’t mean you’re happy.”

“And you think you could make me happy?” she asked.

“Dunno, but I’d sure like to try. If having a baby is what it takes to make you happy, I don’t want it to be someone else’s. I’d want it to be mine.”

“But I only want a baby, Zac. I’m not looking for a romantic relationship.”

“All I want is a chance to change your mind, a chance to prove myself to you.” He leaned in close. Her pulse raced with anticipation as his gaze locked on her mouth.

“Prove what?” she asked. “What do you think you need to prove?”

“That I could be what you need.” The pad of his thumb traced the path of his gaze. His touch was feather soft and tantalizing as her traced her lower lip. Dear God, was he going to kiss her? Her stomach did a flip. “And I’m not just talking about being your baby daddy.”

Unlike Ty, Zac wasn’t flirty. In fact, he never seemed to put himself out for a woman, but tonight he’d gone well out of his way for her. Both his tenderness and his confession had taken her by surprise. She’d always thought of him as rough and hard, but there was nothing rough or hard about the way he looked at her, or the gentle, almost reverent way he touched her. Her body tensed, but she didn’t move away. What would his kiss be like? What kind of lover would he be? She shut her eyes, indulging her senses as well as the fantasy. She realized that’s all it was when his hand dropped away.

He reached behind her for her door. “Just sleep on it, okay?”

She released the lungful of air she was holding, feeling too much like a deflating balloon.

“You gonna be around tomorrow morning?” he asked.

“Yes. Why?” she asked, feeling almost dizzy with the desire he’d stirred within her.

“I’ll bring your heifer around.” He gave a curt nod and then turned toward his truck.

She watched him depart, appreciating his broad shoulders and purposeful, long-legged stride. Her gaze lingered indecently on his tight, round butt. If she’d thought she could deny her attraction before, Zac had given her a rude awakening. She couldn’t ignore the ache in her belly or her long-suppressed desire to be held and kissed and touched. Did she really want him? The whole situation had her flustered, and confused.

“Zac?” His named slipped thoughtlessly from her unkissed lips.

He swiveled his head. “Yeah?”

“See you in the morning.”

He nodded again, but this time with a half smile softening the line of his mouth.