Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(44)

“What time do you want to head out in the morning?” Max asked Rooster after they’d finished the meal and lingered over coffee.

“Early. The Kendall-Jackson dinner is rescheduled for Wednesday.”

“Right.” Max glanced at his watch. “We both better get a good night’s sleep, then.”

“Agreed.”

Lauren insisted on helping Bethanne with cleanup, and she and Rooster left soon afterward. When they got to her building, he parked outside and escorted her to her condo.

“Come in for a few minutes,” she invited.

As soon as they were inside, he took her in his arms and she wrapped hers around him, clinging tightly to him. He’d be riding out in the morning, and the thought filled her with dismay.

“I hate that you have to go,” she whispered as she kissed the underside of his jaw. He tasted wonderful. He splayed his fingers deep into her dark hair and lifted her head to angle his mouth over hers once more. Their kisses were long, deep, and involved, and when they pulled apart they were both breathless.

“I hate having to leave, too,” he whispered, his eyes closed.

She heard the regret in his voice. “We barely know each other, and yet I’ve never been this strongly attracted—”

His kiss cut off the last of her comment. There was desperation to the kiss, as though he, too, had felt this strong physical pull toward her. It was as though he was afraid once he left her everything between them would fade away and change. It wouldn’t. Not on her end.

“Ride carefully,” she whispered, and her eyes held his look, intent on making him aware he was important to her.

“I always do.”

For several minutes they continued to cling to each other, kissing and touching.

“When will you be back?” she asked, needing to know.

“Can’t say.”

Lauren pressed her head against his shoulder.

“Soon,” he whispered.

“Good.” She sighed with relief.

He rubbed his chin over the top of her head. “I have the distinct feeling I’m going to be spending a lot of time in the Seattle area.”

“That’s even better.”

“I’ll call.”

“Please,” she whispered. “Email, too, okay?”

“Should I text and Facebook and tweet you as well?”

She wasn’t sure if he was teasing her or not. It didn’t matter; she wanted to hear from him in every form of communication available. “Absolutely.”

Rooster chuckled and then kissed her again, and this time his kiss was filled with promise.

Chapter Seventeen

Lauren didn’t hear from Rooster until almost midnight Monday.

“Hi,” he said. He sounded exhausted.

“Hi. Where are you?” she asked. “Or, more important, how are you?”

“Tired, saddle sore, and I know it sounds silly—we were together less than twenty-four hours ago, but I miss you. It doesn’t feel right for us not to be together.”

“Oh, Rooster.” He wasn’t a man who spoke with flowery words, and yet he had the ability to make her heart sing in three-part harmony.

“Because we decided to stay Sunday, Max and I rode straight through. We have a number of meetings this week, and if we’d spent the night on the road the day would have been half gone by the time we got to Santa Rosa.”

“I’m just glad you’re home safe.” Additionally, she was grateful not to know their decision to ride nonstop beforehand. If she had, she would have worried.

“I have to tell you, bed sounds mighty good about now. I’m turning forty this fall, and I’m feeling my age. This many hours in the saddle is no longer my idea of fun.”

Lauren grinned. “Just what is your idea of fun?”

Her question seemed to amuse him, because he chuckled. “For starters, watching you enjoy a Mariners baseball game.”

Lauren decided she’d been wrong about him. Rooster Wayne was quickly turning into a silver-tongued devil with the ability to sweet-talk her right off her two feet.

“I looked at their schedule, and it just so happens the Mariners have a home game this coming weekend.” This was her less-than-subtle way of letting Rooster know that she would welcome his return to Seattle soon.

“Ah, Lauren,” he said, sighing with what sounded like regret. “I’m afraid I’m going to need to take a rain check on that.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t able to disguise her disappointment.

“I’ve got a business trip.”

He’d mentioned that he often traveled for business but hadn’t said anything about an upcoming trip. “Will you be away long?” she asked.

“Long enough. I’ll be in New Zealand.”

“New Zealand?” she repeated, and her spirits sank even lower. New Zealand was half a world away; this trip would easily involve a week or two, if not longer. She couldn’t help wondering just how much time it’d be before she could see Rooster again.

“Their Marlborough region does an excellent sauvignon blanc,” he told her, as if selling her on the reason.

“Isn’t that the wine you brought with you to Max and Bethanne’s for dinner?”

“I’m impressed you remember.”