Free Expecting the Rancher's Child (Callahan's Clan) by Sara Orwig

not taking any of that away from them. What I’m doing is like a flea bite on a dog—annoying, yet meaningless to my father. It only means something to me.”
    “Perhaps, but you’re aiming all your energy at revenge,” she said, horrified by the current goal in his life, and how readily he admitted it. “We’re total opposites,” she said, thinking about what he was telling her while at the same time aware of his fingers moving in her hair, taking it down, letting her locks tumble over her shoulders.
    “I suppose we are, and I guess that’s why it’s so difficult for me to understand why you gave up your interior design career. You have a master’s degree. How can you toss that aside? That took you years, and a lot of work, to achieve. You could make a fortune, make a name for yourself—why throw that away?”
    “Because what I’m doing now is more important to me. There are people in the world who just need a little help. There are animals that are abandoned and hurt. That’s what’s important to me.”
    “I think you’ll have regrets.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’m just amazed at the choices you’ve made. Maybe someday you’ll rethink what you’re doing.”
    He leaned close. “Maybe I will, or perhaps you can convince me to do so,” he said in a sexy, coaxing voice that made her think about hot kisses and forget all about careers and revenge. “Want to take a shot at reforming me?” he whispered, brushing his lips over her ear, fanning her desire.
    “I can’t convince you to do anything,” she whispered.
    “You’d be surprised how easily you can convince me to do some things,” he whispered back, leaning a fraction closer while his gaze dropped to her mouth. She could barely get her breath.
    “Blake, stick to business.” Could he tell her heart was pounding? She should move away from him, but she was immobile, held by light kisses and feathery caresses. “Blake…”
    His mouth covered hers, and his fingers combed into her hair, pulling her closer as he kissed her—a hot, passionate kiss that drove everything from her thoughts except desire. She wound her arms around his neck, forgot her resolutions to keep her distance, no longer cared if he sought revenge on the father who abandoned him. For the moment, heat poured into her and she wanted his arms holding her tightly against him.
    Blake picked her up, placing her in his lap. He leaned over her, shifting to cradle her against his shoulder while he continued to kiss her senseless.
    Her fingers played over him, running across his broad shoulders, down his thick biceps, across his broad chest. How could he turn her world topsy-turvy, making her forget reason and toss aside caution, causing her to risk her heart when he could so easily break it to pieces? She knew she should stop him. But it was long past the time to say no.
    Instead, she held him tightly, kissing him wildly, pouring herself into kisses and caresses while she trembled with the need that he built as he caressed her in turn.
    As he tugged at her buttons, she wriggled away and stood, gasping for breath. He came to his feet. His shirt was undone, open to reveal his sculpted chest.
    “We should say good-night, Blake.”
    “I’ll go with you to your room,” he said.
    “No. I have some reading to do, and I want to get my notes in order.”
    He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “You’re scared to stay down here with me for another hour tonight. You won’t work on your notes.”
    She laughed softly. “You might be right. You’re a physically appealing man, Blake Callahan—something I didn’t consider when I took this job.”
    “Physically appealing,” he repeated. “That may keep me up all night, as well as the thought of more kisses.”
    “It’s been an interesting day and evening, and the dinner was grand. Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. I’m enjoying having you here.”
    “I’m enjoying being here. You have a beautiful