Free Carrying the Rancher's Heir by Charlene Sands Page A

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    After dinner the Cosgroves drove them back to the hotel and bid them both good-night. They made arrangements to see the horses after breakfast the next morning.
    He entered the penthouse suite after Callie and walked straight to the bar. “Are you tired?” he asked.
    â€œNot really.” She set her purse down on the sofa and looked out the window to the bright lights below.
    He remembered Callie had been drinking rum during that time in Reno, so he poured her a rum and cola and spilled two fingers of whiskey in a tumbler for himself. He brought the drink over to her. “You should be. It’s been a long day.”
    She turned from the window and stared at the tumbler in his hand. “Oh, no. No, thanks. I’m not…thirsty.” Her shoulders stiffened.
    Tagg raised his brows. She seemed pensive and nervous for some reason. “Okay.” He set the drink down on the cocktailtable behind him and when he turned back to Callie, she was staring out the window again. “Everything all right?”
    She nodded.
    He edged up beside her and glanced out the window, sipping his drink. “You’re not drinking tonight. Is that because you don’t want a repeat of Reno?”
    She turned to him, her gaze warm and soft. “I didn’t sleep with you because I’d been drinking. If that’s what you think.”
    He furrowed his brows. “Seems I wasn’t doing much thinking that night at all.”
    A low self-deprecating laugh escaped her throat. “So I’ve been told.” She turned back to the window, her arms folded around her middle. “You’ve made that very clear,” she said quietly.
    Tagg grinned. “That wasn’t an insult, Callie.”
    â€œWas hardly a glowing review, either.”
    He set his glass down and walked in front of her, blocking her view from anything but him. He lifted her chin with his thumb and gazed into her beautiful eyes. She flinched, not in fear but with surprise, then lowered her arms to her sides. The anticipation on her face gave him pause. She blinked and inhaled a sharp breath.
    â€œIt was a compliment.”
    She searched his eyes. “How so?”
    â€œYou made me forget things I’m damned determined not to forget.” He glanced at her mouth and saw her tremble. “Why are you so nervous?”
    â€œI’m not,” she blurted, lifting her chin up and taking a step back. “I have nothing to be nervous about.” She turned then and reached for her purse sitting on the sofa. “You know, I think I am tired. I’m going to bed.”
    Tagg reached his arm out and snaked it around her waist,pulling her close. Her intoxicating scent destroyed his patience.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she whispered.
    â€œAre you really tired, Callie?”
    She shook her head no. Then gazed deep into his eyes.
    He set both hands on her waist, enjoying the lush feel of her hips in his outspread palms. Silence filled the room. Fading dusky beams of starlight filtered through the window to cast them in shadows.
    He angled his head and moved closer. His legs met with her thighs. An ache of need began growing. He gave in to the sensation and brought his mouth down on hers. She froze, her lips refusing to respond for a second, and Tagg was ready to back off, lest he seduce an unwilling woman. But then she moved closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, crushing her breasts to his chest. She gave into the kiss then with effort and passion, the way he remembered her. The way they’d kissed before.
    She was sweetly alluring, tentative yet fiery. Tagg relished having her in his arms.
    They came up for air a full minute later, both breathing hard. Callie reached her arm around to move her hair to her right side, the locks falling freely on one nearly bare shoulder. It was a reflective move, one to give her time to think, he surmised. Their lips still close, she softly spoke. “I