Free Desperate by Sylvia McDaniel

prairie tenor. “I’ve never been around women like you girls.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I have four brothers. The youngest one is a bit of a troublemaker. You girls seem to get along.”
    Meg started to laugh. “No, not always. They were on their best behavior tonight.”
    “Tell me, Meg, do you find me attractive?”
    She stopped and stared at him in surprise. Didn’t he understand that’s why she’d chosen him instead of some other cowboy? Did he think she’d have chosen just any man?
    “That’s why I asked you to dinner. You were the only man in town I would have considered.”
    “And what happens if I say no?” he asked.
    She gazed at him, her stomach falling to her feet. “I…I don’t know. There’s no one else from town. I may have to consider a mail-order husband.”
    Zach smiled at her and brushed the hair away from her face. “You’re beautiful.”
    “Nah,” she said, turning her face away. “I’m just a woman stuck wearing pants.”
    “Does that bother you?”
    “More than you’ll ever know,” she said, her voice whisper soft. “So, are you attracted to me?” she asked, thinking it was only fair to ask him the same question.
    “Yes, I am,” he whispered.
    His face was inches from hers. He was so close she could see the way his eyes flickered in the moonlight. Her heart was galloping like a runaway horse. Her lungs felt like they were being squeezed, and her face burned where his fingers had touched her skin. She watched as his lips lowered toward her own.
    She tilted her face up, eager to meet him halfway, wanting, needing this kiss like her next breath. His lips covered hers, and he pulled her up against him, smashing her breasts into his chest. He tasted of sweet buttermilk pie and moonlit madness.
    His lips devoured hers, his tongue running along the edge of her mouth. She’d expected to feel revulsion since she’d never been kissed before, but no, there was enough sizzle in this man’s lips to have her craving for something she couldn’t define. She didn’t want to stop. She didn’t want him to cease what he’d started.
    He broke off the kiss, and she moved closer, wanting more, not ready for this to end. When she opened her eyes, he was staring down at her. “I think I better go.”
    “Oh,” she said, startled he was leaving so soon. They’d just walked out the door. He hadn’t told her yet if he wanted to marry her, and she needed an answer. She had to know.
    He tilted her chin up and brushed his lips against hers once more. “Don’t be stealing anymore hams.”
    She stepped back and shook her head. “I won’t. I’ll take it back tomorrow morning.”
    “Keep it. I’ll pay for it as long as you promise you won’t steal again.”
    She sighed. “Thanks. It’s pretty sad when you have to buy your own dinner.”
    He laughed. “No. Dinner was good. The stolen ham was excellent, the vegetables wonderful, and the company sparkling. “
    Maybe he was interested. Maybe he was going to ask her to marry him. Maybe there was hope of saving the farm yet.
    Meg gave him her best coquettish smile and wink. “So are you going to give me the answer to my proposal or not?”
    He placed his hat on his head and gazed at his horse as if he wanted to make a quick get away. “I like you, Meg. I like you a lot. But marriage is forever. I need more time before I can give you an answer.”
    Disappointment gripped her, and she couldn’t restrain the frown she felt drawing her brows together. “I’m running out of time, Zach.”
    “What’s the hurry?”
    What did she say without telling him her reasons?
    “I need your answer no later than next Saturday.”
    Zach opened his mouth to say something and then stopped. He nodded. “I’ll let you know. Goodnight.”
    She watched as he rode off on his horse into the darkness. Why did everything have to be so hard? She understood his reasoning. She knew marriage was forever, but she was quickly running out of time. The bank loan