unleashing a cascade of notes. “My advice is to take her away from the ranch. Go somewhere special. Just the two of you. Spend some time together without interruptions, and use that time to show her how much you care.”
She was the third person to advise him to get out of town, but he liked her reasoning more than the sheriff’s or Jesse’s. Taking Nicole somewhere special for a second honeymoon sounded a lot better than running from Nate Miller or hiding from the media.
He reached down and rested his hand on Andrea’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
She stopped playing and looked up at him. In the reflected light from the Christmas tree, her eyes were bright. “I love you, son.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Love you, Mom.”
Chapter Eleven
The next morning Dylan was up early again, taking care of business, pacing back and forth from his office to the kitchen. He’d spent much of last night watching his wife sleep restlessly—not touching her, except to rearrange the comforter and soothe away the nightmares. He wanted more. A lot more. His desire for her had built to an almost painful level. If this went on much longer, he’d be driven into a drooling, primitive state of pure lust. Dylan the Caveman . He’d club his woman over the head, drag her off and make sweet love.
When he heard Nicole come down the stairs, he grabbed two mugs of coffee and whisked her into his office, where he closed the door. He wasted no time with explanations.
“We need to leave the ranch.”
Coolly, she raised her coffee mug to her lips and gazed at him over the brim. “Did I miss something? Is the building on fire?”
“The sheriff says we won’t to be able to avoid the press if we stay here. Jesse says we aren’t safe.” He shuffled his feet, reluctant to confess the most important part of his plan: to woo her. “Also, we need some alone time.You and me. Without distractions. Kind of like a second honeymoon.”
For their first honeymoon they’d gone to Hawaii for a week. The lush green islands had enchanted him. He’d never forget the sight of his beautiful wife wading through the surf with rivulets of water streaming from her body.
Thoughtfully she sipped her coffee. “Have you heard anything more from Maud?”
“I talked to her this morning. She’s fine. Her insurance will cover the vandalism.”
“That’s what she said last night.” Avoiding his gaze, she crossed the office to the window and looked out. “Any word from the sheriff?”
“He’s certain that Nate was responsible for the break-in at Maud’s clinic. His fingerprints were all over.”
“As if the Circle M painted on the wall wasn’t proof enough?”
“Sheriff Trainer will stop by today and give us an update.” Placing his mug on the desk, he came up behind her. Lightly, he touched her arm. “Come away with me, darlin’.”
“Did you have a location in mind for this second honeymoon?”
“Actually, I do. It’s a historical place.”
“Europe?” She spun around to face him. “I’ve always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower. I could finish up my Christmas shopping there.”
“Ooh-la-la,” he said.
As quickly as her enthusiasm appeared, it faded into a frown. “But Paris is too far away. I’d rather be home for Christmas.”
“Not Europe,” he said. “For this vacation, you need to pack your bathing suit.”
“Like Hawaii.” Her blue eyes turned dreamy. “Our first honeymoon was amazing.”
They’d made love in the morning, the night and all the hours in between. He remembered how the tropical breezes caressed his senses. Every sky held a rainbow. With a tinge of regret, he said, “Not a tropical island.”
“Baja. The Sea of Cortez,” she guessed. “We could swim with the dolphins. But the best time to go there is February or March when the whales are migrating. The photos show them swimming right up to the edge of the boats. You can reach out and—”
He held up a hand to stop her
She was the third person to advise him to get out of town, but he liked her reasoning more than the sheriff’s or Jesse’s. Taking Nicole somewhere special for a second honeymoon sounded a lot better than running from Nate Miller or hiding from the media.
He reached down and rested his hand on Andrea’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
She stopped playing and looked up at him. In the reflected light from the Christmas tree, her eyes were bright. “I love you, son.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Love you, Mom.”
Chapter Eleven
The next morning Dylan was up early again, taking care of business, pacing back and forth from his office to the kitchen. He’d spent much of last night watching his wife sleep restlessly—not touching her, except to rearrange the comforter and soothe away the nightmares. He wanted more. A lot more. His desire for her had built to an almost painful level. If this went on much longer, he’d be driven into a drooling, primitive state of pure lust. Dylan the Caveman . He’d club his woman over the head, drag her off and make sweet love.
When he heard Nicole come down the stairs, he grabbed two mugs of coffee and whisked her into his office, where he closed the door. He wasted no time with explanations.
“We need to leave the ranch.”
Coolly, she raised her coffee mug to her lips and gazed at him over the brim. “Did I miss something? Is the building on fire?”
“The sheriff says we won’t to be able to avoid the press if we stay here. Jesse says we aren’t safe.” He shuffled his feet, reluctant to confess the most important part of his plan: to woo her. “Also, we need some alone time.You and me. Without distractions. Kind of like a second honeymoon.”
For their first honeymoon they’d gone to Hawaii for a week. The lush green islands had enchanted him. He’d never forget the sight of his beautiful wife wading through the surf with rivulets of water streaming from her body.
Thoughtfully she sipped her coffee. “Have you heard anything more from Maud?”
“I talked to her this morning. She’s fine. Her insurance will cover the vandalism.”
“That’s what she said last night.” Avoiding his gaze, she crossed the office to the window and looked out. “Any word from the sheriff?”
“He’s certain that Nate was responsible for the break-in at Maud’s clinic. His fingerprints were all over.”
“As if the Circle M painted on the wall wasn’t proof enough?”
“Sheriff Trainer will stop by today and give us an update.” Placing his mug on the desk, he came up behind her. Lightly, he touched her arm. “Come away with me, darlin’.”
“Did you have a location in mind for this second honeymoon?”
“Actually, I do. It’s a historical place.”
“Europe?” She spun around to face him. “I’ve always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower. I could finish up my Christmas shopping there.”
“Ooh-la-la,” he said.
As quickly as her enthusiasm appeared, it faded into a frown. “But Paris is too far away. I’d rather be home for Christmas.”
“Not Europe,” he said. “For this vacation, you need to pack your bathing suit.”
“Like Hawaii.” Her blue eyes turned dreamy. “Our first honeymoon was amazing.”
They’d made love in the morning, the night and all the hours in between. He remembered how the tropical breezes caressed his senses. Every sky held a rainbow. With a tinge of regret, he said, “Not a tropical island.”
“Baja. The Sea of Cortez,” she guessed. “We could swim with the dolphins. But the best time to go there is February or March when the whales are migrating. The photos show them swimming right up to the edge of the boats. You can reach out and—”
He held up a hand to stop her
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