Why not Wyoming? (Wyoming Wilds Series Book 1) by Anneliese Brand

Did you think I left?”
    Nodding into his chest, she smothered a yawn. “I figured that
you went home to check on the babies.”
    Annie felt the vibration of his amusement though he didn’t give
voice to it.
    “I thought we’d stop in there today. I’m sure the babies would
like to see you too. Come on. Let’s get some caffeine in you.”
    “My hero,” she breathed in a teasing worshipful whisper.
    “Was the room okay? What kept you up?” he asked, leading her
downstairs.
    “Everything is fine with the room. In fact, I need to peel back
the bottom sheet to find out what kind of mattress that is. It makes me want to
stay in bed forever.”
    “Simmons,” CJ answered easily. “So, why couldn’t you sleep?”
    She stole a quizzical peek up at him. “I take it that’s a
question you get asked a lot?”
    “No. I wondered the same thing when I was buying furniture for
the house. I bought one.”
    “Are you trying to get me in your bed, CJ Barrett?”
    “If that’s all it takes, then yes ma’am,” he drawled.
    Annie stopped, catching his arm. Maybe no filter was what they
needed. Time was so damn short. She traced the plaid pattern on CJ’s soft
flannel, afraid to look up at his face.
    “Are we being serious here?”
    “I’ve never been more serious.”
    Resting her forehead against his chest she let his words race
through her to crash in a hot coil of anticipation and anxiety behind the
buttons of her favorite 501’s. When was the last time she’d felt like this? The
answer to that was easy. Never.
    Callused fingers slid along her jaw, tilting her chin to lift
her eyes to his. 
    “I’m very serious about you, Annie. I laid awake most of last
night thinking about you, about us. Wondering if there could be an us .”
    “Great minds think alike,” she whispered.
    Dimples carved deep chasms in his full cheeks. God, he was
adorable when he smiled.
    “I know it doesn’t seem like much, but we have six days.
Believe it or not, my mom and dad fell in love in an afternoon and were married
a month later. That was thirty-three years ago.”
    “Two days,” Annie said, shoulders slumping.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I have to be in Grand Rapids for a book launch party Friday
evening. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I mean I should have. That’s my fault. I
should’ve double checked. They’ve never thrown a stupid party before. I knew I
was cutting things close with the wedding and the book release, but I thought
it would distract me from Crys being gone. Then I just wanted to spend time
with you. I thought—”
    What she thought was lost under CJ’s lips. His other hand slid
up and he framed her face. His kiss was consuming. Her blood caught flame.
Pressing up on tiptoe, she returned the fervor with everything she had. CJ
moaned into her mouth and she whimpered in answer. They were both panting for
breath when he finally pulled back. Annie blinked up at him. Her eyes didn’t
want to focus and her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest.
    “Two more days. I can work with that,” CJ murmured, his voice
rough and strained.
    “I’m so sorry.”
    CJ’s thumb brushed her lips.
    “Just hearing that you wanted to spend time with me makes it
all okay. We’ll work it out.”
    Annie kissed the pad of his thumb. “The part of the night where
I wasn’t fantasizing about jumping your bones, I argued with them about
rescheduling. I crashed and burned on both.”
    “Damn. We really need to share these fantasies when we’re
having them. I hear they’re a lot more fun when you have someone to play with,”
he said, pressing his forehead to hers.
    Her shoulders shook in amusement. “As a romance author, I can
tell you that is the popular consensus. My career kind of depends on it.”
    “Maybe we’ll have to do our own research,” CJ suggested, lips
sliding over hers again.  
    “Hmm,” she purred. “I’ve been wanting a technical advisor. Are
you expensive?”
    “I’m sure we can work