BY THE NUMBERS BRIDE: CALHOUN
MATCHMAKING A MARRIAGE
BOOK 2 OF 3
Calhoun Anderson kept his feelings in check and his emotions under control. The sudden and tragic death of his parents had hit him and his siblings in different ways. Ry, his younger brother, sought love with a variety of women while Gabe, his elder brother, found solace in women-even married ones-liquor and hard living. So he’d had to be the levelheaded one. He’d thought he was handling everything well until his grandfathers hired a CPA to help with the ranch books. From the first look, he knew his even-keeled world was about to turn upside down.
Kristen Thomas left home to escape an emotionally turbulent relationship with her mother and an ex-fiancé who had jilted her at the altar. Hoping to make a fresh start, she went to work for her uncle in his accounting office in the quaint town of Devil’s Spur. How could she have known that one sexy cowboy had her number?
“We’ve been dancing around this attraction for almost a month now, and I have counted every damn endless day.”
Her hand covered his and she delighted once again in the privilege to touch him freely. “Honestly, so have I.”
Cal stared into wide blue eyes that reflected back to him his own need. A small smattering of freckles crossed her straight nose and dusted her cheeks. He’d never noticed those before. Somehow they made her more beautiful, and he found himself wanting to kiss each one. His heartbeat accelerated when she scooted closer.
“We’re all alone now, cowboy, so what’s stopping you from making your move?” In spite of all her doubts that she could be playing with heartbreak, she wanted this. Why? Because making love with Cal was a-once-in-a-lifetime-chance. The risk to her heart was one she was willing to take. The way the virile cowboy beside her made her feel was indescribable. She burned, hot and hungry, for the pleasure that only he could bring her.
If heartache resulted later, she’d deal with it. It wasn’t as if misery was a stranger.
Cal pushed the errant curl behind her ear, his thoughts turning immediately to tracing the soft, pink shell with his tongue. There wasn’t a part of her that he didn’t want to know intimately and the ache that had been growing for the past few weeks suddenly seemed too big to appease with a few kisses. “Are you sure about this, baby?”
Kristen nodded. “As sure as I am that two plus two is four.”
Cal grinned, the tension in him easing somewhat. “That’s pretty absolute, Ms. Accountant.”
Her tongue peeked out, sliding slowly across her lips, leaving them glistening. “I’m trained to be very thorough.”