eaten too much sugar at the county fair and then been whipped around on a carnival ride.
By the time he got out of the truck, some of his family members had appeared. Momma stood on the long porch, wiping her hands on a towel, and Pa rounded the barn with a shovel in hand.
Kade was wringing wet from hosing out the barn, and Beck was grinning like a barn cat with a mouse—probably the real reason Kade was dripping.
“Howdy, son.” Pa leaned on his shovel.
Cash tipped his hat and rounded the truck just as Maya climbed out. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her forward, aware of the fine shiver running through her body.
Everyone stared.
“Where’re the others?” Cash asked.
Momma descended the stairs swiftly, having regained her girl-like agility after being laid up with a broken ankle. “Charlotte’s inside and Hank’s with the horses. Witt’s with him.”
“And Manny?”
Pa glanced in the other direction, and Manny suddenly appeared, his face burning with happiness.
Maya tore from Cash’s hold and rushed across the yard into his outstretched arms. He caught her, lifting her off her feet. They exchanged a volley of words in Spanish, but it was evident to all of them how elated they were to be reunited.
Cash’s chest was tight as he watched. Manny set her on her feet and clasped her face in his hands, staring at her for what seemed like a minute. Very slowly he kissed her forehead. When he released her, she turned to look at Cash.
They shared a private smile.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cash caught Momma’s radars go up. She turned to the screen door and called to Charlotte before crossing the yard to Maya.
“Welcome to the Paradise Valley Ranch, dear. I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” Momma said.
She’ll be comfortable—in my bed. Cash walked to the back of the truck and retrieved Maya’s suitcase.
“Where the hell’d you get that ugly thing? Did you make a stop at Aunt Diane’s?” Hank drawled from behind.
“Har-har,” Cash said flatly, though he agreed the damn ugly thing could have been found in one of Aunt Diane’s closets.
Hank slapped him on the shoulder as Witt flanked his other side. No one seemed surprised to see Maya standing in the middle of the yard, though Witt perked up and straightened his hat.
Charlotte came out with a smile and wave for her husband.
Cash set down Maya’s luggage and strode to her side. Without considering what he was about to do, he grabbed Maya, bent her over his arm and kissed her.
As he crushed her lips under his, she issued a moan that was barely audible even to him. He angled his head and made a shallow swipe of her mouth with his tongue. Enough to show his brothers who the gorgeous little woman belonged to.
When he stood Maya on her feet again, she was flushed and Momma was grinning.
“Got an introduction and an announcement.” Cash looked from one family member to the next. “This is Maya. Manny’s daughter, which you all can see. And soon to be my wife.”
* * *
Maya felt like a bug pinned under the gazes of so many Daltons. She clenched her hands into fists, ready to beat her new fiancé for being high-handed once again.
When he pinched her bottom, she squealed.
“Oh Cash, the poor girl doesn’t need you being frisky. Now let me at my future daughter-in-law.” Mrs. Dalton enveloped Maya in her arms. As her face was pressed against starched cotton, emotion bubbled in her chest. She’d been alone for so long that human touch was foreign.
Except Cash’s. He was right—the chemistry between them was unusual. Maya would never have allowed him such liberties if she hadn’t felt the same attraction.
Too bad he wasn’t going to live long enough to know how good they could be together. Maya was going to smother him with a pillow first chance she got. She sent him a glare, and he grinned in return.
Every fine Dalton man came forward to hug her or plant a kiss on her cheek, surprising her. Finally a small woman
By the time he got out of the truck, some of his family members had appeared. Momma stood on the long porch, wiping her hands on a towel, and Pa rounded the barn with a shovel in hand.
Kade was wringing wet from hosing out the barn, and Beck was grinning like a barn cat with a mouse—probably the real reason Kade was dripping.
“Howdy, son.” Pa leaned on his shovel.
Cash tipped his hat and rounded the truck just as Maya climbed out. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her forward, aware of the fine shiver running through her body.
Everyone stared.
“Where’re the others?” Cash asked.
Momma descended the stairs swiftly, having regained her girl-like agility after being laid up with a broken ankle. “Charlotte’s inside and Hank’s with the horses. Witt’s with him.”
“And Manny?”
Pa glanced in the other direction, and Manny suddenly appeared, his face burning with happiness.
Maya tore from Cash’s hold and rushed across the yard into his outstretched arms. He caught her, lifting her off her feet. They exchanged a volley of words in Spanish, but it was evident to all of them how elated they were to be reunited.
Cash’s chest was tight as he watched. Manny set her on her feet and clasped her face in his hands, staring at her for what seemed like a minute. Very slowly he kissed her forehead. When he released her, she turned to look at Cash.
They shared a private smile.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cash caught Momma’s radars go up. She turned to the screen door and called to Charlotte before crossing the yard to Maya.
“Welcome to the Paradise Valley Ranch, dear. I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” Momma said.
She’ll be comfortable—in my bed. Cash walked to the back of the truck and retrieved Maya’s suitcase.
“Where the hell’d you get that ugly thing? Did you make a stop at Aunt Diane’s?” Hank drawled from behind.
“Har-har,” Cash said flatly, though he agreed the damn ugly thing could have been found in one of Aunt Diane’s closets.
Hank slapped him on the shoulder as Witt flanked his other side. No one seemed surprised to see Maya standing in the middle of the yard, though Witt perked up and straightened his hat.
Charlotte came out with a smile and wave for her husband.
Cash set down Maya’s luggage and strode to her side. Without considering what he was about to do, he grabbed Maya, bent her over his arm and kissed her.
As he crushed her lips under his, she issued a moan that was barely audible even to him. He angled his head and made a shallow swipe of her mouth with his tongue. Enough to show his brothers who the gorgeous little woman belonged to.
When he stood Maya on her feet again, she was flushed and Momma was grinning.
“Got an introduction and an announcement.” Cash looked from one family member to the next. “This is Maya. Manny’s daughter, which you all can see. And soon to be my wife.”
* * *
Maya felt like a bug pinned under the gazes of so many Daltons. She clenched her hands into fists, ready to beat her new fiancé for being high-handed once again.
When he pinched her bottom, she squealed.
“Oh Cash, the poor girl doesn’t need you being frisky. Now let me at my future daughter-in-law.” Mrs. Dalton enveloped Maya in her arms. As her face was pressed against starched cotton, emotion bubbled in her chest. She’d been alone for so long that human touch was foreign.
Except Cash’s. He was right—the chemistry between them was unusual. Maya would never have allowed him such liberties if she hadn’t felt the same attraction.
Too bad he wasn’t going to live long enough to know how good they could be together. Maya was going to smother him with a pillow first chance she got. She sent him a glare, and he grinned in return.
Every fine Dalton man came forward to hug her or plant a kiss on her cheek, surprising her. Finally a small woman
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