Her Royal Bed by Laura Wright Page A

could beat denim on curves.
    Forcing his gaze onto the road and away from her slim thighs, he asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
    â€œYou hardly gave me time,” she replied, a smile in her voice.
    â€œSorry about that.”
    â€œNo, you’re not.”
    He turned to her, grinned sinfully. “No, I’m not. I wanted to see you.”
    A slight pink blush crept up her neck, matching the haze around the morning sun before them. Bobby thought it was just about the sexiest sight he’d ever seen, and he wondered if he’d be able to pull this off—stay unaffected with this woman.
    â€œSo,” she said, tugging him from his thoughts. “Where are we going?”
    â€œA great place with real Texas ambiance and one helluva chef.”
    â€œSounds good.”
    But when they turned into a driveway marked Private Property and drove through a set of weathered iron gatesemblazoned with the letters KC Jane turned to him, her dark eyebrows raised. “What are the specials today, chef?”
    He chuckled. “Bacon, eggs, maybe a slice or two of toast if I manage not to burn it.”
    Her gaze shifted to the landscape around his home. The pasture land, grazing horses, miles of sky above. No matter what the size of his property now, Bobby thought with a deep sense of melancholy, it was still home and it always felt right to be there.
    She turned back to him. “Breakfast at your house. That’s pretty intimate.” Her full lips curved up at the corners. “And I thought we were taking things slow.”
    Bobby just grinned as he brought the truck to a dusty halt in front of his ranch house. The last thing he wanted with this woman was slow. Ever since they’d made love, he’d ached to touch her again, have her beneath him, on top of him, in front of him. But for his plan to come off, he needed to take his time, give her a little romance. Hell, he might even enjoy it.
    He was quick to step out the driver’s side and walk around the truck. He helped Jane out, then took her hand. “Well, I suppose I’d better admit it. I didn’t bring you here just for breakfast.”
    Mock shock settled over her features. “No kidding.”
    â€œYou implying I’m some kind of rogue cowboy?” Bobby asked lightly as they walked around the side of the house and down the stone pathway.
    â€œI wouldn’t dare.”
    Shifting the Stetson on his head, he laughed. “Well, it’d be the truth, on most days.”
    â€œBut not today?”
    â€œToday, I brought you here so you could see who I was. After last night, I don’t think you got a pretty clear picture.”
    The air around them cooled, and Jane’s voice dropped. “Maybe not.”
    She had reservations about him, he knew. And rightly so. It was also clear as river water that she was confused, not sure what he was about and what he was after.
    Dammit.
    Every time he looked into those dark-jade eyes of hers, Bobby had the same problem. He needed to keep his cool, stay in control of the situation and himself if he was going to finish this mess with the Al-Nayhals and get his father’s ghost off his back once and for all.
    â€œThis.” They reached the corral then, and Bobby released her hand and pointed into the ring. “This is who I am. This is why I cling tight to this land, and its past. Here’s my passion, Jane.”
    With curious eyes, Bobby watched her take in the sight before her, then turned to see what she was seeing. While three children waited atop their horses, Abel helped sixteen-year-old Eli Harrison up the ramp and out of his wheelchair, then onto the back of Sweet Grace, a gray mare. Eli laughed and patted his horse, and while the other kids whooped and clapped excitedly around him, one of the ranch assistants belted Eli securely into place.
    With a deep inhale, Jane turned her gaze from the corral and gave him a brilliant smile. “I’d