Melissa And The Cowboy (Western Night Series 1) by Rosie Harper

I’ll see you both tomorrow,” he said with a wink as he turned and walked down the path.
    “Caleb,” Melissa had run after him and her big blue eyes were full of tears. “Thank you. She kissed him. “I don’t care if the neighbor’s watch,” she said boldly as she let her hands slip down to caress his buttocks as he gladly kissed her back.
    “Looks like I’d better make an honest woman of you sooner rather than later,” he chuckled. “How about Saturday?”
    “Sounds perfect,” she said and ran back inside.
    Mrs. Suttle wouldn’t let her rest until she had heard everything, but seeing how worried the old lady had been about her, Melissa was happy to delay getting to bed. The pair sat up talking, sipping hot chocolate until the wee hours when they both finally admitted exhaustion. Melissa’s bed had never been more inviting, but she couldn’t help but imagine how much more perfect it would feel if she were lying with Caleb’s arms around her right now. Her body felt so alive when she was near him, so full of sensations she simply couldn’t describe. She hugged herself tightly, she could hardly wait until Saturday when she would find out just how much more pleasure her body might feel. If Caleb’s kisses were any indication, it would be more than spectacular.

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    “Mariette, thank you again,” Caleb said as they shook hands. Mariette signed the deeds with a flourish.
    “Congratulations, you now own a ranch house good enough to take a wife to,” she grinned.
    “Well, I do if I clean it up a bit first,” he admitted sagely.
    “Need a hand?”
    “I would love one. It is definitely more than a one man job. I’d be over the moon if we could have it inhabitable by Saturday.”
    “You go and see the Minister to arrange the ceremony. I will meet you at your new home. I’ll bring some friends. We’ll have it spick and span in no time!” Mariette said optimistically. Caleb grinned. He had already worked it out, that once Mariette decided you were a friend that it was for life. You had to do something pretty dire to lose her loyalty. He felt sorry for Bartlett that he had been foolish enough to lose the love of this incredible young woman. He didn’t feel sorry for her in the slightest. She had more than enough gumption to turn any situation into something positive. Nothing stood in her way.
    An hour later and he arrived at his new home to find over twenty people there, weeding the yard, sweeping the porch, cleaning inside and out. Old furniture was dumped unceremoniously in a heap, and old utensils and even clothes weren’t long behind them. “Mariette, I thought you said a few friends?” Caleb marvelled as he walked into his new bedroom to find her busy erecting a brand new bed. “What is this? How on earth did you get things made so quickly?”
    “Oh, Marshall has all sorts of things lying around his workshop. Whenever he has a quiet patch he makes extra. He brought everything up he had, I told him that you would need it all!”
    “You aren’t wrong, but how will I ever pay him for it? I just bought this place?”
    “Just call it a wedding gift, Caleb. And don’t you dare tell me I’m too generous and that you can’t accept it. I want to do it, and therefore I shall,” she said firmly. “Now, why don’t you let me finish up here, while you go and see your bride to be, or your damn cows or something? Leave the tough stuff to us women, we know best how to make a home!”
    Caleb was still chuckling at her words and the mischievous look on her face as he did as he was told. He didn’t return to his new home until much later that night, having spent a delightful afternoon taking Melissa to meet his ‘damn cows’. She had fallen in love with them at first sight. Her big blue eyes had lit up with pleasure as they grazed contentedly around them as they enjoyed their picnic.
    He could barely recognize the place when he walked through the door. Everything was clean and