Wild Borders by Cheyenne McCray Page B

porch, then the glass and oak double doors of the house, jabbering all the way. Lani could tell he would be the kind of kid who would wear a person out with his enthusiasm and chatter, but he’d already won a place in her heart.
    The house was spacious with exposed beam ceilings and acres of unglazed Saltillo tile. The furnishings were southwestern and casual, the type of home where a person would immediately feel comfortable. Country western music played on a stereo in the family room, and they even passed a wood-burning stove that she assumed would work in the winter since the stovepipe climbed into the ceiling.
    Trevor pulled her through a spotless kitchen that smelled of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. They headed around a corner, then down a long hall and he stopped at the first room.
    “This is the guest room. Dad’s is that one right next to yours, and the one at the end of the hall is my mine. Grandma and Grandpa’s room is way over on the other side of the house. Do you wanna see mine now?”
    “Sure.” Lani tried to calm the nervous flutter stirring in her belly at Trevor’s words.
    Rick’s room, right here?
    “I think he’ll be a good chaperone, don’t you?”
    Rick’s voice startled Lani, so close his breath tickled the back of her neck, and she caught his earthy scent. She whirled, sending her elbow into his hard stomach. “Oh! I’m sorry. No—no I take it back. You deserved that.”
    He rubbed his side. “It’s dangerous startling you, darlin’.”
    “Next time you might not be so lucky, cowboy.” She couldn’t help but be mesmerized by those blue, blue eyes. She wanted to kiss him again, to taste him.
    She shook her head, shaking the thoughts from her mind and turned away. “Hold on, Trevor, I’ll take a look at your room once I put my bag and purse in here.”
    Antique furniture of a deep mahogany filled the guest room. Cream brocade with a rose design covered the bed, matching drapes hung at the windows, and a beautiful Victorian lamp perched on the nightstand. It looked like a picture-perfect room at a bed-and-breakfast. A four-poster bed occupied the far side of the room, and she plopped her belongings beside it.
    Rick followed, set her two suitcases on the rose-colored throw rug as Lani turned to face him. For a moment neither of them moved. The tension in the room had just tripled and Lani wasn’t sure what to do. Kiss him or kick him in the shin and make a run for it.
    He winked then turned and headed back out the door. “Let’s see that snake rattle, Trev.”
    After they checked out the snake rattle, Trevor grabbed Lani’s hand and took her on a tour outside. Warmth stirred in Rick’s gut as he observed Lani with his son. She listened to Trevor’s non-stop jabbering and looked suitably impressed at everything he presented to her, including Roxie the Rottweiler, a dead June bug, and Rock, his pet turtle.
    When Trevor dashed off to search for one of the barn cats, Lani grinned at Rick. “You have a wonderful son. So much energy and utterly honest.”
    “To a fault,” Rick agreed. “The kid doesn’t know how to lie—not yet anyhow. I wonder how charming you’ll find him once you’ve been around his endless gab for awhile.”
    “He might wear me out, but I can tell he’s one great kid. I’ve always loved children, and wanted to have at least a couple.” Her voice went soft and her thoughts seemed far away. “But James insisted we weren’t ready, and he worried that I would get fatter.” She bit her lip and blushed, like she felt abashed, like she’d let something slip she hadn’t intended to.
    “Sounds like a stupid ass, this James. Because you’re perfect.” He put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her sensual brown eyes. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
    “Thanks.” She shrugged away from his touch. “I’m not sure any man could truly love a woman as she is. I heard more than enough lies from James to convince me of that. Not to mention all