Page 73 of A Rancher's Bride

Icy cold water shot from overhead, drenching him instantly as he roared in surprise.

Kelli scrambled off him, but there was no use in her trying to escape. He scooped her up and held her in his arms. “That wasn’t very nice. Now it’s your turn for a little cooling off.”

She clung to him, shrieking as he dropped them both under the freezing water. As the water heated and any lingering anger washed away, laughter rose.

He wasn’t sure what the answer was to a lot of the future, but this part he knew.

Him, Kelli…an empty shower house.

Round two, coming up.

17

Kelli did her best to keep from smirking, but she was pretty sure her amusement was clear as they marched back to her room. Her body was tender in all the right places from Luke’s enthusiastic emphasis of their relationship status.

But more entertaining? Luke was dressed in mostly wet clothes, naked from the waist up under his jacket because the shirt he’d worn to the shower house was beyond repair.

With him hard on her heels she paused, hand on the door of her room, to give him a warning glance. “We arenotstarting anything in here.”

“Nope,” he agreed. “We’re grabbing some of your stuff so we can head over to my place.”

She’d never considered herself the type to get butterflies, but something was definitely flitting about in her gut as she took in his serious expression. “You really think that’s a good idea?”

Luke folded his arms over his chest, biceps pressing against his lined jean jacket. “I thought we got all this nonsense straightened out in the shower house.”

“My question has nothing to do with you and me being together,” she insisted. “But if we’re going to—”

Good grief, what was she supposed to call this? It had been simple enough while they were at the gala to consider it a fling, but now that it was something more?

Oh my God, it was something more…

Another round of insects took wing in her belly.

Luke opened her door, placed a hand low on her back and guided them inside. “No reason to freeze while we figure out what’s got your knickers in a knot.”

“It’s just that I can liveherelike I always have,” Kelli started, backing away from him as his brows rose toward his hairline. “We’re just starting to…”

Nope. Still had no idea what to call this.

A soft hum escaped him. “Oh, I get it.”

Luke slid his hand to the back of her neck, knocking the towel she’d wrapped around her hair off as he wrapped his fingers around her. He tipped her head to examine her face more closely.

“You’re right. If we’d started dating even a month ago, I can see you wanting to ‘live’ in your room and come visit my place sometimes.” He closed the distance between them, brushing his lips across hers before inching closer to her ear. “But, sugar plum, now that I’ve had you in my bed for nearly a week straight, there’s no damn way I’m letting you sleep anywhere except right next to me.”

“Bossy bastard,” Kelli complained.

He snagged her against him, all warm and hard and perfect. “Just the way you like.”

Damn if he wasn’t right. Except, something—

A heavy knock rang against her door, and she snorted before regaining control.

“I think that’s for you,” she said, not hiding her amusement.

Luke frowned, but he let her go, backing away and heading to the door. He glanced out the window first, then swore softly as he gave Kelli a warning look. “It’s Ashton.”

She tilted her head. “I saw him headed this way right before you hustled me inside.”