Page 45 of A Rancher's Love

She closed the fridge and eyed him full on. “I don’t remember asking a question. I remember realizing how completely clueless I had been to how much you sticking around changes things.”

Tucker braced himself. “I want things to change. What we’re doing, I mean.”

“Oh.” She got herself busy, digging back in the refrigerator and giving him her back. “Okay, I guess. If that’s what you want.”

Oh hell. Tucker put a hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. “Don’t jump to conclusions,” he warned. “I don’t want to just fuck around with you, Ginny. Only we’ve never been in the same place at the same time when more was appropriate.”

He’d never trusted himself enough to take the chance, but now? He wanted her enough to fight her personal demons.

She was thinking again, that intensely focused expression she got where the magical, mystical program she carried in her brain ran through options at the speed of light. “You want more than just the occasional fling?”

“Yes.Hell, yes.”

“Oh.” She tilted her head slightly. “Spell it out for me. What exactly does that mean?”

He caught her by the hands, his touch gentle and very innocent, considering they had just fucked each other silly not even five minutes ago. “I want to date you. I want to get to know you better and figure out if between us, we can find something that can last.”

“Holy shit,” she whispered.

Tucker stroked his thumbs over her fingers. “Holy shit, good? Or holy shit,I never in a million years imagined this would happen and how do I get this asshole out of my trailer?”

She rolled her eyes. “Please, I’m supposed to be the drama llama in this relationship.”

“Go right ahead and drama away, but I still need an answer to the question.

Ginny tilted her head to the table. “Sit. Want a beer?”

“Why not.”

She grabbed two then sat kitty corner to him instead of across the table. Then she caught hold of the hand closest to her while she raised her bottle in the air with her other. “To OperationProve It.”

They clinked then drank.

Ginny placed her bottle carefully on the table before meeting his gaze. “I think you are one of the sexiest men on the entire planet.”

That was a good start. Maybe? “Thank you.”

“I’ve also had a crush on you since I was a teenager, but you know that because I shared those details when I was twenty-one and talked my way into your bed. Even if it was only once or twice a year.”

“You did tell me.” Tucker ignored his beer and wrapped both his hands around hers. “I think we should do this like a Band-Aid. Rip it off, really quick. Are you about to tell me to take a hike?”

She licked her lips, suddenly—shy? Confident as hell and outgoingGinnyavoiding his gaze?

“I’m not telling you to take a hike,” she said softly. “I think we’ve got some good history, and some amazing chemistry…”

Fuck it. “I just heard abut.”

She looked him straight in the eye. “Timing is everything. You’re about to start in a position that’s pretty important, and while us dating isn’t impossible, it could cause problems. There’s Ashton, there are my brothers, and there’s the entire Silver Stone crew. You’ll have to earn their respect—which you totally deserve because you’ve got the skills. But most of them will suspect you’re got an in because of your relationship with Ashton. Add on a relationship with me, and…”

“I can deal with that.”

But she continued. “I’mnotwilling to mess this up for you. What we need is some sort of compromise, because I also don’t want to go without you. I want time together to do OperationProve It, and I want sex.” She wrinkled her nose. “It probably makes me pretty shallow that I included that last part.”

“No, I totally want that part as well,” Tucker admitted.

She lifted his hand and brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “I’m not saying no, I’m saying slow.”

“We wait a couple months before we officially start dating?”