Page 20 of The Cattleman’s Unforgettable Love: Ford and Amelia (MacFarland Ranch #11)

Ford was up early on Sunday morning. There was nothing new about that.

He hadn't slept well, though, and usually he slept like a log – it went with the job.

He worked hard and slept hard. His inability to sleep last night had nothing to do with having taken a day off.

Well, if it did, it was a result of having spent the day with Amelia.

The way he felt about her had caught him off guard.

It seemed to have evolved so quickly. He'd enjoyed their hike; enjoyed spending time with her and getting to know her.

But even while they were having their picnic, he'd been wondering if he felt so comfortable with her because there were only friendship vibes between them.

Now he could see that the level of ease he felt around her was because they were so in sync. He hadn't known a woman like her before. She was self-contained, independent, and he found that appealing - attractive.

He smiled as he poured himself a fresh coffee.

She might be independent, but that hadn't stopped her from softening in his arms when they danced.

And that brought out something in him, something he wasn't used to.

Leading her around the dance floor, holding her close the way he had – he'd felt like she was his.

He shook his head and stared out the window at the mountains. He didn't think he was possessive; he never had been before. But that was what she brought out in him. It was a new one on him, but there was no denying that he liked the feeling.

He was getting ahead of himself though. If he felt like this about her after just one date...

He'd surprised himself when he admitted to her that she could maybe break his heart – and admitting it to her was only a little more surprising than admitting it to himself.

He didn't know where this was going, but he hoped that she was going to stick around long enough that they might find out.

He smiled at the sight of his hat hanging on the hook by the door. He'd only taken it off her head when they got back last night and she'd kissed him again. The way that woman kissed him...

He went to the side window and peered out at the bunkhouse.

There was no one outside. Normally he'd be down there by now, but he'd been hanging around here, trapped in indecision.

He needed to go down and check in with Boone, but he didn't want to leave before he saw Amelia.

If he'd gone when he first got up, he could have been back here by now.

He had to laugh at himself. He knew his brothers would laugh if they could see him.

He looked around the kitchen as if something there might be able to make the decision for him.

When his gaze landed on the eggs that Shayna had brought up the other day, he decided that they could be his tie-breaker.

He could stay here and make breakfast. He could text Boone just as easily as walk down there, and if the foreman needed him for anything, he'd let him know.

Ford: I'll be down in a while. Everything okay?

Boone: Everything's fine. Take the day off if you want. I'll give you a shout if I need you, but I doubt I will.

Ford: I'll check in after breakfast.

Boone: Ok. Heard you had a good time last night.

Ford made a face.

Ford: I’d forgotten how fast word travels around here.

Boone: That's because you're not usually a source of gossip.

Ford: I'm not. Who told you?

Boone: I talked to Brody just now.

Ford: Are you guys getting together for lunch this afternoon? You take the day off if you want it.

Boone: We were trying to figure out the details. I may take off for a few hours. I'll let you know if I'm going.

Ford: Ok. Talk to you later.

He set his phone down and went to look through the fridge.

He had everything he needed to make a full breakfast; he just didn't know if Amelia would eat it.

They hadn't shared many meals since she'd arrived, and all she had in the fridge were some pots of yogurt.

She seemed to eat more protein bars than anything else.

He smiled. She'd enjoyed the sandwiches, chips, and cake yesterday, though.

He decided to get started. If she got up and wanted something else instead, he'd figure it out.

And if she didn't get up for a while, he could leave it in the warming drawer for her.

He'd barely gotten started when the sound of her voice from the doorway made him spin around.

"Morning."

He grinned at the sight of her. "Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Wonderfully, thank you. I love my room and the bed – so comfortable."

"I'm glad to hear it. Can I get you coffee?"

She stepped forward, and it was only when she came into the room that he noticed she was still wearing pajamas.

It made his breath catch in his chest. Not that they were sexy or anything – they were pale blue flannel.

But they looked cozy, and the fact she was wearing them told him she was comfortable around him.

Even more than that, the moment felt... intimate.

"I can get coffee," she told him. "Do you want a refill?"

He shook his head, still smiling. His gaze never left hers as she passed him on her way to the coffee pot.

She filled a mug and held it up in front of her mouth as she spoke.

"It's my turn to ask if you're laughing at me.

I know I'm a mess, but I heard you moving around and I wanted to come say hi.

" She raised the mug a little higher. "Plus, I needed caffeine. "

He took a step toward her, then stopped. He didn't want to crowd her – sure, she'd kissed him last night, but he didn't know what the protocol was after a first date when your date happened to be staying in your home.

She made it easy for him and came to him, reaching out to run her hand down his arm. "Don't look so worried. I didn't turn into a monster the morning after."

He chuckled. "Not what I was thinking. I just didn't want to crowd you."

She raised her eyebrows. "That's a shame."

At that, he plucked the mug from her hands and set it down on the counter, loving the little smile that played on her lips as she watched him. He went back to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her to his chest as he lifted her off her feet.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing a sweet little kiss to the tip of his nose.

"This better?" he asked.

She nodded happily. "Much."

He walked her over to the counter and set her down on it, realizing as he stood between her legs that it might not have been the wisest move.

Her cheeks flushed pink as she looked up at him, and he could see the peaks of her nipples pressing against her pajama top.

It took a lot of restraint not to close his hands around her ass and pull her closer to him.

She bit down on her bottom lip, and the look in her eyes gave him the impression that she might not mind too much if he did. Instead, he stepped away and reached for her mug.

Giving it back to her, he said, "If we're not careful, I could do more than crowd you."

She ran her tongue over her bottom lip before saying, "Then I hope we're not going to be too careful for too long."

He shoved his hands in his pockets to adjust his pants, which were suddenly a lot tighter in the front. "Do you eat eggs and bacon?" he asked. “Do you want some?”

She let out a short laugh. "I do. I'd love eggs and bacon, please, but only because it's too soon for me to have you for breakfast."

He stepped right back to her and rested his hands on the counter on either side of her hips. Leaning in close as she set the mug back down, he spoke next to her ear. "It might be too soon yet, but when we get there, it'll be me eating you for breakfast."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and he couldn't resist sliding his hands under her ass and hauling her against him, his cock aching to press into the heat between her legs.

But he showed as much restraint as he could, even though that didn't include a pause before he claimed her mouth in a kiss that demonstrated how badly he wanted to be inside her.

~ ~ ~

Amelia stood under the shower, letting the hot water run down over her face. She should probably be taking a cold shower right about now, but she'd never had that kind of discipline. She reached up to touch her lips, remembering the way Ford had kissed her.

He'd talked yesterday about sparks lighting a fire – if he kept kissing her like that, it would be more like an inferno.

The man was lethal – and she loved it. She was a little sad that he hadn't whisked her off to bed.

She wouldn't have complained if he'd wanted to, but he'd eventually stepped back and given her a rueful smile.

He hadn't apologized at least; she wouldn't have liked that.

He hadn't even tried to hide the fact that he had to adjust his jeans. She smirked – from what she'd seen, his feet weren't lying.

She turned around to shampoo her hair. Unfortunately, after they'd eaten the amazing breakfast that he'd cooked for her, someone had called him down to the bunkhouse.

It hadn't even occurred to her until then that on a normal Sunday, he would already be down there working.

She made a mental note to remind herself that she shouldn't get carried away, taking up too much of his time – no matter how much she wanted to.

She didn't want to interfere with his work any more than she'd want him to interfere in hers.

When she made it back downstairs, her hand came up to cover her heart when she saw that he'd left the coffee pot ready to run again and a slice of yesterday's coffee cake in the fridge with a note on it.

I figured you'd spot this when you get milk for your coffee.

I saved it for you. Thought you might want something sweet,

but don't eat too much else. I'll make us dinner later.

"Ford MacFarland," she murmured to herself. "You big, sweet, adorable man."