Page 42 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

“Sounds great.If the grocery can’t deliver in the morning, I’ll get it myself.”

“Oh, good.I thought you were about to say you’d have Rita pick it up.”

He sat back, eyes wide.“Never.She’d eat me alive if I asked her to do personal errands.She’s a fully capable security employee.We have requests for her, specifically.She just happens to have the administrative skills I also need.”

“I never would have guessed.I suppose that makes her a double agent.”She laughed at her jest.

He also laughed.“You have a wicked sense of humor.I like it.”

“A sense of humor is necessary for any relationship to last.My mother said she and Dad laugh at least once a day, even when they are angry with each other—though that doesn’t happen often.I can’t remember the last time they had even a minor argument about anything that I’m aware of.”

“That’s great.”He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.“I wish my parents had that kind of relationship.But they don’t.”

She reached over and rubbed her hand up and down his arm.“I’m sorry.I know I was fortunate growing up as I did, even with the hardships.I never doubted my parents loved me.”

“Oh, I think my parents love me, but I’m not sure they love each other.It might have been better if they had divorced.And yet, for some reason, they get along better now than they did then.Let’s not talk about parents now.I want you to sleep.”He stood and held out his hand, pulling her up by her right hand.“Now, off with you.”

She gave him a mock salute.“Yes, sir, Mr.Harper.”Then she grinned, grabbed her sling, and headed to her room.She had to admit she was tired, so it was probably for the best he had to work.Meri didn’t want to keep him from his business.She wanted to be as minor a distraction as she could.

After removing her clothes, she pulled a big, long t-shirt out of the bureau drawer and donned it.Then she lay down, but too many thoughts ran through her mind.How did Chase feel?Was he looking for a good time or a relationship?She couldn’t imagine it was just a hookup.He could have done that with just about anyone.Why did he pick her?Why was he attracted to her?She knew her attraction to him was based on his kindness and his brain.That he was the hottest man she’d ever met didn’t figure into it…much.She chuckled, knowing she was a liar.She loved the fact that Chase was hot.

He was also interesting to listen to.She could talk to him for hours and never get bored.Meri had never felt about a man that way.Most of the men she’d known loved to talk about themselves.Chase proved unyielding in providing any information.Everything was hard won.She had to drag every scrap of information from him.Did he just not like talking about himself, or was it because of his business or his money or what?

She turned onto her right side.The relief was immediate.The pain was less, but she turned over and got out of bed.Finding her purse, she took out the bottle of prescription pain medicine and went into the bathroom.A water glass wasn’t there, so she headed to the kitchen.

Meri looked through the cabinets until she found glasses.She pulled the pitcher of water out of the fridge and filled the glass halfway, then took her pill.

It would take about twenty minutes to kick in, so she thought she’d lie on the sofa facing the windows and watch the sunset.

The next thing she knew, Chase was rubbing a hand down her arm.

“Sweetheart.Time to wake up.”He continued to rub her arm.

The gesture felt more like a caress.

Meri blinked her eyes open.

Chase stood, bent at the waist, rubbing her arm.

She blinked again.“What time is it?I…uh…I was more tired than I thought.”

He squatted next to her.“I guess you were.It’s nearly eight.I brought dinner.Are you hungry?”

Her stomach rumbled.“Starving.Let me wash up.”

“I’ll set the table.”

She reached up and cupped his jaw.“Thank you.”Then she pulled him down for a kiss.When their lips met, the world tilted on its axis before righting itself again.She knew she couldn’t do more than this.He was her boss and she shouldn’t be kissing him at all.But darn if she could deny herself his kisses.She felt too alive when he kissed her, like everything and everyone had been preparing her for him.For Chase.He was home for her.She craved him like an alcoholic craved their next drink.

She pulled back.“I shouldn’t do that.It’s very unprofessional of me, but I can’t seem to help myself.”

He helped her rise from the sofa and stand in front of him.Then he placed his hand behind her neck and held her.His head lowered.

He was going to kiss her.Every female instinct she had roared to life.

He lowered his head, but he stopped and hovered just above her lips.“Thank God.”His mouth parted and his lips met hers.

His kiss was primal, like he’d been waiting for her all his life.