It was human nature to put people into categories, and she’d definitely put the tall Texan into one. Spoiled, selfish, and egotistical, or so she’d thought, but she was fast realizing that wasn’t the case. Annabelle knew that this journey was probably going to change the rest of her preconceived ideas, which unsettled her. She liked things to stay the way they were. Changes didn’t sit well with her, probably because her life had been filled with so many of them. That was also why she had chosen to stay in Howling. There she mostly knew what was awaiting her when she stepped outside her door.
“Jesus, the domestic goddess has been unshackled for the day. I may need to sit down!” Ethan said as they walked into his apartment.
“Always the wise guy, Gelderman the Fifth.” Buster punched Ethan on the shoulder as he walked past him and into the room.
“Hey there, Annabelle, you got enough stuff in that huge bag? Seems to me Buster’s legs are buckling under the weight.”
“Not nearly, but I figure they have shops there, right?” She strolled past him, ignoring the flutter of her rapidly accelerating pulse. He smelled sexy—whatever aftershave he wore, it always smelled way too good on him. He was dressed in jeans and boots with a fitted, black ribbed sweater covering his very broad chest. He looked good enough to jump.
Distance, Annabelle, she reminded herself.Remember to keep your distance.She’d told herself that last night while she lay in her bed trying to sleep. She was doing this to support him and nothing more. There would be no kissing or touching and definitely no sex.
“Plenty,” he said as he closed the door behind her and Buster.
“So, you want me to drop you at the airport?” Buster was moseying around the apartment, checking it out.
“Roy’s called a cab, but thanks. It should be here in the next few minutes.”
“Sweet. Now I’m going to give you a bit of advice, Tex, and I suggest you take it,” Buster said, stopping in front of Ethan.
Annabelle, who had been placing her handbag on the floor, turned to see the steady look in Buster’s eyes. She knew that look, having been the recipient of it a time or two herself.
“This here lady”—he waved a hand in her direction—“is important to us, her friends. In which you are included,” he added when Ethan opened his mouth. “Watch her closely, and return her to us in the state that she left.”
“I cannot believe you just said that.” Annabelle shook her head. It was rather sweet and made her feel warm right down to her already warm toes, but still she had to say something; it was expected of her.
“I promise.” Ethan stuck out his hand, Buster clasped it and they shook solemnly.
“And you,” Buster said, moving to stand in front of her. “Have fun, don’t worry about shit, and look after him too. I wouldn’t be put out if you brought me back a present, either.” He hugged her hard and then he was gone.
“Thanks for the ride,” she called after him before he shut the door.
“Eloquent, handsome, that man has it all going on. Beats me why some woman hasn’t snapped him up.” Ethan came to stand in front of her as he spoke.
“It’s a mystery.” Annabelle moved around him, feeling suddenly nervous. She then started to walk through his apartment as Buster had done. “This is a nice place, Gelderman Number Five.”
“You may just have to stick with ‘Ethan’ when we reach the ranch. My father is Gelderman Number Four.”
“Ha. I already figured that.”
The room was large, spacious and painted in soft caramel, and the furniture was big and looked comfortable. On the walls hung two paintings in splashes of bright color. There were three leafy green plants in one corner. She was surprised at how warm and welcoming it all felt.
“You do all this?” Annabelle waved a hand around the furnishings, impressed with how everything fit together to create a space of peaceful beauty.
“I did. Does that surprise you, Annabelle?” He was prowling around behind her, his long legs keeping pace with ease.
“No, you have this thing with women, so it’s no shock that you have that woman gene in there somewhere.”
“Thing? Woman gene?”
She’d reached the kitchen and did a slow survey. Everything was white except for a red kettle and the toaster. No dishes littered the sink, and there was no leftover food on the countertops.
“Women fall all over you and you seem to have this thing with them. You always know what to say.” She moved past him again and went into the first bedroom. Neat and tidy like the rest of the house, it had to be the spare room, as she saw nothing of his in here.
“How come it doesn’t work with you?”
“I’m immune, like I’ve told you before.” The second bedroom was his. Huge bed with a black cover that had the state of Texas flag on it. “You kidding me?” she said.
“I’m proud of where I was born, Annabelle. You got a problem with that?” He wandered into the room behind her, which Annabelle realized was a problem, because he blocked off her exit. She moved to the windows next to a set of French doors that she could see led out to a small deck.
