RANGER Page 8

  In that brief second she wished that it was, and she smiled at him and felt as if she could have reached for his hand.

  “Nicole!” her mother’s voice pierced through the silence from downstairs and she jumped up, leaving Ranger still lying back on the bed. “Dinners ready!”

  She looked down at him and could see that he’d been surprised by their moment too. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and averted his eyes. Nicole went to speak, but no words would come.

  “Well, here we go,” Ranger said finally and rose to his feet. “This really will be the test, won’t it?”

  10.

  Over dinner, Nicole was complete astounded at how brilliant at conversation and charming Ranger was. He talked openly and honestly about a whole range of topics and his general knowledge was so sharp, there were times when she didn’t even have a clue what he was referring to.

  Her mother and father smiled warmly all night, barely taking their eyes off him unless it was to steal secret glances across to Nicole to let her know they approved. Ranger told her he wasn’t a good actor but that he would give it his best shot. If this wasn’t acting, then he was a fascinating person indeed.

  Nicole found herself watching him out of the corner of her eye, and she didn’t flinch when he reached over and took hold of her hand. He looked into her eyes and smiled, and she smiled back. A whole range of emotions buzzing through her and the lines between fantasy and reality became rapidly blurred.

  She knew it was all for show, and yet having him there was wonderful. She had been dreading everything for nothing. There were no awkward silences, her parents seemed to be buying everything that they had told them, even down to the goofy story she had had to come up with on the spot as to how they had met.

  One thing they didn’t hide was the fact Ranger was Sarah’s brother. Her parents had met Sarah several times and they seemed to think a lot of her, so it seemed only natural to let them in on that little slice of truth.

  “So, you were helping your sister get settled into campus and then Nicole came bumbling through the door and thought you were an intruder?” Her dad laughed as he slapped his thigh. “I can just imagine you screaming and flapping around,” he joked as he looked at Nicole.

  “It was a girl’s-only floor,” Nicole said, hopping on board with the lie. “I wasn’t expecting some tall, dark and handsome man to be in there as soon as I walked in.”

  “Sarah had stepped out to use the restroom,” Ranger continued. “So to be fair, it must have been quite the shock.”

  “You’re telling me,” Nicole carried on, winging it. “We’d been there for two weeks and she’d never even mentioned a brother by that point, so to walk into you standing there really was the last thing I was expecting.”

  “I love these kinds of stories,” her mom purred as she held her hands together adoringly underneath her chin. “It reminds me of all of the excitement that comes from being young.”

  Ranger gave Nicole’s hand a reassuring squeeze and she felt a little rush of longing course through her.

  “So, it’s obviously quite a bit thing for our little Nicole to bring a man home,” her dad said a lot more seriously than she had been expecting. “I can see there is a real spark between you too. It’s heartwarming to see.”

  Nicole began to blush and she half expected Ranger to recoil, but he didn’t. He kept holding her hand tightly.

  “Your daughter is very special,” Ranger said genuinely. “I’m so very, very glad she came into my life.”

  Nicole’s heart was pounding. He was staring at her, watching her reaction and the only think she could do was smile, even though he had completely taken her by surprise. She had never had anyone speak like that about her before and even though she knew that it was all part of the plan, she couldn’t help but like it.

  It felt good to have a man by her side, and it felt more than good to have her parents cooing over someone she had brought home like this. She had been expecting the complete opposite, but they really did seem to be fully on board.

  “I was saying to Nicole earlier when you two were in the den that her father and I had some concerns that once college was over, she would want to run off and travel the world,” her mother said nervously. “Please tell me you’re not planning any adventures any time soon?” She looked at Ranger and directed the question at him.

  “No, Ma’am,” he said, smiling. “I’m perfectly settled.”

  Her mother’s eyes seemed to twinkle and Nicole watched as she reached over and took hold of her father’s hand in the same way that Ranger was holding hers.

  “It is true what they say,” her mom said, “when you meet the one, you just know.”

  She glanced at Nicole and Ranger across the table and smiled at them both, wholeheartedly and true.

  Nicole felt a pang of guilt. What was happening here? She was starting to become confused as to what was real and what was pretend.

  She coughed and dropped Ranger’s hand before she rose to her feet and started to clear the plates. Ranger screeched his chair back too and stood up beside her.

  “Here, allow me,” he said as he reached down and helped her gather up the used plates and cutlery.

  Nicole walked through the double doors of the dining room, down the corridor and to the kitchen. When she crossed over the doorway, she slammed the plates down on the countertop and turned around to stare at him.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked seriously as he placed his stack of dishes down too and looked at her.

  “I feel terrible,” she hissed in a whisper. “My parents are really buying this.”

  “Well maybe that’s because we’re being very convincing, and sorry, but if I’m not mistaken, wasn’t that the point?”

  Nicole reached up and rubbed her temples. She could feel the beginnings of a stress headache. She wished she could walked out and go back to campus, leaving this whole mess behind.

  “I know what we’re supposed to be doing,” she whispered. “But I didn’t realize that you would be so good at it.” She looked down at her feet.

  “I’m not even sure I understand what you mean by that,” he said. In that moment, the rough edge to his voice returned. “If you’re referring to the fact I’m not as good as you and you’re surprised I can carry a conversation, that just goes to show everything I thought about you originally is right.”

  “Hey,” Nicole said, wounded and hurt.

  She felt tears pooling behind her eyes and she reached up and dabbed them away before they had the chance to spill down her face.

  “Listen,” Ranger said as he took a step closer. When she felt him only inches away from her again, her whole body reacted. She felt as if all her skin was tingling with anticipation. “We’re out of here in another day. Let’s just do what we can and then we can forget this whole thing ever happened.”

  “Okay,” Nicole agreed.

  She let her eyes travel up to meet his and she felt her stomach dip again. Those goddam eyes. He could use them as a weapon; He was already disarming her. She turned away before she got sucked in any deeper and cleared her throat.

  “Okay,” she said as she turned back to face him. “I’m going to suggest we head to bed. I’m beat and I feel really stressed out, so I’ll find out which guest room you’re staying in.”

  “Am I not allowed to stay up and shoot the shit with your dad?” he asked with a sly grin.

  “No,” she hissed. “You’ve spent enough time with him and my mom all ready. We don’t want to go overboard and make them suspicious.”

  Ranger smiled and looked at her as if she were a spoiled child. He was clearly beginning to be so amused by all of this and it was driving her nuts.

  “Come on,” she said as she pushed past him and made her way back to the dining room.

  When she stepped inside, her mom and dad were holding each other close and gazing into each other’s eyes. Nicole stopped and studied them for a moment, unsure of what she was witnessing.

>   She hadn’t seen them look so in love since she was a child. It was as if a spark had been lit and they were rediscovering themselves.

  “Umm,” Nicole reluctantly interrupted. “I’m really tired, and Ranger had to drive here after a long journey from his home town, so…”

  Her mother rose to her feet and smiled.

  “Of course, dear, you must both be completely exhausted,” she said warmly.

  “So, which guestroom is Ranger staying in? I’ll help him find his way there and make sure he has everything.”

  Her parents looked at each other and gave a little laugh, as if they were sharing an inside joke.

  “Don’t worry you two,” her mom said as she stepped closer. “We’re not living in the dark ages, and we’re not as old fashioned as you may think we are.”

  Nicole’s stomach lurched as she realized what was coming next.

  “You’re an adult Nicole,” her mom continued, “and you haven’t been living here for three years. I can only assume you share a bed elsewhere, so there is no need for it to be any different here.”

  She felt her face flame red and she shot a nervous glance over to Ranger. He didn’t even flinch, he just nodded his head in agreement and smiled.

  “That’s very understanding,” he said. “As long as you don’t mind? We want to respect whatever house rules you wish to lay down.”

  “Oh, Ranger,” Nicole’s mom gushed as she stepped closer to him and pulled him into an adoring hug. “You really are terribly charming!”

  Nicole was standing stiffly with her mouth hanging halfway open. This was a turn of events she certainly hadn’t been expecting. She had always thought her parents to be terribly old fashioned and it hadn’t even crossed her mind that Ranger would have been allowed anywhere near her bedroom but it looked like she was wrong.

  “Umm,” she stammered as she reached down to the table and picked up her glass of water. “Thanks, mom. As long as you guys don’t mind.”

  “How could we mind? You two love birds are clearly very attached. We wouldn’t want to drive a wedge where there doesn’t need to be one.”

  Nicole nodded and went over to them, giving both of her parents a hug and a kiss goodnight before Ranger reached out and took hold of her hand.

  She had been so startled by it when they had been sat at the table that she hadn’t noticed how perfectly her tiny palm fit into his. It was almost as if his big hand was a glove for hers, completely covering her and keeping her warm. She looked at him and smiled.

  “Good night,” she said as they turned and began to walk towards the doorway. Her heart was pounding and her mouth was running dry with nerves.

  As they climbed the stairs Ranger looked across at her with amusement. “I wasn’t expecting that,” he whispered.

  “You’re telling me.”

  They walked down the hallway and pushed open the door to Nicole’s bedroom and she closed the it behind them. Ranger stood against the wall, kicking his boot up against it and his his hands in his pockets.

  Goddam it, why does he have to look so good…?

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I feel terrible. I honestly thought they would have had me locked in here and you as far away down the hall as possible.”

  “It’s fine,” he said, but he didn’t move a muscle. “I told you, they love me. Of course they’re going to want me to be close to you at all times.” He winked, and Nicole couldn’t help but laugh.

  “So, what are we going to do?” she asked as she looked down at the bed. It was the elephant in the room. It looked so comfortable and tempting with its thick, fluffy blankets and plush scatter cushions, but neither of them seemed to want to step toward it.

  “I can go on the floor,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll be fine.”

  Nicole felt a sag of disappointment in the bottom of her stomach.

  “No,” she said, almost before she realized the words were hurtling out of her mouth. “You can’t do that. What if my mom comes in early morning with coffee and pastries, or what if they knock to say goodnight? They’ll open the door and see you there and know it was all a big lie, and this whole thing will have been for nothing.”

  Like the lawyer she had once trained to be, she was putting forward a very convincing case. However, she wasn’t sure if she believed her reasoning, or whether she did just want to spend the night cuddled up next to Ranger.

  She looked at his big muscular arms, at his height, and at the fact he was so big and intimidating he would probably take up the entire mattress, but she didn’t mind.

  “Okay,” he said, nonplussed. “Whatever you want, wifey.”

  Her heart did a little dance inside her chest and she bit her bottom lip to try and hide her smile.

  He stepped away from the wall and wandered over to the window where he peered through the gap in the curtains and looked out over the neighborhood.

  “Must have been really nice growing up here,” he said genuinely. “It’s a good little part of the world.”

  Nicole watched him and couldn’t tell if it were sadness that was inside of him or whether he was just caught up in the moment.

  “And your folks,” he said, smiling at her over his shoulder. “I know they’ve given you a rough time, but they love you. You can really see that.”

  “I know they do,” she said guiltily. “Maybe they just care too much.”

  Ranger shrugged.

  “Only you know the truth,” he said. “I’ve only met them today.”

  “True,” she said as she sat down on the bed and pulled a blanket around her.

  Ranger turned and looked at her and there was something definitely between them. Nicole had been feeling it all day; she had felt it at the beginning of the week in Tanners, and she had even felt something the night they had first met, but she had been determined to ignore it.

  Her and Ranger had fought like a cat and dog, they had put each other down and they had driven each other mad, and yet all she wanted was to feel his arms around her. Right at that very moment.

  She swallowed and looked down at the ground.

  “Thank you, again,” she said, “for doing all of this. I still don’t really know why you agreed to it…” she laughed as little, “but thank you.”

  He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t take his eyes off her, either.

  The silence grew between them and Nicole felt her eyes becoming heavy. The day had been such a rollercoaster of emotions, and it had been such hard work trying not to slip up she was completely drained and exhausted. She shuffled down the bed slightly and lay on her side, pulling the covers up around her, still fully clothed.

  Ranger waited until she had fallen asleep, then sat at her desk by the window watching her, a strange feeling overtaking his entire body.

  He hadn’t bargained for what was happening either, but it was becoming more and more difficult to ignore that there was something between them. They had clicked, and it had been full of anger and fire when they had met but that had subdued now, and every time he looked at her, he felt something more each time.

  He noticed her breathing had become longer, and he could tell that she was deeply asleep. She looked even cuter when she slept.

  He silently slipped off his boots and placed them underneath the desk then tiptoed around to the other side of the bed.

  Luckily for him, Nicole had fallen fast asleep right on the opposite edge so he lay down next to her, fully clothed and with a separate blanket. He looked at the ceiling until his own eyes began to grow heavy.

  It had been a crazy day, it had been a crazy week, and he knew there was more to come but for some reason, it didn’t faze him. It had been a long time since he had felt so close to someone and had enjoyed their company.

  He was just beginning to hope that Nicole felt the same.

  11.

  The heat was so intense it was making her moist and clammy. She writhed against the sheets and moaned, the sensation of having a big strong arm wrapped around her so good
it was making her ache. She couldn’t tell if it was a part of her dream or if it was real. One thing was for certain, she felt so safe and secure she never wanted it to end.

  She stretched out her legs and felt her feet skim against something. She was still half asleep, in and out of wakefulness, but she had been pretty sure it had been a person.

  She moved again, letting her bare toes brush up against the feel of rough denim. She snapped wide awake.

  She wasn’t alone. Someone was in bed with her and had their arm around her.

  Her heart raced as she spun over to see Ranger moving uncomfortably, shifting his arm and weight away from her, still sleeping soundly.

  Nicole rubbed her eyes to make sure he was real.

  This incredible man who was doing things for her that she never would have expected.

  She looked down at him and watched him sleep. He looked so good… his stubble had come back slightly, a smattering of hair all over his chin and cheeks. His features were dark and pronounced and she had the urge to reach out and touch him. All she wanted to do was run her hand through his hair.

  Without warning, his eyes suddenly opened and he stared at her.

  Nicole jumped back and gasped. He didn’t seem to be concerned; he just held her gaze before he smiled.

  “Do you get a perverted kick out of watching people sleep?” he said mischievously before lifting his huge arms and stretching with a yawn.

  His movements seemed to shake the entire house, he was such a powerful force. Nicole smiled and shrugged.

  “How did you sleep?” she asked. “I can’t even remember going to bed.”

  “You just collapsed there,” he said as he leaned up on his elbow. “I was going to just crash on the floor, but I didn’t want to fuck it all up.”

  “No, it’s good you got in,” she said with a shy smile.

  She looked down at herself and at her crumpled clothes and realized he was still wearing his heavy jeans and shirt. The air in the room was thick and hot and she walked over to the window, opening the curtains and cracking the window open to let in some fresh air.