Home > Work > Spitfire Sweetheart (Four Weddings and a Kiss)
41 " He pictured Maizy here, permanently. His. He liked the idea so much it shocked him. And then he pictured her at his side when they got thrown off the land.Rylan hated to see her go. But he knew if he talked her into staying permanently, he’d end up dragging her down with him when he failed. And that would hurt worse than broken ribs any day. "
― Mary Connealy , Spitfire Sweetheart (Four Weddings and a Kiss)
42 " I didn’t expect you to do all this work, Maizy. You probably don’t even need to come over every day.”And that made him feel so sorry for himself. What would he do without her company? "
43 " Surely by now you’ve heard it all a dozen times.”“I like hearing about your dream though. It’s nice. Tell me again. "
44 " I’m not waiting for you or any other man to tell me anything ever again. "
45 " The truth was he’d overreacted that day because he didn’t like running into her. Sure, there was danger from wild bulls and grizzlies in the area—though Rylan hadn’t foreseen the two tangling. But the real reason it upset him to find her was she wasn’t exactly safe from him. Oh, he’d never physically harm her, but he might end up spending time with her and talking and learning all about her. "
46 " Get back to bed.”It was humiliating how easily a man could be pushed around when he had a broken leg.Rylan found himself tucked back in bed and Maizy was making breakfast before he really knew what had happened. It didn’t help that he was dizzy. "
47 " She stalked toward the door and as she swung it open, she turned back and said, “You’re not even steady on your feet. You wouldn’t last two minutes on the back of a horse, and I sure as shootin’ ain’t riding to town for the doctor. So you can just forget gettin’ that cast off today. The doctor wouldn’t agree to that fool notion anyway. "
48 " We need to settle a few things before tomorrow.”“We sure do.” Rylan suspected they wanted to talk about different things. "
49 " If he could have reached it, he’d have kicked his own backside. "
50 " And no amount of trousers and sweat-soaked shirts could change the fact that she was about the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. "
51 " A smile teased at his lips, but he fought it. “Can you come over here and sit down please? I’d like to ask you a few questions.” He made his way to the table and sat.Her eyes were mighty wary, but she clomped right over to him in her boots. She pulled the chair a nice, safe distance away from him, then flipped the chair around and straddled it, deliberately behaving in the least ladylike way she could manage.“All right. Let’s talk. "
52 " She remembered now exactly why she’d gone to war with him when they’d first met. He’d seen her in her britches and before he’d opened his mouth, she’d been riveted on his handsome face and masculine form. The woman in her, which had been sleeping all her life, woke up and wanted him.Every soft and feminine part of her heart was exposed and vulnerable . . . and he’d sneered.The female side of her had lived just long enough to be terribly hurt. Maizy had dug deep to keep that hurt from showing and found anger.The same thing was happening now, and she reacted in the same way. "
53 " We don’t need another way. Marrying me will solve everything.” The man wasn’t even scared, which proved Maizy had good control of herself.Surprising what a woman could do at the same time her heart was breaking. "
54 " You propose marriage with the same breath you tell me you’re ashamed of me. "
55 " She sweetened her voice to molasses. “So no, thank you. I won’t marry you. And I’d say you’re well enough to tend your own house and feed yourself, even though that’s women’s work. "
56 " Just the opposite. I’m so proud of you I could burst. "
57 " Rylan got a stubborn mule look, like he was going to demand she accept his apology and his proposal before he agreed to move. Then he looked around and said, “I think I can get up on my own.I’ll boost myself up on the back steps, then I should be able to stand from there.”Maizy stayed back. “Give it a try. You may not need my help.”“I will always need you, Maizy, and not just because I need your hard work.” They were looking right at each other. Her kneeling, him sitting. Then he smiled. “Don’t wander off. "
58 " What?” Whatever she’d expected him to say, it hadn’t been this.“One look at you in those blasted britches and I wanted you more than I wanted my ranch and my cattle and my pa’s respect. And I’ve been trying to stay away from you ever since. I kept thinking when things were good and I knew I’d made it, then I could think on things like a wife. But then, after I got hurt and it looked like I’d lose everything . . .” He shook his head. “I’ve been trying to get you to go away so when I disgrace myself and lose my ranch, I won’t drag you down with me.”“Rylan, you’re not going to lose the ranch. We’ll get the cattle ready on time.”“You mean you will. You’re saving me, Maizy.” Rylan reached out and took her other hand.“Maybe not being able to do it on my own should pinch my pride—the good Lord knows I’ve got too much of that. But right now all I can think is, I’ve been a fool not to accept the gift God put right in front of me. And I’ve shown myself to be a fool in about every way a man can. "
59 " I should have grabbed you the first time I saw you riding in your pa’s corral, pretty Maizy. I should have known that minute that I’d just met the love of my life.”And there, he’d just said it. "
60 " Rylan put one hand gently over her mouth. “Yes, all that and more. That’s all because I was trying not to do this.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the living daylights out of her. "