The Chance of a Lifetime Read online

  The glorious length of her hair fell forward when she buried her face in her hands. Chance rested his hands on her shoulders, then proceeded to run them up and down her arms. He needed to feel her, to touch not only her body but her heart and her soul. The need to connect them together for all time shook him to his very core.

  “Lacey, baby, what is it?”

  She took a shuddering breath, lifted her head and looked at him. Her blue eyes were wide, stark and so damned lovely Chance was sure he could drown in their blue depths.

  “I can’t do it again, Chance.” He opened his mouth to ask what in the hell she was talking about, but her next words cut him off.

  “I didn’t mean to fall in love with you. I never wanted to fall in love again but it happened anyway.”

  Another tear slid down her cheek. Chance had a sinking feeling she was going to break it off with him because of her fear of being emotionally involved. There was no way he’d let that happen. The urge to take her in his arms was overwhelming. The problem was, he didn’t know whether he wanted to hold her close or shake her.

  “Listen to me, darlin’.”

  The stubborn fool was shaking her head before he managed to get the words out. “No Chance. I need to tell you now. I think in many ways I fell in love with you the day you carried me away from Clay’s wedding. I was furious and embarrassed and made your life hell for a while after that, but even then I loved you, I just hadn’t realized it yet.”

  Her voice shook with emotion as twin rivers streaked her face. “I’d do anything for you except stay in a relationship where I’m not loved in return.”

  What in the hell was she talking about?

  Chance tightened his grip on her upper arms. “I don’t know what in the hell…” He was ready to blast her with anger. To yell and rant and rave if that is what it took to make her understand exactly how wrong she was but once again, she cut him off.

  “I’m not asking for forever, Chance. I’m not even asking for words you’re not ready to give.”

  Enough was enough. “Lacey.” Chance growled her name, his patience about ready to snap.

  Her eyes shot up to his face. The fact that she understood she was treading on dangerous ground was evident by the look on her face.

  There was so much he wanted to say, so much he would insist on saying but first he had to taste her, to brand her his own. Her lips were soft beneath his. Chance slanted his mouth over hers, taking more than she offered then plunging his tongue deep when she gasped.

  When her stiff body relaxed against him, softening in his arms, allowing the onslaught of so many emotions, Chance softened the kiss, then pulled away.

  “If you’re done, Lacey, I think it’s my turn now.”

  She didn’t say a word, merely nodded her head. Chance had trouble suppressing a chuckle.

  “I hated you being married to Andy Winslow. You’ll never know how often I wanted to drag you away and make you mine, and now that I have, you think I’ll ever let you go?”

  His voice had gone hard and possessive, but there was little Chance could do to change the feelings battering his heart.

  “It took everything I had in me not to pound the asshole just now. I stood back like a damned coward because I knew you needed to have your say. You stun me by telling me you love me, then walk away like nothing. I won’t let you end this, Lacey.”

  Chance was thoroughly exasperated by the end of his tirade. “I love you too much to ever live without you, dammit! How could you not know?”

  She stared at him her eyes unblinking. The hand she brought to her forehead quivered slightly. “You … you love me?”

  “Good Lord woman, how could you think I could do anything but love you?”

  This time Chance did give her a little shake, right before he gathered her close. Her trembling body felt perfect against his.

  “Say it again. Tell me you love me, Lacey. Tell me you need me as much as I need you. Tell me you’ll pack everything you own and move to the ranch where I can hold you in my arms all day and beneath me every night.”

  Her body shook against his. For a brief moment, Chance wondered if he’d said something wrong. When Lacey’s hands pushed against his chest, every nerve ending screamed to hold her tight.

  It wasn’t until he finally gave her enough slack to put a bit of space between them that he noticed she wasn’t crying, she was laughing. Tears still trickled down her cheeks but they were accompanied by a bright smile.

  “Good grief, Chance. Even when you’re professing your undying love you still manage to be possessive and bossy.” The words came out on a bubble of laughter, then she rose up on her toes and kissed him lightly on the lips.

  “I love you, Chance Bodine.” She nipped his lower lip; then laved the offended flesh with her pink tongue, causing Chance’s cock to stand up and take notice. “And yes, I’ll move to the ranch and let you hold me by day if I can be on top sometimes at night.”

  Her peal of laughter was music to his ears just as her naughty words. He swatted the lush expanse of her ass before lifting her over his shoulder.

  “I say we forgo shaking on this deal. I can think of much better ways to seal the bargain.” Chance carried Lacey out the door and to his truck, where he settled her in the center of the bench seat so she’d be close. As they drove to The Lazy B, he thanked his lucky stars he’d been given the chance of a lifetime.

  The End

  About the Author:

  Maggie Casper’s life could be called many things, but boring isn’t one of them. If asked, Maggie would tell you that blessed would more aptly describe her everyday existence.

  Marrying young and being loved by a great husband and four gorgeous daughters should be enough to make anybody feel blessed. Add to that a bit of challenge, a lot of fun and an undeniably close circle of friends and family, and you’d be walking in her shoes.

  Speaking of challenges and fun, when not writing, Maggie’s alter ego spends her time fighting fires and treating patients as a Lieutenant and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician with the local fire department. These awesome people are like her second family, no picking and choosing, they’re just stuck with her.

  A love of reading was passed on by Maggie’s mother at a very early age and so began her addiction to romance novels. Maggie admits to writing some in high school but when life got in the way, she put her pen and paper up. Seems that things changed over the years because when she finally decided it was time to put her story ideas on paper the pen was out and the computer was in. Took her a while to catch up but she finally made it.

  When not writing, Maggie can usually be found reading, doing genealogy research or watching NASCAR. If you’d like, drop by www.maggiecasper.com to see what Maggie’s working on next.

  Meet Lsb Authors At Silver Net, Aka The

  House Of Sin Http://Lsbooks.Net

  We invite you to visit Liquid Silver Books

  http://LSbooks.com

  for other exciting erotic romances.

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