Rancher's Remorse (Culpepper Cowboys Book 2) Read online

  He smiled at that. “I like that quality in a woman.” He wanted to kiss her. He’d met her fifteen minutes before, and already all he could think about was kissing her. She’d be fine to have babies with, but he really didn’t want to lose his heart.

  They both jumped when the back door opened and Hope came in with his brother. Karlan, she thought. He announced they were getting married. Joy’s eyes widened. Already? She’d expected Hope to be the first among them to marry, but to be engaged within fifteen minutes? Hope did everything first, but this was extreme even for her.

  Joy stood and walked to where Karlan and Hope were talking, sensing that Kolby was right behind her.

  After a brief discussion they left again, and Joy looked at Kolby with surprise. “Well, that was quick.”

  Kolby rolled his eyes. “Just like Karlan. He found the one he wanted and immediately proposed so there was no chance of anyone else getting her.”

  Joy bit her lip. “Does that mean you’d rather be with Hope as well?”

  He opened his mouth to reassure her but thought better of it. “I don’t know. I’ve never met the girl. I’ve only met you.”

  Joy nodded slowly. Of all the sisters, she was the only one who wasn’t asked out on a regular basis. She had always felt miniscule when compared to the personalities of her sisters. “Would you like me to introduce you to the others?”

  He shook his head. “Not now. Let’s go for a quick walk.”

  “A walk?” Joy was confused. Didn’t he care when Hope and Karlan were getting married? Surely he did.

  He nodded firmly. “A walk. I want to get to know you without all these eyes on us.”

  Joy looked around the room. She didn’t feel any eyes on her. Linda and Dr. Lachele were talking. Hope was on the back porch with Karlan. Faith was still on the couch with one of his brothers, and Chastity was—well, it looked like Chastity was trying to lose her virginity in the dining room, but that was neither here nor there.

  “Okay,” she said, not certain what bug had crawled up his butt, but she didn’t really care to find out. She was tugged toward the front door by him, smiling tightly at Faith as she passed her on her way out.

  When they reached the open air, he kept her hand in his, walking around the side of the house toward the stable. “I don’t know what you know about the ranch yet. We have five houses here, one for each of us, and Mom lives here in the big house.”

  “I see.” What she saw were mountains off in the distance, and she wanted to go to them. She wanted to drag Kolby off and beg him to have a picnic at the base of one of the mountains. She wanted romance in her world. She wasn’t so certain that Kolby would be able to deliver on that as she had been in the moments after they’d first met.

  “I’ve lived here since my dad died when I was two.”

  “I’m sorry. You must not have any memories of him.”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t. My granddaddy made a great substitute father, but I always felt like something was missing.”

  “I can understand that.”

  Kolby walked down a path of rocks with animals painted on them toward a small bench. Once he reached the bench, he sat down, turning to face Joy. “I didn’t really want to walk.”

  Joy stared at him with wide eyes. “What did you want?”

  “I wanted to kiss you somewhere we wouldn’t be seen.”

  “K...k…kiss me?” She’d never been kissed in her life. She’d have been astonished to hear anyone had ever wanted to kiss her.

  He nodded. “Do you mind?”

  Joy swallowed hard. “I guess not. No one has ever kissed me before.” As soon as she’d blurted the words out, she was embarrassed by them. She shouldn’t have told him that. What would he think of her?

  He stared at her in shock. “You’ve never had a boyfriend?”

  Joy shook her head. “No, we were never allowed to. Our parents firmly believed that your first kiss should take place after you speak your vows before a pastor.”

  “Wow.” Kolby wasn’t even sure what to say to that. “I didn’t know there were any girls who were even virgins in this country past the age of twenty, let alone un-kissed.” He frowned at her. “Please tell me you’re over twenty?” His voice was slightly panicked.

  She giggled at that. “We’re twenty-two.”

  “Oh, good. I won’t feel so much like I’m cradle-robbing then.” He was twenty-nine, which was seven years older than her, but that didn’t bother him like her being under twenty would have. He stroked her cheek with one hand, moving his fingers into her hair, and tilting her head to one side. “I’m going to kiss you, Miss Joy.”

  Joy nodded, her eyes drifting closed as his mouth came down on hers. His lips were soft, gently moving against her closed mouth. She put her hand on his shoulder, unsure what she was supposed to do to participate in the kiss. Her parents had never kissed in front of them, and she’d never been allowed to watch much television. Kisses were foreign to her.

  He raised his head, a grin on his lips. “Yup. You definitely live up to your name. That kiss brought me joy.”

  She smiled at him, blushing slightly. She liked that kiss. It was nice. Chastity had talked to her about kisses with tongues, but she knew it would be a long time before she was ready for something like that. Years maybe!

  “I’m glad,” she whispered. “I think I like kissing.”

  He chuckled, already feeling the tug of his heart. This girl was awfully special. “We should probably go back in and see when Karlan and Hope are going to marry. I have a feeling we’ll be attending a wedding today.”

  “Do you really think they’ll do it that quickly?”

  “If I know my brother, and I do, he’s already called the preacher.”