That Night With The Rich Rancher. Sara Orwig

      “You don’t have to right now. I want to stay here in your arms, against you. Tony, this has been a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime night.”

      “I agree,” he said, hugging her lightly and kissing her forehead. “Our lives have changed.”

      “Not really. It may not ever again be as bad or as hateful, but tonight doesn’t really change what we’ll face tomorrow. My water problems, you telling me what I should or should not do, not to mention the next thing that’ll come up between us.”

      There was silence while he toyed with locks of her hair. It seemed to her that many minutes went by until he finally spoke. “There’s one question I’d like you to answer. Is water what was behind your high bid tonight? You wanted something from me, Lindsay, and I haven’t heard one word about what it is.”

Three

      At his question, she felt her very core stiffen. She didn’t want to get into that with him lying beside her and her wrapped in his arms. She didn’t want to say anything that would upset him and break the spell that had been woven around them.

      “We’ll talk about that tomorrow. Tonight is special, Tony. I want to keep it magical until the sun rises and brings the reality of our regular lives back to us. Is that okay with you?”