The Proposal & Solid Soul Read Free Page A

up the steps of the porch. There was nothing about seeing him in all his masculine form that any woman could or would complain about. She felt her throat tighten when moments later he was standing in front of her. Something she could recognize as hot, fluid desire closed in on her, making it hard to breathe. Especially when his gaze was holding hers with the same concentration he’d had the night of the ball.
    Today in the bright sunlight she was seeing things about him that the lights in the ballroom that night hadn’t revealed: the whiteness of his teeth against his dark skin, the thickness of his lashes, the smooth texture of his skin and the broadness of his shoulders beneath his shirt. Another thing she was seeing now as well as what she remembered seeing in full detail that night was the full shape of a pair of sensual lips.
    “And what about you, Bella?”
    She blinked, realizing he’d spoken. “What about me?” The smile curving his lips returned and in a way that lulled her into thoughts she shouldn’t be thinking, like how she’d love kissing that smile on his face.
    “How have you been…besides busy?” he asked.
    Bella drew in a deep breath and said. “Yes, things have definitely been busy and at times even crazy.”
    “I bet. And I meant what I said earlier. If you ever need help with anything, let me know.”
    “Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it.” She had seen the turnoff to his ranch. The marker referred to it as Jason’s Place. And from what she’d seen through the trees it was a huge ranch and the two-story house was beautiful.
    She quickly remembered her manners and said. “I was about to have a cup of tea. Would you like a cup, as well?”
    He leaned against the post and his smile widened even more. “Tea?”
    “Yes.”
    She figured he found such a thing amusing if the smile curving his lips was anything to go by. The last thing a cowboy would want after being in the saddle was a cup of tea. A cold beer was probably more to his liking but was the one thing she didn’t have in her refrigerator. “I’d understand if you’d rather not,” she said.
    He chuckled. “A cup of tea is fine.”
    “You sure?”
    He chuckled again. “Yes, I’m positive.”
    “All right then.” She opened the door and he followed her inside.
     
    B ESIDES THE FACT J ASON thought she looked downright beautiful, Bella Bostwick smelled good, as well. Hewished there was some way he could ignore the sudden warmth that flowed through his body from her scent streaming through his nostrils.
    And then there was the way she was dressed. He had to admit that although she looked downright delectable in her jeans and silk blouse she also looked out of place in them. But as she walked gracefully in front of him, Jason thought that a man could endure a lot of sleepless nights dreaming about a Southern-belle backside shaped like hers.
    “If you’ll have a seat, Jason, I’ll bring the tea right out.”
    He stopped walking as he realized she must have a pot already made. “All right.”
    He watched her walk into the kitchen, but instead of taking the seat like she’d offered, he kept standing as he glanced around taking in the changes she’d already made to the place. There were a lot of framed art pieces on the wall, a number of vases filled with flowers, throw rugs on the wood floor and fancy curtains attached to the windows. It was evident that a woman lived here. And she was some woman.
    She hadn’t hesitated to get her back up when she’d assumed his visit here was less than what he’d told her. He figured Kenneth Bostwick, in addition to no telling how many others, probably hadn’t liked her decision not to sell her land and was giving her pure grief about it. He wouldn’t be one of those against her decision.
    He continued to glance around the room, noting the changes. There were a lot of things that remained the same, like Herman’s favorite recliner, but she’d added a spiffy new sofa to go with it.