Beauty and the Bull Rider by Victoria Vane Page A

mini interrogation is all about?”
    â€œYes,” he answered, turning his head to face her squarely. “Did you?”
    â€œNo,” she replied. “Not that it’s any of your business. I respect Kevin as a vet and value his friendship, but I don’t have any romantic interest in him.”
    â€œBut that doesn’t necessarily preclude him from your daddy prospects, does it?”
    â€œTheoretically no,” she replied. “I had considered asking him after Ty declined, but then you came along.”
    â€œYeah,” he replied with a scoffing sound. “I came along. Are you saying you woulda picked him if I hadn’t?”
    At first she was miffed at his irrational display of possessiveness, but then she realized it was born of insecurity. He didn’t know where he stood. She hadn’t intentionally strung him along, but that was probably how he felt. She could relate to that feeling of insecurity. She’d known it well when she was with Ty.
    â€œI’m not saying that at all,” she answered in a softer tone. “I was still mulling over my options. I hadn’t decided anything.”
    â€œAnd now?” he asked. “Have you decided?”
    â€œI’ve been thinking, Zac. Thinking really hard. I’d planned to do this on my own, but now you’ve changed everything. Complicated everything.” All because he wasn’t content just to be a sperm donor. He wanted to be a father.
    â€œYou’re the one who chose to make it complicated,” he said. “I know you’re gun-shy, Delaney. I can understand that and I’m willing to work really hard to help you overcome it, but you need to trust me.”
    â€œBecause you have such a great track record?” she replied dryly. “How many serious relationships have you been in?”
    â€œNone,” he answered.
    â€œAnd you’ve been with more women than you can even remember, so maybe you can understand why I have some reservations.”
    â€œMaybe I have been with a lot of women, but I’ve never cheated on anyone.”
    â€œHow could you when you have a pathological fear of commitment?”
    His body emanated tension. His back and shoulders were too straight. He pulled off to the side off the road and cut the engine. “There’s something you need to understand. It wasn’t because I’m incapable of commitment. There just wasn’t anyone I wanted. There’s a huge difference.” His brows were drawn. He took her shoulders in his hands. “I know what I want when I see it, and right now all I see is you .”
    The look in his eyes made it hard to breathe. She made the mistake of breaking eye contact to focus on his mouth and immediately recalled the feel of it on hers. She wanted desperately to feel it again . . . and a whole lot more, but feared that acting on that desire could only lead to trouble. Big trouble.
    â€œYou say all the right words, but words don’t really mean anything,” she said. “If we agreed to have a baby together, how can I know you’ll stick around?”
    â€œBecause I believe in promises and I keep my word. If I tell you I’m gonna be here, I’m gonna damned well be here. Once I set a course, I believe in staying on it.”
    â€œBut what if it’s not the right one?” she asked. “Would you just keep going in the wrong direction?”
    â€œProbably,” he admitted dryly. “It’s that bullheaded quality I mentioned before.” He tipped her chin up to meet his gaze and continued softly, “I think we could be damned good together. I don’t understand why you’re fighting it so hard.”
    â€œBecause I’m scared, Zac. I want to believe this could work between us, but what if it doesn’t? I’ve had my heart broken once, and once was enough. I just don’t want to go through that again.”
    â€œYou think I’m not scared