Page 28 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

Right. Laura hurried after her for a lightning shower and a change of clothing. Instead of jeans, she selected a corduroy dress of blue velvet that fell just above her knees. She paired it with soft suede boots in a light beige color. They hugged her legs, adding a much needed layer of warmth to the February temps. Since the two of them wouldn’t be outside for long, she opted to leave her winter coat at home.

“That should get his attention.” Lucy cast an approving sideways look at her on their way back to the Jeep. She mashed the button on the wall to open the garage door.

The cold mountain air immediately swirled into the garage, making Laura shiver.

“You think?” She smoothed her hands nervously over the skirt of her dress as she clasped her seatbelt and settled into the passenger seat.

“If you don’t want to take my word for it, wait and see what Ames has to say about it,” her sister advised cheekily. She started the motor.

Laura found Ames in the lower-level stables, brushing down the horse he’d be riding that evening. At the sight of her, he shoved the brush at his youngest brother and strode her way up the long, plank hallway. Horses nickered from the stalls on both sides of him.

“What are you doing here?” His blue gaze darkened as he drank her in.

She felt like a flower blossoming in the sun beneath the intensity of his scrutiny. A guy like him didn’t need to fill the air between them with words. All it took was one look from him to make her feel special. Cherished. Adored. Wanted.

She smiled at the sound his leather chaps made as his long legs ate up the stretch of hallway between them.

“I came to see you.”

The admiring glow in his gaze was immediately replaced with concern. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes and no.” She was full of too many conflicting emotions to put a label on what she was feeling.

He reached for her shoulders and spun her around to face the opposite direction. “We can talk in the Carsons’ home away from home, if you prefer.”

He and his brothers had a dressing room all to themselves. She’d only been inside it one other time.

Her heart beat an insane rhythm as he led her to it. Shutting the door behind them, he leaned back against it and faced her. “What’ll it be this time, darling? More pickup rider services?”

“No.” She forced herself to swallow her pride and take a step closer, resting a hand on his arm. The sleeves of his plaid shirt were rolled up. She stifled a shiver at the way his muscles flexed beneath her fingers. “I, um…” Oh, this was so much harder than she’d anticipated! She suddenly wished she’d taken the time to rehearse what she was going to say.

Ames watched her with a hooded expression. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m trying to be, but I’ve been worried about you.” The words burst from her.

“Worried about me?” He pointed at his chest, looking puzzled. “Why?”

She glanced away from him, blinking nervously. “I know this may sound stupid, but you didn’t respond to my thank you text for the coffee. Then the jewelry store was broken into. Lucy and I had just left?—”

“You were there?” Ames straightened against the door, reaching for her hands.

“We didn’t go inside.” She shook her head. “We tried dropping by their grand opening celebration during our lunch break, but it was too crowded to get through the door. On our way back to the toy store, we heard the security alarm go off.” If he’d been watching or listening to the news, he already knew the rest of the story.

“Did you see anything?” He rubbed his callused thumbs in circles over the tops of her hands.

“No. There were way too many people between us and the store.”

“Good.” He tugged her closer so he could rest his chin on top of her head. “That’s messy business. I’m glad you’re not involved.”

“So we’re okay?” She snuggled closer, reveling in his nearness and scent — a mix of saddle soap, leather, and the faint overtones of aftershave. “You and me?”

He grew still. “Any reason we shouldn’t be?”

She felt silly reminding him, but she didn’t know what else to say. “You still haven’t responded to my text.”

“Ah.” He hugged her tighter. “Figured I’d leave you alone for a while. You know…give you some space. Flint said I follow you around like a needy puppy, and girls find that annoying.”

Nothing could’ve been further from the truth in his case. “I don’t find you annoying,” she assured fervently.

---