Page 45 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“I wouldn’t mind doing that, but if you’d rather get back home?—”

“Not at all,” she assured quickly. “The most important thing is that we’re safe. We’ll figure the rest of this out tomorrow, okay?”

He dipped his head closer to give her a lingering kiss. “Where have you have been all my life?” She was so perfect for him.

“In too many cities and towns to count.” She kissed him back. “I’m just glad my twisty turny path led me to you.” Her voice grew dreamy.

“I love you, Laura.” It felt like the right moment, so he hoped he wasn’t blowing anything by laying the L word on her this soon.

“I love you, too, Ames.”

The way her dark gaze grew all soft and melty told him the timing of his confession had been exactly right. Plus, she’d said it back. It didn’t get any better than that.

It was another thirty minutes or so before a shuttle van arrived to take them to the pair of hotel rooms he’d managed to reserve over the phone. He helped carry her suitcases to her room and lingered outside her doorway.

“Do you want to join me for coffee or something after you get settled in?” He was still way too wound up to sleep.

“Absolutely!” She reached over to tangle her fingers with his. “I just need to call home first.” She glanced laughingly down at her elf costume. “And finally change out of this. The detective who had me cornered in the ambulance asked some very interesting questions about my dress and striped stockings.”

“I can only imagine.” He shook his head. “If he was half as thorough in his questions as the detective who was grilling me…”

She smiled. “You got the full-blown interrogation, too?”

“Kind of felt that way.” He leaned closer to touch his mouth to hers again. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

He rolled his single carryon to the room next door. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, he dialed his youngest brother.

Flint picked up on the first ring. “Is this the human version of you or the angelic version?”

“Ha. Ha.”

Flint put him on speakerphone, and Nash’s voice boomed across the line. “There’s no such thing as an angelic version of him. You know that.” His voice cracked with emotion as he added, “Man! We’ve never been so glad to hear from you!”

“Right back atcha.” Ames was feeling a little emotional himself.

“Any injuries?”

“Nope.”

“What about Laura?”

“Again, nope.” He was anxious to share his other good news. “It’s official now. We’re dating.”

Flint gave a whoop of delight. “Ol’ Brex is probably gonna expire when he finds out. You should’ve seen him tonight after you left the float. He came looking for her. Not sure why. But when Lucy informed him she was on her way to Dallas, he hit the ground and started hacking up body organs.”

“He did what?” Suspicion shot through Ames as he recalled the police detective’s questions from earlier.

“Had some sort of meltdown. I don’t know what else to call it.” Flint didn’t sound too worried about it. “When Lucy tried to help him, he jumped up and ran off.”

“Strange.” Ames plopped down on his hotel bed. “You want to know what else is strange? A pair of police detectives in Tucson claim there’s evidence of foul play. They’re saying the fuel tank on the jet was tampered with. I’m hoping to find out more tomorrow.”

A moment of shocked silence followed his revelation.

“Where are you now?” Nash sounded troubled.

“Laura and I checked into a hotel here in town. Why?”

“Want us to head down there tonight?”

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