Page 59 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“Don’t worry, cowboy. You’ll forget all about me after you’re gone.” There was a world of sadness in her voice that reached beneath his rib cage and squeezed the one organ in the world that beat just for her.

Frustration clogged his throat. “If you wanted me to forget you, you shouldn’t have kissed me.”

She looked stricken. “I’m so sorry?—”

“I’m not,” he snarled.

“Yo, Flint!” someone shouted from the bottom of the ramp. “You’re needed down here pronto!”

He gnashed his teeth at the interruption and hollered back, “Be right there!” To Lucy, he pleaded, “How about we grab a cup of coffee after the show?”

“Sorry, cowboy.” She blinked rapidly, looking like she was trying not to break down. “I don’t plan to hang around that long.”

He was torn between his duties and the agony of leaving her like this. “Listen, if you’re in any sort of trouble?—”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly. Too quickly. “Go be amazing out there tonight, Flint Carson.”

The fact that she’d kissed him and she was being nice to him only served to amplify his concerns. Yeah, something was wrong alright. “Listen.” Though he remained in her path, he stopped jogging backward, forcing her to halt. “I’m gonna go put out whatever fire is happening inside. Then I’ll be right back to get to the bottom of whatever is troubling you, you hear?”

“My hero,” she mocked, dabbing at the edges of her eyes.

He scowled at her cavalier tone. If she didn’t think he was going to keep his word to her, then she knew nothing about the Carson brothers.

Sprinting back down the ramp, he yanked open the door to the stable, anxious to handle whatever needed to be handled so he could return all the sooner to her.

“Surprise!” The entryway erupted into cheers. His heart sank as the reason became apparent. The Castellano’s staff was throwing a surprise goodbye party for him and his brothers. There were banners hanging on the wall, a life-sized card that everyone had signed, and the biggest table of desserts he’d ever laid eyes on.

“Wow!” Flint gazed around the hall, deeply moved by their outpouring of appreciation and friendship. “You do realize we’re gonna be back for a show in March?”

Roman Rios strode his way to deliver a teeth-rattling back slap. “It won’t be the same, and you know it. We’re gonna miss having you here full time. It’s been a real honor working beside each and every one of you Carson brothers.”

His words were met with claps and cheers of agreement.

Since there was no fire to put out, after all, it wasn’t easy for Flint to break away. When folks threw a party in your honor, you were kind of expected to be present. He didn’t manage to slip back outside until a few minutes before the show was supposed to begin.

To his intense disappointment, Lucy’s beat-up brown truck was no longer in the lot. He tried to take comfort in the fact that her white trailer was still parked beside his. He turned dejectedly back to the building, knowing now he’d have no choice but to catch her after the show.

If she’s still here. Which she’d vowed she wouldn’t be.

The thought of never seeing her again was unbearable. He slid to his knees on the cold pavement and did something he’d been meaning to do for a while. He wasn’t sure what had taken him so long, other than his own stubbornness.

“God, it’s me. Flint Carson. I know You don’t hear from me often, and I’m gonna work on that. In the meantime, I’m begging You.” He couldn’t bear the thought of the woman he loved hightailing it out of town while he was in the ring. “Help me find a way to help Lucy.” Whatever she needed, he’d give it to her if only she’d let him.

A sense of peace settled over him. He wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with his simple prayer. Maybe it was just so cold outside that it was taking the edge off his worries. Numbing them or something.

However, he liked the idea of having God on his side when it came to his pursuit of Lucy. It was something he hadn’t tried before, and it felt good. It felt right. Like he might finally have a shot at succeeding with her where everything else had failed.

Dallas bound

The flight home after the show was a full one. Nash was present with Noelle and their snoozing son. So were Ayaka and Haruki Lee.

Laura was seated beside Ames in the cockpit as usual. “Merry almost Christmas!” She bent over his captain’s chair to press a kiss to his cheek.

He turned his head to capture her lips instead. “I love you, Mrs. Carson.”

His kiss packed such a wallop that her knees felt unsteady by the time she slid into the seat beside him and reached for her seatbelt. “I love you, too.” She was ecstatic about the prospect of spending their first Christmas as a married couple in Texas. She had no idea how he’d talked her parents into traveling during one of the busiest times of the year at the toy store. She was simply grateful he’d pulled it off. Only one person would be missing from their holiday celebration.

“What’s wrong?” Ames started his pre-flight sequence at the controls.

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