Page 6 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

Or tried to.

Ames stepped closer. “You can call me anything you want, Laura. Any time. Any place. I can handle the fallout with my brothers.”

“You are sweet,” she pointed out shyly, tipping her head back against the wood trim. “Maybe not to them.” She gave a nervous chuckle. “But you are to me. You always have been.” It made her a little sad that she’d been so stuck in recovery mode from her breakup with Brex that she’d failed to see that before now. Another thought struck her, making her eyes widen in horror. “Is it because you feel sorry for me?”

His eyebrows rose in astonishment. “Is that what you really think?”

She shook her head uncertainly. “Honestly, Ames? I don’t know what to think anymore. It’s been so long since I’ve been in good head space. Broken engagements can do that to a person, I guess.”

A fierce expression flashed across his angular features, making her insides tremble. “I reckon it doesn’t help that your ex is back in town.”

“No.” She was unable to quell a shiver. “It doesn’t.”

He immediately shrugged out of his leather jacket. This time, she didn’t try to stop him. “Here.” He draped it around her shoulders, smoothing his large hands down the sleeves to mold it more snugly against her arms. “Better?”

“Yes.” The truth was, her whole world had taken a turn for the better the moment he’d stepped into it. They’d known each other for the better part of a year now. He was the biggest reason her heart was on the road to recovery.

“I’m still gonna be here for you, okay?” He held her gaze steadily. “Ex or no ex in the mix, I plan to keep being your person, Laura.” He drew a heavy breath. “As long as you’ll let me.”

“You mean you’ll keep being my friend?” Her voice rose to such a high note that she hardly recognized it as her own.

“Always.” His voice was low and tender. Like before, there was no hesitation in his answer.

“That’s it?” she pressed threadily.

“I didn’t say that.” His blue gaze burned into hers, allowing her a glimpse of what he was leaving unsaid.

She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “Then what, Ames? I’ve never been good at guessing games.”

His gaze dipped to her mouth again. “I want to be here for you the way you deserve. I want to be your most faithful listener when you need to talk. Your biggest cheerleader for all the new and innovative stuff you keep testing out at work. I want to be your go-to guy during the good times and the bad times.”

She had to remind herself to breathe. If she was being perfectly honest with herself, he’d already been serving in every single one of those roles. She just hadn’t thought about it that way before now.

“And eventually,” his voice dropped to a lower, huskier note, “I want to steal a kiss from you, preferably before the Carson brothers leave town for good.”

Her lips parted in alarm. “You’re leaving?” Apprehension flooded her. “When?”

He shrugged. “No exact date, but we’re not going to be in Pinetop forever. We’ve already been here months longer than we originally planned.”

She nodded sadly, knowing he was referring to the double extension the owners at Castellano’s had already made to the Carson brothers’ contract to perform at their indoor rodeo.

He ducked his head a little to study her expression. “You gonna miss me when I’m gone?”

“Very much.” She glanced away from him, no longer able to endure the intensity of his gaze. “Do you, um, mind if I get started on that coffee I promised you?” She blindly turned away from him and finished stepping into the kitchen.

“Nope. You want some help?” She heard the footfalls of his boots against the tile floor as he followed her.

She smiled despite her sadness. “Are you telling me you actually know how to make a shot of espresso?” His sudden interest in espresso was surprising, considering his much simpler taste in black.

“Does watching the barista do it earlier count?”

She tossed a knowing look at him as she made her way to the fridge. “If you’re referring to standing at the counter and tapping the toe of your boot impatiently? No.”

He snorted. “You know me so well.”

Apparently, not well enough to notice you were falling for me. Guilt spurted through her midsection, throwing her emotionally off balance again. “I thought I knew you,” she confessed softly as she pulled open the stainless steel fridge door and withdraw a carton of milk.

“You still know me.” He sounded matter-of-fact. “I’m the same guy I’ve always been. My feelings for you haven’t changed from the get go.”

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