Page 7 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“What I know about your feelings has changed, though,” she reminded quietly. “It’s a lot to wrap my brain around, Ames.” She still wasn’t sure what she thought about having her closest friend crushing on her. For one thing, the timing was off. Her heart was already twisted into enough emotional knots, and here he was tying another one into the mix. It was almost too much!

“Take all the time you need. I’m in no hurry.” He leaned back against the kitchen counter and folded his arms, watching her as she went to work measuring out coffee grounds.

Is that so? She flicked an irritated look his way. “Says the guy who just finished informing me that he won’t be in town forever.” Pulling open the overhead cabinet, she withdrew a clean white mug and slid it beneath the coffee dispenser spigot. Then she pushed the brew button.

She could feel his gaze on her as she left the kitchen and hurried across the great room to start a fire. She shed both of their jackets, tossing them on the sofa on her way to the fireplace. Though the central heat was blowing through the vents, there was just something about an honest-to-goodness real fire that never failed to warm her all the way to her toes.

“Maybe it’s for the best,” he called across the great room to her. “Think about it, Laura. If you decide you don’t like having a best friend who has more than friendly feelings for you, then I’ll be out of your hair soon.”

“Please don’t say that.” She blinked rapidly as she dragged her feet back to the kitchen. She was only two blinks away from breaking down again. “I already said I’m going to miss you.” She couldn’t bear the thought of him no longer living next door. No longer meeting her after work. No longer bumbling his way through all the crazy, wonderful things he was forever doing for her.

“Maybe it’s just the dumb bronc rider in me talking, but I’m going to take that as a compliment.” He sounded inordinately pleased with himself.

She wrinkled her nose at him, not caring for the way he’d put himself down. “I’ve called you a lot of things inside my head, Ames Carson, but not once have I ever used the word dumb.” She realized her mistake the moment his gaze sharpened.

“Do tell, Miss Lee. What exactly have you been calling me inside your head?” He leaned teasingly closer to her as she measured out the milk and started frothing it. “This I’ve gotta hear.”

“Cocky,” she snapped without looking up. “Only a very cocky cowboy would want me to elaborate on something like that.”

“Cocky,” he repeated, sounding amused. “I’ve certainly been called worse.”

“Not by me you haven’t, and you never will.” She chose her next words carefully, not wanting to hurt his feelings any worse than she probably already had. “I care too much for you.”

“But,” he sighed, straightening again. “I hear a very loud but coming.”

“I may not care for you the same way you care for me…or the way you want me to…” His wry expression told her that she was doing a very bad job of explaining herself. “But I do care for you. A lot. Which is why I’m going to be brutally honest with you about something.” She all but shoved the mug of espresso at him that she’d just finished brewing.

“We’re friends, remember?” He accepted the mug with a mocking look. “No need to be brutal.”

She rolled her eyes at him. Already knowing he wasn’t going to like the espresso, she didn’t bother mixing a second one for herself. Instead, she placed a clean mug under the spigot and started brewing a cup of plain black coffee.

He took an extra noisy sip just to be silly, then made a sound of disgust. “Flash Billings was right. I’m most definitely not a froo-froo kind of guy when it comes to coffee.”

“I know.” She watched the cup of plain black coffee finish filling. “That’s why what you did for me tonight was so incredibly special.” She lifted the steaming black brew and handed it to him. “Here. Let’s trade.”

Their fingers brushed during the hand off. Though they’d touched many times in the past — everything from bear hugs to playful punches — this time was different. Tiny aftershocks of awareness prickled across her hand and tingled all the way to her heart.

“It’s got my cooties on it.” He winked at her.

“Thanks for the warning.” She deliberately turned the mug around and sipped from the same spot he had. “Will you look at that? I’m still standing.”

He crooked a smile at her. “I hope it doesn’t bother you to hear me say that was hot. Way hot!”

A breathy chuckle spilled out of her. “I honestly have no idea what to think about this new version of you.”

He waggled his eyebrows at her. “It’s not new.”

She beckoned him to follow her to the pair of stools scooted up to the bar behind them. A large square was cut into the wall to create a pass-through cubby from the kitchen to the vaulted dining area on the other side. It bled seamlessly into the great room beyond it.

Ever the perfect gentleman, he held out her stool for her. Only after they were seated and cradling their respective cups of coffee did she sigh, “Okay. Here’s the not so brutal truth.” Without warning, tears welled in her eyes and trickled warmly down her cheeks.

“Whoa!” Ames set his coffee mug down with a clatter of porcelain against granite. He spun his stool toward her and reached for her hands. “Look at me, Laura.”

She miserably met his gaze, hating the fact that he was seeing her like this.

“You can tell me anything, just like you’ve been doing the whole time we’ve known each other.”

She shook her head, feeling close to melting down into a full ugly cry. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

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