Page 8 of Cowboy Stolen Kiss for Christmas

“I’m a bronc rider, Laura.” His voice was dry. “We’re not exactly made of glass.”

“You can be hurt,” she quavered, “and I don’t want to be the one to do it.”

“Then hurry up and lay it on me.” His expression was unreadable. “The quicker you rip off the Band-Aid, the less it’ll sting.”

She swallowed hard. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I won’t,” he assured her in such a gentle voice that her tears flowed all the faster. He laced his fingers through hers.

“Right up until this evening when I finally realized you, um…” She gulped.

His eyes glinted wickedly at her. “When it became crystal clear just how badly I want to kiss you, eh?”

She blushed. “Yes. That.” So not helping. “I’d been trying to picture what it would look like if Brex and I actually got back together.”

He looked stunned, and not in a good way. “Come again?”

“I know how bad that must sound to you.” She shook her head, glancing away from him. “But that’s what I’ve spent the past year imagining.” She sniffled loudly. “Everyone in my family thinks he’s an awful person for getting cold feet right before our wedding, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s the guy I almost married. Right or wrong, Ames, I chose him once upon a time, and he chose me.”

“Why, Laura?” Ames sounded abnormally calm. He was taking this so much better than she’d expected. “Why did you choose him?”

It was a good question. A fair one. “We had so much in common, I guess.” She raised and lowered her shoulders. “We were both toy makers. We were both living on the road, traveling from craft fair to craft fair without any one place to call home. It was a different sort of life and not an easy one — always switching schools while growing up, always leaving our friends behind. It was nice to finally meet someone who truly got me.”

Ames’ expression remained hooded. “Was he your first kiss?”

“No.” She chuckled damply at the memory. “The honors for that go to a kid named Billy.” She sniffled again. “In case you’re wondering, he and I met in kindergarten.”

A grin spread across Ames’ face. He let go of one of her hands to pull a napkin from the holder on the edge of the counter. Holding it out to her, he drawled, “Just sizing up the competition.”

She used the napkin to dab her cheeks dry. “We moved, and I never saw him again.” She seriously doubted she would even recognize the adult version of him.

“What about your first crush?” Ames prodded.

“Same kid.”

“Alright.” He reached for her hand again, damp napkin and all. “So I can’t be your first crush, your first kiss, or your first fiancé. Triple bummer!” He tangled their fingers together. “Doesn’t mean I can’t be your last.” He paused for a few heartbeats. “When you’re ready, of course.”

“Ames,” Laura gasped, shaking her head at the helpless longing staining his features. “Haven’t you heard a word I said?”

“Clearly, I have, because now I know what I’m up against.”

“Please don’t do this to yourself.” She squeezed his fingers. “You deserve better than this, Ames. Better than me. I’m way too messed up right now, and I don’t know when I’m going to get it all sorted out.” If ever. She was both dreading and looking forward to seeing Brex Morrison again. To be fair, she was mostly dreading it. He’d texted to ask if they could meet up somewhere in town for breakfast in the morning. Her younger sister was going to pitch a fit when she found out Laura was actually considering his request. The way she saw it, Brex still owed her an explanation.

“I appreciate your honesty.” Ames jutted his squared-off chin at her. “Now maybe you’ll appreciate a little bit of the same from me.” He used their joined hands to tug her closer. “I care about you, Laura. It’s not some switch I can just turn off, no matter how inconvenient it is for you to have a guy like me around.”

“Ames,” she sighed, squirming a little on the stool and wishing he wasn’t being quite so honest. “You’re not an inconvenience, for pity’s sake! I’m not sure why you’re always putting yourself down like that.”

“Maybe because I understand I’m the guy you didn’t ask for in your life, but that’s too bad. You’ve got me, anyway.” He winked at her. “So unless you send me packing, I’m gonna be here for you, okay?”

“Ames, I’ll say it again. That’s not fair to you,” she protested.

“It’s my choice,” he insisted.

“I should tell you no.” It was the only right thing to do.

“But you won’t,” he taunted, arching an eyebrow at her. “Because there’s a part of you that wants to know just as badly as I do where this is leading.” He gave her a pointed look. “Between us.”

She glanced down at their hands. “Since we’re laying it all out there, there’s something you should know. Brex is asking me to meet him for breakfast in the morning.”

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