Page 147 of Ride a Cowboy

He was being purposely obtuse. It was so like him. To speak in generalizations and hope she wouldn’t call him on it. After so many years together, he should have known better. “So you plan on sleeping with other women.”

Josh winced, but he didn’t deny it. “Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like with someone else?”

A couple of months ago, her answer would have been an unequivocal no. Then she remembered Daniel’s kiss. The way he cupped her face as he pressed his lips to hers. That simple touch had rocked her to her core and she’d spent too many nights since then waking up in a cold sweat, her body aching for more.

Suddenly, she felt very tired. In the past, she would have fought with Josh, refused his request, pushed him for all or nothing. It was probably what she should do, but she didn’t have the energy. She wasn’t sure she felt like struggling for this relationship anymore. And that thought hurt more than Josh’s desire for a break.

His request was preposterous, the idea that he was actually sitting next to her asking for permission to screw around completely obnoxious. And yet, she was going to let him get away with it.

She was going to give him this timeout because she needed one too. He wasn’t the only one with a bit of soul searching to do. “Fine.”

“What?” Josh’s shocked expression almost made her laugh.

“We’ll take a break.” She didn’t put any parameters on it because she couldn’t think of any. Josh’s silence proved he was waiting for her to plot it all out, discuss the details, point out the fine print, but no words came.

“That’s it?”

She nodded.

“But what about?—”

“Josh. We don’t need to think this to death. Let’s just go with the flow.”

Josh blinked several times. She assumed he was studying her face to make sure it was really her. She resisted the urge to reassure him she hadn’t been abducted by aliens. When she didn’t add anything more, Josh stood. His stiff posture proved he was still waiting for her to pull the rug out from under him.

“I decided to go to Florida with my roommates for Christmas.”

She nodded, rising to stand next to him. “Sounds like fun.”

He frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

She reached out and grasped his hand. “I’m fine. Honest. I should probably get back inside or my family will send out a search party when I don’t show up for Vivi’s pumpkin pie.”

Josh squeezed her hand. Then he used it to drag her forward for a kiss. The kiss, though gentle and sweet, didn’t move her. It didn’t make her heart race. It didn’t do anything. It was passionless, platonic, boring. Then she realized Josh’s kisses had felt like this for a long time.

“I’m coming back for you,” he whispered. “I swear it.”

She nodded, but she couldn’t find it in her heart to promise to be waiting when he did. She honestly wasn’t sure she would be. Her eyes were wide open and seeing too much. Everything.

“I should head home and spend some time with my parents since I won’t be back for the holidays.”

“Okay. Goodbye, Josh.”

“I’ll see you over spring break, Sienna.”

He turned and left, but Sienna remained in the stable. For the first time in her life, she didn’t have a clue what she was supposed to do next.

Daniel stepped into an empty stall as Josh passed. If he’d been any sort of gentleman, he would have walked away as soon as he realized Sienna and Josh were still talking. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make himself leave. He didn’t trust Josh not to hurt her and if he did, Daniel intended to be close by, ready to catch her if she fell.

Only she hadn’t fallen.

He stepped out of the shadows and walked to where Sienna stood, motionless. Her gaze lifted when she caught sight of his face. He must have given away too much because she rolled her eyes.

“Eavesdropping, cowboy?”

She clearly wasn’t angry, but her voice didn’t carry the usual teasing tone he liked so much. It just sounded empty.

“I didn’t mean to.”

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