Page 70 of A Cameo for a Cowgirl

“I’m not great at being unselfish either,” she admitted. “But I’m trying to do better.”

“Thank God for the Holy Spirit helping us, huh?”

Her eyes widened. “You really have changed.”

Pride pinged inside his chest. Well, except pride was a sin, he knew that now. He’d go with gladness instead. Thanks God that she noticed. “I’m still a work in progress.”

Her mouth twisted wryly. “Aren’t we all?”

“I’m just so grateful for people like your dad and Lincoln Cash and Ainsley, who have taken time to help me grow and understand.”

She wet her lip, and he had to breathe out against the desire to rush and kiss her. He wouldn’t. Not now. He was a changed man.

Cassie steadily gazed at him, and he at her, as the connection between them flared. He could study this woman all day. She fascinated him with her mix of strength and vulnerability, raw beauty, smarts and sass. Her smile grew, and it was getting increasingly hard to tamp down his desire for more.

He exhaled. “I hope that answers your question, Miss Cassie.”

She nodded. “It does.”

“But I have one for you.”

Her head tilted. “What is it?”

“If you should happen to, I don’t know, decide that you like me, then I’m totally okay with you letting me know.”

“That’s not a question.”

“You’re right. But I mean it just the same.”

Her gaze pinned him, the air trembling with emotion, promise and potential. “You like me.” She said it almost as a question, like she couldn’t believe what he’d said before.

Clearly he needed to make things more plain. “I do.” He held his hands up, an act of surrender. “And yes, I want to get to know you more, with a view to having a relationship with you that lasts, that isn’t a summer fling. And I know the only way I can really do that is by letting you take the lead. So I will be right here waiting for you to let me know when that right moment will be, for however long that might take.”

“Th-thank you.”

“I mean it. I’m here for you, and want to explore what having a relationship might look like. And I know that could get tricky, with you here, and me wherever work takes me, but I don’t think God brings people into each other’s lives without it meaning something. I like you, and I’m really hoping this conversation means that you like me.”

Her smile widened and she dipped her chin.

He internally fist-pumped. Then smiled. “But why?” he gently teased, returning her question from before.

Her chuckle was like a warm hug on a cold day. He needed more of that in his life.

“Because you care about people, and you’re willing to be brave and face your fears, and even be brave enough to admit your mistakes. That takes real courage.”

He might’ve been on movie screens around the world, but he’d never felt quite so seen. He swallowed a lump of emotion.

“And you’re kind of fun to hang out with,” Cassie continued.

“Only kind of?”

She gave another burble of laughter. “And there I was thinking you maybe weren’t so arrogant after all.”

He grinned. He’d missed this banter, the snap and crackle of a witty woman. But this time there was no animosity behind it. Instead, he sensed something good. Something God-honoring. Something that may well have enough substance for a future. “So let’s commit all this to God, and see where He takes us.”

She swallowed, her gaze steady, sure. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

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