Page 5 of Catching the Cowgirl

“You didn’t have to.” I pull my arm back, but he doesn’t let me.

“Don’t; I want to keep touching you.” My stomach tightens, enjoying him saying that way more than I should. Of course, my body decides to betray me. “Why were you so quiet?”

“When?”

“When we ate.”

“Maybe I’m always quiet.”

“Not what your mom said when you left the table.”

“It’s nothing.” I glance back toward the front door to see if anyone is watching us.

“Show me around.” Luka keeps holding me by the wrist as he leads me down the stairs.

“Is this your way of holding hands?” I laugh. He shrugs like he really doesn’t know. It makes me wonder, and God and everyone else knows I can’t help myself. If I want to know something, I'm going to find out. “Have you held hands with anyone before?”

“No,” he says simply. I thought it might embarrass him to admit it if it were true, but it doesn’t. I soften toward him.

“Like this.” I go to take his hand. He allows me to, but then he ties our fingers together.

“Now tell me why you were quiet.”

“Maybe it was because you were there.”

“It wasn’t.” He calls me out right away.

“You know you look kinda funny walking around on a ranch in a suit.” I try to steer the conversation in a different direction.

“I’ll manage.” He had taken off the jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “Now stop changing the subject.”

“I didn’t have anything to add. Mom and Paisley were doing their thing.”

“You don’t want to help plan the wedding?”

“I don’t know.” I give a small shrug. “I’m happy they are getting married. That means my best friend will be sticking around, and I get my brother back too.”

“But things are changing.”

I nod. I suppose they are changing, just not for me. And that’s the problem I’m having with it all.

“It would be nice to be asked for my opinion.” The words tumble out of my mouth. I’m not sure where they came from, but they’re true. I know Paisley and my mom are not intentionally doing it, but I can’t help but feel left out. It’s really silly because I know it’s not their intention at all.

“You could help me pick out a suit,” he offers with a smirk.

“I think you have that covered.” I laugh. We come to a stop when we reach one of the fences that stretches along the south side of the property. I release Luka’s hand to climb up and sit on top of it. I’m actually eye level with him now.

Luka rests his hand on my bare thigh. I lick my lips. “I was sure you didn’t like me.”

“Why?”

“You kept calling me kitten and bossing me around.”

“What’s wrong with calling you kitten?”

I chew on my bottom lip. “I don’t know,” I huff when I can’t come up with a reason.

“Maybe because you like it?”

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