Page 6 of Catching the Cowgirl

“I do—” I cut myself off. “Maybe a little bit.” Luka lets out a low chuckle that’s sexy as hell. I don’t think I’ve heard him laugh.

“I’ve never given someone a nickname before,” he admits. Okay, now I might love that he calls me kitten, but I’m not admitting that. I’m still not sure what is going on here, but more than that, I don’t think Luka does either.

I don’t think he’s cold and bossy because he’s not trying to be a dick anymore. I’m starting to see that maybe it’s all he knows.

“That first day we met.”

“When that vet was drooling all over you?”

“Vet?” I swear, I never know what Luka might say. I really like that about him. “Oh, Doc Baxter.” How is that the first thing that comes to his mind out of everything that happened that day?

“He wants to fuck you.” Luka’s mouth forms a straight line. He’s not doing so well with hiding his emotions anymore.

"No, he doesn’t.” I shake my head. All the girls in Cottonwood want Baxter. He could have his pick. I saw Cara hitting on him a few days ago, and she won Miss Colorado two years ago. She never lets any of us forget it.

“He does. Trust me.”

“We’re kinda friends.” I try to explain.

"No, you're not.” He runs his hand through his hair, frustrated. “At least not anymore, you’re not.”

“What the hell?” I punch Luka’s shoulder. It doesn’t faze him. “He’s the new local vet. He helps with my horses.” Luka’s expression tells me he’s not buying it.

“That’s not all he wants to help with. He wants to fuck you.”

“Will you stop saying that?!” My cheeks are starting to warm thinking about fucking. Not that I’ve ever done it, but now I’m thinking about it, and it’s Luka who is with me. And no matter how much I make fun of his suits, I can’t deny for a second how hot he looks in them.

“It’s true.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I want to fuck you too.” My mouth falls open. Holy crap. Did he really just say that?

“That’s so crude.” His words shouldn’t bother me. I’ve spent my life around cowboys and at rodeos. There isn’t a thing I haven’t heard. But I don’t want to be a conquest. I try to hop off the fence, but Luka stops me.

“Kitten.” His hands reach my hips, and he steps in between my legs. “Didn’t come out how I meant.” I pause, wanting to hear him out. I’m also enjoying his hands gripping me. “Jealousy got the best of me, but I stand by what I said. He wants you.” Luka's hands tighten on my hips, his fingers digging in. “But he’s not going to have you.”

“You know you can’t boss me around.” It’s terrible, but his jealousy is, for some reason, working for me. If it were someone else, it would raise concerns. I would be verbally ripping them to shreds for thinking they could tell me what to do.

“Maybe not, but I could make him disappear.”

“Luka!”

“I’m not going to kill him.” He shrugs. “Maybe just ship him off to another country.”

“And how would you do that?” I don’t know why I’m even engaging in this, but again, I can’t help myself. I always have to know.

“Everyone has a price.”

"No, they don't, Luka.” I rest my hands on his shoulders. Doc Baxter might, but not everyone. “I bet there is no amount of money in the world that could get my dad to leave my mom or my brother to leave Paisley.” They are a shining example of true love. It's what I want more than anything.

“Is that the whole true love thing?”

“It’s not a thing.”

“Scientifically—” Knowing he is going to spew nonsense about it not being real, I interrupt him. Without thinking, I press my mouth to his.

I expect him to stiffen or jerk back, but he doesn't. The second my lips meet his, Luka is deepening the kiss. His tongue slips between my lips. I follow his lead, kissing him right back. Neither of us stops until we’re both breathless. My lips tingle, as do other parts of my body. I had no idea a kiss could be that way.

---