Page 17 of Big Gruff Cowboy

I turn to him on the porch, feeling my heart pound. “Walt is still at the bookstore. He keeps it open late on Fridays.”

He searches my face for a long moment. I’m not sure what he’s looking for but eventually he shakes his head. “My heart is yours. It beats for you now, and I want that with you, Lizzy. More than you know. But you’re not ready yet and in our relationship, your needs will always matter most to me.”

I blink, not prepared for his speech. No one has ever worried about my needs and to imagine that this handsome cowboy cares so much for me is making it hard for me to think clearly. “Then what next?”

His eyes blaze with intensity as he holds my gaze. “Another date. I’m here for this, Lizzy. For as long as you need me to prove myself, I’m here.”

“OK,” I whisper even though I promised myself I’d just see him the one time. “One more date.”

“So let me get this straight: he took you to a Janeite festival—” Sadie starts. Yesterday after Noah drove me home from our date, I spent the rest of the day thinking about him. I even texted him to thank him for our date and tell him I was looking forward to the next one.

“Which is most definitely a girl thing,” Dotty points out.

“And he didn’t try to maul you when you gave him the all-clear?” Sadie finishes.

“I don’t understand him,” I admit as I stand in front of the full-length mirror in the dressing room of Sew Cute. Mallory Scott runs the plus-size boutique here in Courage County. She always has the cutest designs in stock. She makes them herself. “He said I wasn’t ready. Whatever that means.”

“Take it from me,” Evie offers from the other side of my dressing room. “The Maple Men are crazy.”

“Completely,” I agree, giving a dreamy sigh at the same time she does. I step out of the dressing room in the yellow sundress. It clings tightly to my curves. I’d never have the guts to try it out for myself, but Evie insisted it would look great on me. “What do y’all think?”

“I think Noah is going to lose his mind,” Sadie says.

“That’s the plan,” I tell her. I need a dress that’s going to knock Noah out of his boots and make him desperate to get his hands on me.

Sadie’s phone dings with a new message, and she pulls it from the pocket of her yoga pants. She glances at the screen and grimaces.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as Evie and Dotty wander toward the back of the store. They’re laughing and discussing their favorite dirty phrases their book boyfriends say.

“Supply chain issue. I’ll get it worked out,” she answers as we head toward the shoe section. “You need something to pair with the dress. I’m thinking something just as bright.”

She holds up a pair of teal sandals that are cute and elegant. She smiles as she shows me them, her expression wistful. “It seems you’ve found one of the good ones.”

“That’s why I’m scared,” I admit. It’s not that I’m worried that Noah will break my heart. It’s that he’s so good to me. What if he sees all of me one day and decides he doesn’t want me? What if I’m left with nothing but memories of a cowboy who made me feel safe and cared for?

She passes me the sandals. “Then tell him. Don’t keep your fears to yourself.”

Chapter 9

Lizzy

Islip the sandals I bought when I was with the girls on my feet as a truck sounds in the driveway. I frown at Mr. Darcy. “This was not the plan.”

Mr. Darcy pauses grooming himself long enough to send me a reproachful glare. He hasn’t been happy with me since I left him with Walt yesterday. I had to give him a can of his favorite premium food today to get back into his good graces.

“Be good for your great grandpa,” I tell my kitty as I give him a quick kiss and grab my cardigan.

I practically skip to the front door, opening it just as Noah saunters up the porch.

“Hey,” I greet him, feeling my cheeks heat the way they always do around him. It’s not my fault I keep thinking about making babies with him. He’s the one who said that’s what he wanted to do with me. “I thought I was meeting you at your place for lunch. Did you leave something here?”

“Yeah, I left my heart.” He presses a quick kiss to my forehead and hands me another bouquet. More daisies again.

“Noah…” I whisper, swooning at just how perfect he is.

“Just needed to see you. I missed you.”

“You saw me yesterday,” I point out before I step inside. I quickly set the flowers in water before I grab my purse and meet him on the porch.

---