Page 18 of Big Gruff Cowboy

“Every second away from you feels like a lifetime,” Noah explains as he helps me into his truck.

“Then you should have stayed and made out with me.” I pretend to pout, making an exaggerated motion with my lips. Being with Noah is easy. He makes me feel playful, like life is a fun adventure.

He grimaces as he starts the truck. “I couldn’t. I promised my mom I’d help her out at the candle shop.”

Mrs. Maple runs the candle shop in Courage County. She started it after her husband died, and she was left widowed with five kids. There’s Noah and his three brothers, plus a little girl they adopted by the name of Ginger. Although, I guess she’s not little anymore since she’s married and living on the mountain with her own bossy man.

“Your mom is lucky to have you,” I tell him. Before Walt, I didn’t have anyone. He seems to like me, but I’ll mess up. At some point, I’ll ruin it and he’ll send me away. Just like Noah might. The thought puts a lump in my throat unexpectedly.

Noah is quiet for a long moment and when he does speak, his voice is hoarse. “She took me in when no one wanted me.”

My heart hurts for this gruff cowboy beside me. I know what it’s like to spend your whole life unwanted and unloved. “How old were you when you were adopted?”

His throat works. “Fourteen. Think I was around eight when the state took us away. I spent most of that time in foster care until Greer was placed with the Maples. Mama Maple collected all of us one by one.”

“She sounds like an incredible woman,” I whisper.

“I can’t wait for you to meet her,” he tells me before he stops the truck.

He leads me inside. His home is just as tidy and welcoming as it was the last time I was here. The only difference is now the scent of meatloaf and baked potatoes hangs heavy in the air.

“You cooked,” I say softly, watching as he opens the stove to peer at the food.

He nods and reaches for the timer on the counter, adding minutes to it.

“Your favorite,” he says.

I make this meal for Walt at least once a week because I love it so much. Noah must have gotten the recipe from him.

Suddenly, all the years of being the girl no one wanted come rushing back to me. What makes me think this time is going to be any different?

My shoulders slump under the heavy weight of all the ways I’m sure to disappoint Noah. I think about what he said, about me meeting his mom. What if I embarrass him? What if I’m not what she wanted for Noah? “I’ve never been the kind of girl you take back home to meet mom.”

He crosses the kitchen in two long strides and sweeps me into his arms. “You are now. I’m crazy about you. My family, my town—hell, the whole world is going to know it. You’re mine, Lizzy. I’ll claim you for all to know.”

I blink, trying not to let the tears come. “I’m falling in love with you, but I’m scarred and distrusting and a little bit afraid.”

He uses his thumb to catch the tear that managed to escape. “You’re scared because this is forever. But it’s safe to fall because I’ll be right there to catch you.”

Then he lowers his head and brushes his lips against mine. He means for it to be a brief, chaste kiss. But then I whimper, and he deepens it, his tongue sweeping into my mouth. He’s crushing me against his broad chest, making little growls in the back of his throat as he holds me.

My body temperature rises with every noise. My panties are growing damper by the second. I want to belong to Noah in every way.

As if he heard my thoughts, he lifts his head. “Need to make love to you. Need to claim every inch of your lush body.”

I nod, my lips swollen and my breathing hard. That’s not the only thing that’s hard if that bulge pressed against my hip is any indication. Feeling it fills me with an unexpected wave of nervousness. “I’ve never…I’m…well…”

He stares down at me, frowning. But he doesn’t rush me. If anything, the warmth in his brown eyes gives me an unexpected rush of courage.

“It’s my first time,” I explain quietly.

Possessiveness and pride flicker across his expression. His voice is a low growl when he says, “We’ll go slow.”

His quiet assurance helps ease some of my nervousness. Noah has done everything to take care of me and make me happy. He’ll do the same thing during sex. “OK.”

He steps away from me long enough to turn the stove on warm then takes my hand, threading our fingers together. He leads me down the hall to his bedroom, but he bypasses the massive Alaskan King in the center of the room. Instead, he tugs me toward the bathroom.

His bathroom is huge with a clawfoot tub next to a glass shower stall. Over the tub, a large window lets in the afternoon sunlight, brightening the room. I shiver as I watch him start the water in the big, glass shower stall.

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