Page 52 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

“Stay? Will you sleep with me, even though you won’tsleepwith me?”

His arms tightened, and he pressed a kiss to her neck. “I’m not going anywhere. Do you need to call your people first, let them know you’re back at the hotel safe?”

“Oh my gosh, yes. I almost forgot. Thanks, Ty.”

He smiled. “Told you that I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of.”

She pulled back so that she could look into his eyes. “In so many ways!”

He chuckled. “Do you want me to leave while you call them? I can wait outside.”

“No, I’ll just text them. You go to your room if you want to get anything though.”

“I’m going nowhere.”

She hugged him tighter. “I like the sound of that.”

“Yeah, me too, Shay, me too.”

Chapter Twelve

Shayna smiled up at Ty when he squeezed her hand. “Are you nervous?”

“Maybe a little.” She looked around as they walked toward Eli’s office which, as Alexis had told her, was only a few blocks from the hotel.

“Do you want me to come in with you?”

“No, I’m good thanks. I’m not nervous about meeting Eli. I … I don’t know, I think this is the first time that it’s felt real. I’ve had it in my head for years and years that one day I’ll get to work as a therapist and help vets. But … it’s only ever been an idea. I haven’t pictured where I’d actually work.” She looked around again. “I hadn’t even considered it, but I suppose I’ll have to move to a city, won’t I? People are hardly going to come all the way to Summer Lake just to see me. I don’t see myself living in the city, though.”

He smiled. “Maybe you’ll build such a reputation for yourself that people will fly out to see you wherever you are.”

“Thanks, Ty, you’re sweet, but we both know that’s not likely to happen.”

“You never know, it might.” He touched the tip of her nose. “I know I’m prepared to travel to get to see you.”

She stopped walking and tugged on his hand. He came to her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he looked down into her eyes.

“Have I told you how awesome you are?”

He chuckled. “You might have said it once or twice, but I’ll never get tired of hearing it from you.” He leaned in and pecked her lips. “I know I’ve told you how awesome you are, but I’ll keep telling you …” He winked. “Over and over and over.”

Her cheeks burned as she slapped his arm. “I still can’t believe that you … that I …”

“Neither can I. I think I need to try again tonight, just to make sure that it wasn’t a one-off.”

She pressed her thighs together as heat spread between her legs. “I think we both know that it wasn’t a one-off. I think you could do that to me any time you wanted to.”

He smirked. “That sounds like an invitation.”

She slapped his arm. “You know what I mean! And fair’s fair, if you’re going to keep tormenting me like that, I might have to get my revenge.”

He ran his hand through his beard. “That wouldn’t be fair. I wouldn’t be able to hold back.”

She rested her hand in the middle of his chest, and loved the way he covered it with his own.

“You’re the one who made the rules.”

“I know and I wish I hadn’t but …” He looked more serious as held her gaze. “I’m still glad I did. I don’t think we’d be as close as we are this morning if we’d had sex last night.”

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