Page 39 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

“I just felt a little self-conscious, that’s all. I was going to say that you can’t put a paper bag on your head because we only have a couple of days, and we need to make the most of them. I wantto see as much of you as I can. We don’t know when we’ll get the chance again.” She dropped her gaze. “But then I realized that’d be a stupid thing to say – you might be glad to see the back of me by Monday morning.”

“Come here.”

This time when she stepped into his arms, he was able to hold her close without having to hold her backpack with her. When her little arms wrapped around his waist, he closed his eyes and breathed in the moment. He’d been hopeful about what might happen between them, but he hadn’t expected her to knock him on his ass like this.

He kissed the top of her head and loved the way her arms tightened around him in response.

“Can I lay it out for you?”

She nodded against his chest.

“There are no guarantees in life; I think we both know that. But the way I see it, it’s going to kill me to watch you leave on Monday morning. And – unless something goes horribly wrong between now and then – the first thing I’m going to do when I get home is book a flight to come see you again as soon as you can fit me in.”

Her whole body trembled, but he didn’t dare wonder if the thought of fitting him in conjured the same images in her mind as it did in his.

She slowly lifted her head and once he was looking down into her eyes, it took everything he had not to kiss her. She searched his face, and then her hand came up to touch his cheek. The feel of her fingers in his beard sent shivers down his spine.

“I hope so.”

He nodded; he didn’t have any words, he was lost in her eyes. He hadn’t expected this – the intensity of the moment blew him away.

Eventually, she stepped back with a smile. “I guess we should do like you said and get this thing started. Do you know where you left your truck? I’d never find my Tahoe again if I parked in a place like this.”

He laughed and took hold of her hand again. “Is it bad that I love that?”

“Love what?”

“That you’re like a babe in the woods, and I get to show you around and look out for you.”

She slapped his arm – hard. That made him smile, she might be a small-town girl, but she was no weakling.

“I’m not a babe in the woods!”

“You’re a babe!”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever. Let’s find this truck of yours and get going.”

He threw her backpack on the back seat, then opened the passenger door for her. Her eyes were wide, and her cheeks turned pink when he helped her up.

When he got in, he felt her staring at him and turned to her with a smile. “What?”

“I … I do like the idea of you looking out for me. I …” She shrugged and dropped her gaze. “I don’t want to sound like someweedy woman who can’t look out for herself. That’s not who I am. I’m just saying that I … I …”

“Shay?”

She finally looked up and met his gaze. “You don’t need to explain it. You sure as hell don’t need to make excuses. Nothing about you could be described as weedy. I want to look out for you – not because I think you need it, but because it’s who I am. I told you that I’m kind of protective of the women in my life – and by that, I meant my sisters, and my cousin, and Nessa, but …” He reached across the console and palmed her cheek. “Now, I mean you – and you are fast becoming the most important woman in my life.”

She flushed as she brought her hand up to cover his. “Can I ask you something then?”

He smiled. “Fire away – you can ask me anything, you should know that by now.”

A small smile played on her lips, then her tongue darted out to moisten them. “When do we get our first kiss?”

He chuckled and slid his fingers into her hair as he leaned across the console. When their noses were touching, he breathed, “How about now?”

She smelled pretty, like flowers and something sweet. When her lips met his, they tasted sweet. He nipped her bottom lip and the little sigh she gave blew the lid off his restraint. Both his hands came up, and he tangled his fingers in her hair. He claimed her mouth, and she let him in. There was no coaxing, no finesse, he kissed her deeply, loving the little noises she made as she clung to his shoulders. She didn’t passively allow him to plunder her mouth. She kissed him back, her tongue flirting withhis, teasing and retreating. He finally lifted his head when he heard himself growl like a damn animal.

Her eyes were shining, and her kiss-swollen lips tempted him to go back for more – especially when she ran her tongue over the bottom one and said in a breathy little voice, “Wow!”

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