Page 36 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“I didn’t mean it like that. Just … I felt a bit intimidated by the fancy machine, even though I loved the coffee. I’m more of a regular, drip-brew coffee pot kind of girl myself, and I feel so comfortable with you that I think of us as being the same.”

That had the big smile back on his face. “Yeah. I see it that way, too.”

He surprised her when he reached across the console and offered his hand. She looked down at it for a moment before placing her hand in his. He linked his fingers through hers and smiled. “I feel pretty damn comfortable with you, darlin’.”

~ ~ ~

Once they were sitting at the table with their coffee and a plate of the pastries that Trip had sent back with him from their brunch yesterday, Travis waited. He wanted to ask her about coming to stay with him, but he was curious to see whether she’d bring up renting a cabin from him first.

Maybe he shouldn’t make her ask, but he was curious. He wanted to know if she felt comfortable enough with him that she’d ask him.

He shifted in his seat when she licked her fingers after taking a bite of her Danish.

“This is so good! Is it from the bakery?”

“No. I had brunch with Trip yesterday. He sent me home with leftovers.”

She looked down at the pastry. “Wow! He made this?”

He laughed. “No. His old housekeeper came by and cooked for him. She’s more like family than someone who used to work for him. She’s also a damn good cook – as you can see.”

When she didn’t say anything, he asked, “What’s up? What are you thinking?”

She shrugged. “Just that I can’t imagine having a housekeeper – or even being friends with someone who does.”

He chuckled. “Well, you don’t need to imagine it – you already are friends with someone like that. Trip’s one of your gang of friends now.”

“I guess.”

“And you need to get over that kind of thinking, too. I know what you mean – I’m the kid who grew up poor. There were alot of folks who didn’t have much around here back then, and we were poor compared to most of them. But what you have in a material sense like that doesn’t mean a damn thing about who you are.”

“No. You’re right. And I do need to get over it.”

A rush of warmth filled his chest when she smiled at him and added, “But I don’t mind telling you that it does make me feel more comfortable with you – knowing that you get it.”

“I do.”

He took a bite of his own pastry to stop himself from talking – he’d been about to ask if she felt comfortable enough with him to come and stay here with him.

She took a sip of coffee and set her mug down. “I … since you are so understanding, I’m going to ask you something. But before I do, I want you to promise me that you’ll say no if you don’t like the idea, or if it’d be an inconvenience for you in any way.”

He smiled. “I promise.”

She cleared her throat. “You know I’ve been talking about staying?”

He nodded.

“Well, I don’t need to be under Callie and Kolby’s feet for much longer. I’m starting to get around better on the crutches.”

“Yeah.”

“And … I … I can’t afford to buy myself a house here until I sell mine. And I can’t sell mine until I go back and put it on the market. And … well, I don’t want to go back yet. I want to stay and help you with this place, but that leaves me …”

He felt bad making her say it when he knew exactly where she was going. He held his hand up to stop her.

“I’ve been thinking about that. You need a place to stay, that isn’t their house, right?”

She blew out a sigh of relief and nodded eagerly. “I do. So, I was wondering if …”

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