Page 28 of Overdue for a Cowboy

Dodge laughed again. “I love that you so easily accept the other women involved but are shocked by Ruby’s part in it.”

Maisie shook her head as she laughed with him. “No. I mean I am shocked about my grandmother, but I can’t imagine June or Ida Johnson doing it either.”

Ida and her husband, Frank, had been the neighbors and best friends of Dodge’s grandparents, Duke and June. The Johnson’s house was the rundown farm that her new friend, Elizabeth, had purchased that summer and had been renovating with Dodge’s brother, Ford.

“I don’t want topictureany of them, especially since my grandpa said one of them was sunbathing on a rock and another was jumping into the pond from our rope swing, and they were all buck-naked. But I can imagine all of them taking part. Gramps said it was decades ago, and I think both of our grandmother’s had more spunk that we probably give them credit for.”

Maisie shrieked with more laughter and covered her ears. “Gah. I do not want to hear any more. I’m not going to be able to look at my grandma with a straight face next time I see her.”

“From the stories Duke tells, that one is tame. You know what it’s like growing up in a small town. If you can’t find trouble to get into, you sometimes have to make some.”

She shook her head. “Not me. I was too shy. And too grateful to my gram for taking me in that I never wanted to cause her any trouble.” Her gaze dropped to a dusty pawprint on the floor, and she swiped at it with her foot. “I’m probably still a little bit that way. It’s easier to live adventures through books and stories than to find the courage to actuallybeadventurous.”

He let out a small laugh, and she brought her gaze up to meet his.

Was he laughing at her?

His face held a smile, but it seemed like a flirty one, and her stomach did a little flip.

“I used to think you were pretty shy too. But after spending time with you this weekend, I think you’re more daring than you give yourself credit for.” He took a step closer, and she caught her breath as the familiar ache for him built in her chest. His voice dropped lower, and he drawled out, “Maybe your trouble-making days are still ahead of you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Dodge had no idea where these teasing comments were coming from. It was like he was suddenly channeling his brother. Chevy was the one who charmed the ladies. Dodge was friendly and easy-going, but he wasn’t known for flirting or ever trying to hook up with women. He had occasionally dated, but never let anything get too serious.

He knew all too well the heartbreak and devastation loving someone could cause.

Which was the reason he would never let himself get that close to anyone again.

So why was he tossing out playful remarks and thinking about pulling Maisie into his arms again? She’d surprised him earlier, first with her flat-out asking him to kiss her, then again when they’d come back from the walk.

His head was still spinning from the memory of pressing her against the door and ravaging her with his mouth while his hand found its way under her shirt.

Heat surged through his veins as he recalled skimming his thumb over her nipple and imagined how it would feel to swirl the hardened nub with his tongue. Not just how it would feel to him, but how it would feel to Maisie. And what he could with his tongue to draw out another one of those kitten sighs that she made. Those sighs that drove him crazy.

He was seeing the quiet librarian in a whole new light.

He’d known her a long time, but always thought of her as shy and a little timid. Even after spending time with her working on Elizabeth’s house earlier that summer, talking and laughing, his mind might have occasionally wondered what it would be like to kiss those bow-shaped lips, but he never thought of her writhing against him, her fingers gripping his hair, with soft moans escaping her lips as he pinned her against a door.

And now he couldn’tstopthinking about it. And how he wanted to do it again.

Before Maisie could respond to his comment, the dang doorbell rangagain. This place was like Grand Central Station. Since he was standing closest to the door, he reached for the knob, then glanced at Maisie for consent.

She nodded, and he pulled open the door to find a red-haired, teenage girl standing in the doorway and holding a large bouquet of flowers.

He recognized her as a Johnson, the red hair and freckles tipped him off, and thought her name was something like Mandy or Mindy. He couldn’t remember which, but he thought she was one of the girls who worked the register at the feed store. Although that could be one of her sisters.Or cousins. There wereenough Johnson’s in town, that you couldn’t walk a half a block without running into one of them.

The girl peered over the top of the bouquet, a mix of purple wildflowers and pink roses, and flashed a toothy grin at Maisie. “Hi, Miss Graham. These are for you. I heard you were in a car accident. Hope you’re okay.”

“Wow, they’re gorgeous. And I’m fine.” Maisie reached out her good hand to take the flowers, but Dodge beat her to it, taking them from the teenager and carrying them into the kitchen. Not that she couldn’t manage them, but he didn’t want to chance her hurting her wrist.

“I just finished that book recommended,” the girl told Maisie.

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, wasn’t it?” Maisie asked, although Dodge had a feeling she knew it was. Maisie waited for the girl to nod then asked, “What did you think of it?

“I loved it. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but then I really got into it.”

“I’m so glad,” Maisie told her, and Dodge could see that she really meant it. “We should have the whole series available. I can hold the next two for you when I get back to the library on Monday, if you’d like.”

---