Page 27 of A Rogue Cowboy's Kiss

She nodded, surprised to feel her mind settle and her heartrate slow. “Your touch is magical.”

He looked down at his hand on her arm, as if he were surprised to see it there. “So I’ve been told.”

What? By whom? Women? Who told him his touch was magical? Did she feel jealous? He was a thirty-year-old attractiveman. Of course he had a romantic past. It was none of her business.

But her heart disagreed.

He removed his hand and folded his arms over the back of the chair. “Meet with this woman. Can’t hurt. Maybe you’ll get some clarity.”

“Or maybe I’ll be tempted to make a desperate choice.”

He regarded her. “I have far more faith in you than that. And you do, too. Just because you’re lost doesn’t mean you’re weak.”

She stared at him, and suddenly the fear dissolved. She lifted her chin. This was why she’d needed to step away from the ranch: because she was so used to relying on her brothers to create her world. She wanted to create her own life now, which meant Falcon was right. She needed to trust herself. “All right. I’ll meet her.”

“When?”

“Tonight. At an event she’s catering.”

Falcon ground his jaw. “Can you meet with her before? I don’t love the idea of trying to keep you safe at a venue where there are dozens of people, and I don’t know who to look for.”

“I’m not going to hide, Falcon. I’ve been hiding for so long. I need to be seen in this world. If you don’t want to deal with that, you don’t have to?—”

“No.” He interrupted her. “I’m staying. We’ll make it happen.”

“Okay, great.” Conversation faded into silence.

She’d never had trouble talking to him before. Ever.

And now… All she wanted to do was kiss him.

He met her gaze, then suddenly grinned. “You’re dying to kiss me, aren’t you?”

“I am,” she admitted, with a soft laugh. “I literally can’t stop thinking about it. I’m in the middle of an identity crisis,a possible assassin situation, and a life-changing business opportunity, and all I can think about is kissing you.”

He tipped the chair forward, toward her. “When you called, I’d decided I was going to talk to the Stocktons about fostering some kids. I’d decided to go the single dad route, because you and I were no longer a possibility.”

“A dad? You want to be a single dad?” Her heart ached. She didn’t want kids. The idea terrified her. His words were such a reminder that the two of them had no path forward together.

“Yeah. I do. I wanted kids with you, but since I can’t, I’m doing it alone. I don’t want anyone besides you to do it with me.”

Her heart turned over. “Falcon?—”

He shrugged. “I know we’re not compatible with our dreams, but I can’t stop thinking about dragging you off that chair, into my lap, and kissing you like you’ve never been kissed before.”

Heat seemed to ignite down her spine. “How are you so freaking hot when you say that?”

“Because I’m a male specimen, of course.” He paused. “I won’t make a move on you, Bella. Not ever. But if you ever initiate, I won’t stop you.”

Her mouth suddenly felt dry. “It’s more romantic if you sweep me off my feet. Aren’t you my knight in shining armor?”

“No, Bella. You’re your own knight in shining armor, remember?”

She closed her eyes. “Yes. I know. Yes.” It was such a habit to turn her power over to someone else. So much easier. “I’m so used to letting the world spin around me, instead of trying to spin it myself.” She opened her eyes. “Even though I’m rich, trained in hand-to-hand combat, and smart, sometimes I still feel completely lost and stuck. I could go anywhere, pay anyone to teach me anything, and I keep getting up every day and reliving the same life day after day.”

God. When she explained it that way, she felt like such a loser. Notloser, but yeah, kind of a loser. An excuse-maker, at least.

“Time to break that rut, eh?”

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