Page 9 of A Rogue Cowboy's Kiss

He felt like it was the first time he’d really heard her, really seen her. He’d kept himself on lockdown for so long, and now,suddenly, he was free to notice her, to talk to her, to connect with her.

To admit how much he cared.

FIVE

Bella finished her story,laughing so hard she could barely tell it. What a night it had been! Chaos had reigned supreme, and her meal hadn’t been up to her standards, and no one had cared. The night had been so full of love, and that was all that mattered.

She’d adored the energy flowing through the party, and a little part of her had watched with envy to see all these people caring so much about each other.

She wanted to be a part of it. Of a life like that. A life of possibility. Of futures that were exciting and unpredictable.

This was where she wanted to be. In Boston. Away from the ranch. From horses. From all the stories of her past that she could never seem to escape.

Here, no one knew her. She was just the caterer, a friend of Piper and Kitty. No one had realized she was Bella Hart, because it was her brothers who were always in the spotlight, while she and Meg had stayed on the ranch, living small, playing safe.

No one would have expected Bella Hart to be serving them coffee, so although she’d gotten a few second looks, no one had noticed that it was her in the kitchen.

She hadn’t felt like herself tonight. Instead, she’d felt like a woman who had no past, a woman who could have any future she chose, a future that didn’t carry a thousand shadows with it. She felt like a blank slate who could run anywhere and do anything, and no one would notice, and no one would care.

It was terrifying and glorious at the same time. Where did she want to run? She didn’t even know.

All she knew was how she wanted tofeel, which was exactly how she was feeling right now. Free. Connected with women. No longer connected to everything that had made her who she was today.

Piper paused, looking past Bella. “That is one good-looking man. He looks like danger, sex, and all sorts of rule breaking. I didn’t see him earlier. You think we should call security?”

“Who?” Bella twisted around, scanning the room. “Where?”

“The guy in the black leather jacket and jeans. He’s on the stone walkway that circles around to the front of the estate.”

Bella followed Piper’s instructions, and her gaze landed on the man her friend was talking about.

His face was in shadow, but he was every bit the raw danger vibe that Piper had mentioned. Goosebumps pricked up on her arms, and recognition pulsed at her. Recognition of a kindred soul, someone who had lived in violence their whole life? Someone who was everything she didn’t want to be anymore.

But something about him was absolutely riveting. Hewasdanger, and a part of her wanted to march over there, throw herself at him, and breathe in every dangerous thing he’d ever done.

“Bella?” Piper said, amusement in her voice. “You want a napkin to wipe the drool off your chin? I’m sure we have one around here somewhere.”

Bella cleared her throat and turned away, rolling her eyes. “I’m not drooling.”

“You definitely were. Invisible drool, but drool nonetheless.” Piper grinned. “You like dangerous men?”

Oh, Lordy. “I definitely don’t.” She did, though, didn’t she? She was going to have to get over that.

“We all do, Bella,” Piper said, grinning as Bella turned her back on him. “What woman wants a wuss who can’t keep up with her? No one. I bet he can shoot a gun. He has that vibe.”

“I can shoot my own gun, so I don’t need a man who can shoot. I don’t need a man at all. I don’t date.”

“I didn’t either, and then I got a fake fiancé and he messed up all my single-woman vows.”

Bella grinned as she shifted the platter of coffee mugs she’d been carrying back to the kitchen. “Your Declan is special.”

“He is,” Piper agreed. “Question: if that smoking volcano of testosterone and danger was walking over here looking at you, would you want me to tell you?”

Bella felt her cheeks heat up. “Nope. I don’t care. I don’t notice men.”

“Bella.” Piper’s voice became low, edged with alarm. “I know that you, like all the rest of us, have a past that isn’t great. I need to know if the man walking toward you like you’re his mission is that kind of problem for you. Declan is around here somewhere, and we will all step in to stop him, but I need to know right now.”

Fear shot through Bella. She dropped the tray on the table and spun around. The man was indeed striding right toward her. He was silhouetted by the floodlights, and all she could see were his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

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