Page 15 of A Touch of Cowboy

She laughed. “Kennedy told me to enjoy myself. You’re notmyclient. And, although Justin would never break confidence, he made it clear he wasn’t worried about you all that much.”

Will rubbed his nose against hers. “I appreciate him being honest with you. Iamokay. Just a misunderstanding.”

“That you can tell me all about in the morning.” She blushed. “I mean, if you want to stay—”

He cut her off with a fierce kiss that went on and on.

She shivered.

From cold? From anticipation? From arousal?

He didn’t know. But the tip of his nose was getting cold. He pulled away from the kiss, hating to end the beautiful interlude. “You want me to follow you?”

“Yeah. It’s not far from here. You can park in my driveway.”

“Won’t your neighbors wonder?”

She burst out laughing. “You think I care one hoot what my neighbors think? You won’t be the first person who’s spent the night. My friend Mikhail has. One day he was moping—nasty breakup. I dragged him home and got him shit-faced. Needless to say, he stayed the night. He also never gave the asshole another thought. I make killer cosmos.”

“Ah, well, I’ll pass on the cosmos. Right now, I just want a warm bed.”Oh my God, did I just say that? She’s going to think—

“Perfect. Although maybe a hot chocolate in the living room by the fire while we warm up?”

“Oh, you’re speaking my language.” He put his hat back on.

They hotfooted out of the park, with Rex leading the way, and soon Will found himself following Avery through a convoluted neighborhood. He’d never find his way out without the aid of the GPS that Darla gave him for his birthday seven years ago. He’d thought it extravagant and completely unnecessary, given he knew where everything was.

She’d insisted.

He’d given in.

Now, he was glad he had.

Darla would be happy for me.

Yeah, she really would.

Avery entered a covered garage in her townhouse while Will parked in the spot before the three-story home. Hers was the last in a long line of townhomes.

He locked his door, then stepped into the garage when she beckoned him.

She shut the garage door, then opened the one to the house. “Justin used to live here before he got married. I’d just paid off the last of my student loans, and he might’ve given me a bit of a discount.” She smiled shyly. “Stanley is…wealthy. Justin doesn’t like to take any of his husband’s money for himself, but if he can help out a friend, he’s always fine with that.”

They removed their boots and hung their coats on a rack.

Avery unhooked Rex’s harness. She gave him a once-over with a towel, but it hadn’t been snowing hard, and the little guy was barely damp.

He scampered up the stairs.

Holding her arms out wide, she said, “Welcome home.” She grabbed his hand and guided him upstairs.

Welcome homeorwelcome to my home?Because the omission of two little, albeit very important, words made a tremendous difference. He didn’t want to get ahead of himself…but could he see this place as a home? He knew Mission City, of course. This complex hadn’t been here when he’d left over a decade ago, but he knew the town.

He also knew, in his heart, that he was a cowboy. Even as he gently laid his hat on her coffee table, and as she gave him a tour, he could acknowledge this wasn’t where he’d choose to live.

Unless it was with her…

Okay, point to his subconscious.

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