Page 46 of The Cowboy Fix

Too surprised by Sloane’s notion that Izzy was his girl, he was unable to come up with a good reason why she wasn’t. “We’re just friends.”

“Good. Do you want to go on a date?” Sloane faced him as she pushed open the door into the room with a desk dead center. Its metal surface was littered with orders and receipts. “There’s a Friday Night Street Party on Main Street tomorrow night.”

“Sorry, Sloane. I’m not the partying type.” Which was sort of true. He wasn’t, but he also wasn’t looking to date anyone except—Shoving one hand in his jeans pocket, he rubbed his neck with the other. “You should ask Jonas. He’s always up for a good social gathering.”

Or at least he used to be when they were in high school. Nathan had been jealous that his eighteen-year-old brother had been able to do things that, at fourteen, his parents hadn’t allowed.

Sloane’s brows slammed together. “No can do.”

“Are you two fighting again?”

She blinked but didn’t answer the question. Instead, she smirked. “I’ll try to haveyour friend’scar ready by Saturday.”

“Thanks, Sloane.”

“Any time.” She sat behind the desk and tapped some keys on the keyboard as she studied the scrolling inventory on her monitor.

Wondering what Jonas had done this time, he went looking for Izzy. Not that he knew what went on in a woman’s mind, but where Sloane was concerned, his brother didn’t seem to have a clue. She was his best friend, but he’d been unaware that she’d had a crush on him clear through high school.

He found Izzy in the waiting room. “Ready to go? I’m hungry. Do you want to stop for something to eat before we leave town?”

“I would love that. I still need to get baking supplies too.” She started texting. “I’ll let Mom know it’ll be a little while before we get home.”

Home.It had a nice ring.

“There’s a food cart pavilion, not far from here. They have a pretty good taco cart. We can get your groceries on the way home.”

Looking through the food carts with Izzy made the afternoon special. Like when he sat on a riverbank, fishing, only the birds and rush of water to keep him company. This time he was withhis girl, if he dared believe Sloane.

Sitting at a table under a shading umbrella, they talked about everything, including her new job prospects. Those were more words than he’d spoken all at once in a long time. Maybe even his whole life.

As he walked down the aisles of the grocery store beside the woman who made him feel so at ease and shopped for her baking goods, he realized this feeling of belonging was what he’d been missing and what it would be like to have her in his life every day... for the rest of their lives.

Back at the ranch, he parked the truck. Before he lost his nerve, he unbuckled his seat belt and faced Izzy. He took her hand gently, lacing his fingers with hers, their palms touching. “I had a good time today.”

“I did too,” she said on a breathless note.

He angled forward, slowly, so she could object if she wanted to. He hoped she wouldn’t. Drawing her close, he touched his lips to hers. She leaned into the kiss. His heart thumped. With his free hand, he caught her shoulder and lightly tugged Izzy Payton close as he lost himself in the feel of her in his arms.

He had no idea what heaven felt like, but this must be it. He kissed her temple. “Do you have to leave?”

Suddenly, she stiffened and pushed against him. “I’m so sorry. I can’t do this.”

Before he could ask why, or stop her, Izzy grabbed the grocery bag at her feet and escaped into the guesthouse.

As he watched her disappear, his heart sank. He shouldn’t have kissed Izzy. What an idiot.

Chapter Fourteen

How in theworld could she let that happen? Yes, she’d been wondering what it would be like to kiss Nathan, but she hadn’t meant to follow through with the thought clamoring in her mind, making her want something that wasn’t possible.

“What’s wrong?” her mother asked from the kitchen island where she’d assembled everything they needed to make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. The last supplies they needed were the can of pumpkin and the chocolate chips she’d grabbed before running from Nathan’s kiss.

Shaking her head in denial, Izzy told herself she hadn’t run. She never left any challenge unanswered.

Okay... maybe she had run! Worse than that, she could lose herself in Nathan’s kiss if it ever happened again.

“Izzy?”

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