Page 22 of A Family With the Cowboy

“…feel about marriage, Laura?” Willow’s voice finally penetrated her thoughts as she stopped in front of Arlene’s house.

Laura shook her head. “I’m not relationship material, I’ve been told. And I think so too. I was raised by my dad. Mom passed away when I was eight. So I’m used to doing things on my own. The freedom to choose my own path, to be independent, is important to me, and I don’t know if I’m willing to give that up. I’m really happy on my own, happy to be single. Men can be so exhausting, don’t you think?”

“See, Mom?” Willow grinned. “More women feel that way. Fortunately, we don’t have to get married in this day and age.”

Arlene groaned. “Don’t give Willow more ideas, Laura. You don’t have to lose your independence when you marry, you know? When you meet the right guy, he will love the fact that you can stand on your own two feet.”

“I have just moved to a new town, got a new job, and I’m buying a house—I think I have enough to keep me busy,” Laura said.

Arlene and Willow got out of the car.

“Keep an open mind, that’s all I’m saying,” Arlene called out.

“Sorry about Mom. She’s a romantic. Thanks for the lift,” Willow said. “I’ll pick the two of you up on Saturday morning.”

“I don’t know about the dance—” Laura tried, but Willow interrupted her.

“It’s going to be fun,” Willow smiled. “It always is.”

*

Friday after school,Hayden knocked on Laura’s classroom door, his hat in his hand. He’d asked a friend to keep an eye on Luke while he talked to the teacher. He’d rather not go to her house to do it. This way, his mother wouldn’t see him.

The door opened. His breath left his body in one swoosh. She looked incredible.

“Hayden?” she asked. “Is Luke okay?”

“Luke’s fine. May I come in?”

“Yes, of course.” She stood to the side to let him in. “Was there something about Luke you wanted to discuss?”

He shook his head. “He’s changed so much since you became his teacher. Thank you for that. His mom’s passing—it was hard on both of us.”

“Of course it was. It will always be. I lost my mom when I was eight and I still miss her every day. Time makes it easier, though.”

He nodded. “I also wanted to apologize for last Saturday night.”

“Apologize for what?” she asked.

Damn, this was harder than he’d thought. But he had to get this out. “For grabbing you and…and kissing you.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “From what I remember, you didn’t grab me. You told me you were responding to my touching you again. You gave me plenty of time to push you away, but I didn’t. We kissed, Hayden. It’s no big deal.” She turned away. “I’ll probably kiss a number of guys in and around Marietta before long.”

Whether it had been his intention all along, or whether it was the roaring in his head, or the way she’d lifted her chin, he would never know, but the next moment, he’d thrown his hat down and was pulling her closer. “So kissing me is no big deal? Let’s test that theory,” he challenged as he combed a strand of hair from her face. “It’s all I’ve been thinking about since last Saturday, all I’ve been dreaming about. And then I had to sit next to you on Sunday, feel you next to me, just to hear you agreeing to go to the dance with my brother? And you want to tell me kissing me is no big deal? Maybe you’re right, maybe I’ve imagined what happened between us. Let make sure, shall we?”

The last words, he murmured against her lips. He waited another second, giving her time to say no or push him away, before he kissed her. Her mouth was soft and sweet and welcoming—just the way he remembered.

Only when she melted against him did he lift his head. “You feel what you do to me? And I can feel your reaction to me,” he said, deliberately brushing the back of his hand against her straining nipples. Her breath hitched and her eyes darkened. “If anyone else you kiss makes you feel like this, I’ll agree us kissing isn’t a big deal,” he said before he turned on his heel and strode out of the classroom.

Rubbing his face he walked as quickly as he could. What the hell? The idea had been to apologize to her, not kiss her again. Inhaling deeply, he leaned against his truck. He could still taste her on his mouth.

“Dad?” Luke asked as he ran closer. “You okay?”

“Of course, let’s go.” They got into the truck.

“Have you seen Miss Anderson?” Luke asked. And after a beat, “She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

Hayden quickly glanced at his son. There was a knowing glint in his little boy’s eyes he’d never seen before. “Yeah, son. She’s pretty.” He smiled. Too damn pretty for his peace of mind.

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