Page 18 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“I wonder why I’m here,” he murmured absentmindedly.

“Isn’t it for a job?”

He rested his head against the high-back seat. “Yes, but it’s complicated.”

When he didn’t elaborate, I didn’t ask.

A few minutes later, the lights dimmed and previews started.

“Hey, Juniper?” he leaned over and whispered.

I turned to face him. “Yeah?”

“How many times do you figure you made out in here?”

I laughed out loud, then covered my mouth with my hand, although it wasn’t necessary. Cord and I were the only people in the place.

I counted on my fingers, then turned to him again. “Not once,” I said with astraight face.

“Not even with your five-and-dime boyfriend?”

“Nope,” I said, not bothering to challenge the fact he’d referred to Ross as my boyfriend. I supposed it was obvious enough.

Cord stretched both arms across the back of my seat and the empty one on his opposite side. “You’ve got to be pulling my leg, but on the off chance you aren’t, I’d be happy to be your first.”

“You’re right. I’m joking. The number of times I have is far too high to count.” I winked.

“Damn. I thought I’d come up with a pretty good reason to kiss you.”

My breath caught. “Do you need a reason?”

His eyes darted between mine. “Juni…”

I shook my head and was about to pull away when his hand came up from behind me. He weaved it under my hair and gently squeezed the back of my neck.

“You make me wanna kiss you, Juniper.”

I kept my eyes riveted to his, basking in this moment for as long as I could and allowing anticipation to wash over me as I watched his lips move closer to mine.

Except he let go of my neck, removed his arm from behind me, and scrubbed his face with his hand. “Incoming,” I heard him mutter.

I nearly jumped out of my seat when, a second later, I heard my father’s voice. “June-bug? What are you doing here?”

I shifted to look at him, my mom, my grandmother, and Grayson. Since when did my family all go to a Sunday matinee, especially considering the movie that was just starting ran several times each holiday season on local TV stations?

“What areyoudoing here?” I whispered back at him, even though the six of us were still the only people in the theater.

“We wanted to get into the holiday spirit, dear,” said my grandmother, loudly enough to probably be heard out in the lobby. “Who’s your friend? I don’t recognize him.”

Thankfully, my mom intervened, shushed her, and said she’d introduce him after the movie was over.

She nodded, and just as I was about to turn around to face the screen, I saw her tug on Grayson’s arm. “Be a darling and bring Nana some popcorn, would you, Gray?”

“Of course.”

“Want some popcorn?” Cord leanedover and asked.

“If you do.”

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