Page 52 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

“Are you okay?”

Riley nods. His throat bobs as he swallows and his hands shake on his thighs. I reach for the hand closest to me and squeeze it.

“When I saw it was you he was threatening, I just…I sort of lost my temper. I don’t do that kind of thing normally. I…fuck, Riley. What are you doing here?”

“It’s a long story, Jackson.” His gaze meets mine and his eyes shine as he moves a hand to touch my face. My breath hitches, but not because of the low throb on my cheek. It’s the tender way Rileydusts his fingertips across the fresh bruise forming and leans closer. “He hurt you.”

“I’d rather it be me than you.” My voice is rough and gravelly as I gently take his hand and press my lips to his palm. “I’d gladly carry the pain so you don’t have to, Rye.”

Riley inhales, his chest expanding as he bites at his lip.

“I don’t deserve you, Jackson.”

I don’t like those words. Nor do I like how unsure and scared he looks right now.

“I can’t always say what’s on my mind. Sometimes it’s easier to show you.”

Riley has leaned closer, and I still hold his hand against my chest. “Riley.” I rub my lips across his knuckles and he releases a stuttering breath. “Can I show you?”

His gaze finds mine again, and my heart races because, if I’m not mistaken, there’s a need as strong as mine there. He nods. Just once and slowly.

Sliding my palm across his cheek, he closes his eyes with a swallow. “Jackson…” a hoarse whisper before I press my lips to his. His fingers bury into my shirt as he clutches at me. Riley sobs but opens and I deepen the kiss, trying desperately to convey he’s the one I want. That he deserves the world and then some. He’s not a piece of flesh to fight over, but a beating heart who breathes happiness and hope into my life.

His body trembles against mine and I break the kiss, pulling him against me.

“I hope you understand what I meant by that kiss.”

“Maybe?” He pulls away from me and traces my lips with a fingertip. “I think we have a lot to sort out. There’s an all-nightdiner I saw earlier today. Would you like to join me for…coffee?” He chuckles and some of the normal Riley returns. “Maybe they’ll have baby carrots or something.”

“Yeah, Rye. Lead the way.”

And he does.

Without dropping my hand that he only holds tighter.

fifteen

Riley

Sitting in a diner decorated in a 1950s style, complete with waitstaff in poodle skirts, is not the place I envisioned having this conversation with Jackson.

But here we are in the middle of Doo-Wop heaven with a poster forBrylcreemon the wall next to us as we giggle at the names of food on the menu.

“I’ll be honest,” I say as I close my menu. “I can’t bring myself to eat a cheeseburger named the Chubby Checker Special. I just can’t.”

Jackson snort-laughs.

“Okay. I sort of agree, because even though some greasy comfort food would be great, I can’t eat Ritchie Valens Ritz Dip.”

We both giggle and snort as the waitstaff delivers our drinks. Jackson went with a root beer float, and I chose a strawberry milkshake. We agree to share a plate of fries which have no weird name and after ordering, an awkward silence settles between us, and I clear my throat.

“I guess I’ll start with the biggest question and tell you why I’m here.” Jackson brings his gaze to mine as he scoops a spoonful of float into his mouth. The memory of our earlier kiss replays intechnicolour as I track the way his tongue moves across the spoon and a ball of heat burns low in my gut.

“I only went out with the guys tonight because I promised Jamieson I would,” Jackson states before I even get any words out. “That and you said I’d never meet anyone unless I went out there and tried.”

My entire skeleton freezes in my body. I can’t be too late. He kissed me. But had I not shown up tonight…

“Did you meet someone tonight?” The words are like shards of glass across my tongue.

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