Page 77 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

“I’d bring my telescope and show you Saturn’s rings. I’d give you a tour of the Milky Way and then I’d kiss you.”

“Yeah? How?”

“Like this.” My hands shake as I cup his face and take his lips in a slow and deep kiss. Riley melts into me as our tongues slide together and I hope I haven’t ruined the evening. My heart ran before my brain, and it’s been such a whirlwind of emotions since he showed up at the rodeo last week.

But I kiss him like how I wanted to the first time I said those words. A kiss to tell him he’s the one. He’s tied my heart in a knot only he can untie, but I want that knot to get tighter and never be undone.

When I finally pull away, I’m almost afraid to look at him, because what if he doesn’t feel like I do? What if that kiss wasn’t enough?

“Jackson, that was the most beautiful date I’ve never been on. Just because it didn’t play out how you wanted doesn’t make it any less special. Yes, I love romance, but you do it quietly every day. It’s in the way you make my favourite foods and know how I’ll need to unwind after visiting my aunt. I see it when you tell me random food and animal facts and how you always put my feelings and experiences before your own.”

Riley swallows and takes my face in his hands like I had his before. “Not all romance is a big show that needs planning, Jack. You do it in every single action without even thinking about it.” Hepresses a kiss to my lips before breathing a shaky sigh. “You made me fall in love with you with barely any effort.”

“What?”

Did he just say what I think he did?

Riley smiles and slides his arms around my neck. “I love you too, Jackson. I didn’t want to, because I was afraid. But I can’t ignore how seeing you is the highlight of my day or how I think of you so much when you’re on the road. We just did something big. Both of us. You trusted me with your feelings, just like I trust that you’ll not do me wrong.”

I feel like I could ride a bull better than Jamieson right now. My happiness bubbles out of me and I smash my mouth to Riley’s.

“You love me. Holy shit,” I mumble against his lips as he laughs against mine.

“I really do.”

“So, we should probably get in the shower soon and get you to bed. Tomorrow is a big day for both of us.”

Riley’s smile fades. “Yeah. Reality sucks. I’d rather just lie around in bed with you.”

Groaning, I press a kiss to his temple and turn us towards the shower.

“I’ll take a rain check on that in about two weeks if the offer stands.”

“It’s a date.”

Riley grins at me as he steps into the shower, and I follow behind him.

This wasn’t how I planned the day to end, but I’m certainly notcomplaining.

“Iknewyou had a secret hottie!”

Jamieson slaps me on the back, almost knocking me over.

“When do we get to meet him?” Griff leans against the fence in Hunter’s yard and his smile is one I’ve not seen in a while.

“I think at the banquet after this rodeo.”

“You think?”

“He’s a romance planner, and he has a few events of his own on the go. His aunt also had a hip replacement, and he’s spending a lot of time with her. Actually, I need a favour from you all.”

“You know we’ll be here for whatever you need, Jack.” Jamieson looks to his best friend Griff, for confirmation.

“Of course we can help you. What do you need?”

Hunter walks up to our group and passes out drinks. Beers for them and an iced tea for me. “Who is helping who with what?”

“Jackson needs help,” Griff says before he takes a swallow of beer. “So do you, but you never let us.”

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