Page 67 of Cowboys Can't Kiss

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and voices drifting down the hall wake me, but the time on my phone propels me from bed like I’d been shot in the ass.

Rushing down the hall towards the voices, I find Gabe and Jackson at my kitchen island with their heads together, looking at my laptop. Jackson obviously went home and got new clothes because he wasn’t wearing that tight T-shirt last night.

And he looks so comfortable here with my best friend. In my kitchen. Like he belongs here. Jackson sips from his mug before glancing up and noticing me.

“Hey, sweetheart. I hope you slept well.”

“I’m late for the goats!” I blurt. Both men look at each other and laugh. “No, no, you don’t understand! I have a goat wedding soon and they had to come today to pick up the outfits. We have to finalize the arrangements because it’s only a month away! I-I, we need to—”

“Rye, take a breath.” Jackson’s deep voice has my jaw snapping close. “It’s taken care of.”

“What? How?”

“I checked your calendar, and thankfully, you leave very thorough notes,” Gabe says from behind my laptop. “I met withthem this morning and they send you good wishes. They love the goat suits and signed off on the rest. Everything is fine.”

“Oh.”

“I also reached out to the woman you had in your contacts marked aspossible assistant.You’ll be meeting her at 2 P.M. in your office. If you like her, I’ll take care of the setup for salary and such.”

“Um…”

Gabe pushes away from the counter. “Agnes will be in surgery and you need to stay occupied. Jackson and I are here. Let us help. It’s why you called me.”

Jackson places his mug down and strides towards me.

“Riley, baby, look at me, please?” His powerful hands grip my shoulders and I meet his eyes. “I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped here, but you can’t do this alone. I won’t let you.”

Years of fighting for my independence make the automatic response to shake him off rush to the surface. At first, I do, and step away from him, but Gabe calls me out.

“Riley. Don’t. I know you think you need to prove something and do it all yourself, but you really don’t. Let him help you. If he had me up at 5 A.M. without an argument to meet goats, he’s a keeper. So put the lame arguments away and kiss him or something.”

Jackson stands and waits, a patient and hopeful smile on his handsome face. Gabe mutters about taking a shower and leaves us alone.

“Did you sleep well?” I ask because the shift of the energy between us is so overwhelming I’m not sure what to say.

“Neverbetter.”

“So you got my suit-wearing lawyer friend to meet goats. That’s impressive.”

Jackson laughs softly. “Not really. He’d do anything for you, Rye. He loves you.”

“And what about you, Jack?”

“Are you asking me how I feel about you, sweetheart?”

Swallowing, I nod because my mouth just ran dry. I can’t believe I asked him that. How very unromantic. I’m not even dressed. I literally just rolled out of bed and I’m asking this man who I have growing feelings for to tell me his first.

Most men might change the subject, but not Jackson.

He reaches for my hand and kisses my knuckles. “Well, my first response is to tell you that graham crackers were invented to prevent sexual urges. Some reverends felt that a bland diet was a way to curb sex drives. Which I find interesting.” He tugs me closer and kisses my forehead. “But then I took a breath and told myself, now isn’t the time for nervous facts. Riley needs me to be direct.” Jackson kisses my cheek and then my neck while my heart races like aNASCARengine. “Riley, I can’t tell you how I feel about you yet because I don’t know the words to describe it. When I’m with you, I feel like I belong. You make me think I can have a future like I’ve always wanted.”

Jackson cups my cheeks and forces me to meet his gaze.

“My feelings for you are mighty big, Riley. I’d do anything to see you smile and hear you laugh.” He runs his thumb over my lips. “All I ever want to do is kiss you when we’re in the same room.”

“Jeez…Jackson…”

“Can I kissyou?”

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