Page 65 of Wild, Wild Cowboy

Her eyebrows went up. “What’s that?”

I leaned forward. “I’m not going to just take you back after some basic apology. I want a grovel. A big, messy, public grovel.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous. The man is supposed to grovel in romance books, not the woman. Readers love a groveling man.”

“What can I say, I’m a feminist. And if anyone is capable of breaking a heart, it’s you, duchess.” She opened her mouth but I kissed her. “I’ll try to find it in my heart to forgive you,” I said against her lips. “A blowjob will probably help.”

She laughed.

And then she kissed me back.

26

HANNAH

Essie:

Cats are all still alive, although I can’t guarantee that Brax won’t try to smuggle one home in his pocket.

Janie:

Story time at after care went pretty well. I think we’re going to make it a regular thing. All the kids missed you!

James:

Quarantine stall is ready for Hurricane Red. And Blaine is back from college for the summer. Tell Zack Blaine is hoping Zack will let him work with Red.

Chloe:

Exactly how many horses did you save, Hannah?

Hannah:

A lot of horses, Chloe. A LOT.

Itook my coffee to the porch, where I knew Jeremiah would be waiting for me. It was our tradition to have coffee together on the last day of my visit. This visit was different, in that it was unplanned, short, and included Zack, but I figured the traditional would hold true. And I was right, because Jeremiah was already there in an Adirondack chair, a steaming mug of coffee cradled between his palms.

“Hey.” I took the chair next to him and brought my knees up to my chest for warmth. Mornings never stopped being chilly here. We were too far north, and too high in elevation. But I didn’t mind it. That was what warm sweaters and hot coffee were for.

“You’re coming back for Christmas, right? Because this doesn’t count as a real visit.” The words were gruff, but I knew that was because he missed me.

“I’ll be back,” I promised. Even with the days I had just taken to rescue Hurricane Red, I had plenty more vacation time. The library had a generous leave policy, but because we were so short staffed I tended not to use it, except for one week to visit Jeremiah every Christmas.

“Anytime you want to move home, you know you can. I hear the Fremont County Library is hiring.”

“Fremont is a full hour from here, at least.”

“I’m just saying.”

I shook my head and sipped my coffee. I wasn’t going to trade my twenty-minute walk for an hour drive, each way. Even more than that, Aspen Springs was home now. I had built a lifethere that brought me deep satisfaction and joy. I truly loved it. The town, the people, my friends.

Zack, a voice sighed dreamily in my brain.

But that was just the orgasms talking. I had worked too hard to build myself into an independent woman who didn’t need a man for salvation to start making decisions about where I wanted to live based on his location. I was a whole, worthwhile person all on my own, and I intended to stay that way.

As though he could see in which direction my thoughts turned, Jeremiah raised an eyebrow. “He’s all right.”

“Who?” I said like I didn’t know.

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