Page 34 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

They were quiet for a moment, and she smoothed a hand over the front of his jacket.

“You didn’t leave because you didn’t care.” She pressed her hand into his chest. “You left because youdidcare.”

Cole closed his eyes and lowered his forehead to rest against hers. When he opened them again, they seemed a paler shade of blue. “I want to believe you. You know how dangerous that is?”

“Then believe.”

“Why do you know everything?”

“I don’t.”

“You seem to.”

“I’m pretty good at sifting through the gossip, filling in gaps and figuring out the truth. There’s not a lot of fun in a story about an honorable man leaving town. Those giggling geese prefer a tale about betrayal and shame. That’s much more interesting than what really happened.”

“And that is exactly why I’m trying to rebuild my reputation.” He had straightened again, fire and determination returning to his eyes, strengthening the line of his jaw. “I hate that people think that of me.”

“So how are you going to rebuild things?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Yes, you do.”

He relented. “I had plans. Show the town and my family I’m here to stay, that I’m calmer now and someone to rely on.” He let out a soft, derisive huff. “But it only took me a week to get into a fight.”

“The one with Heath on New Year’s Eve? That wasn’t a fight. You threw no punches. That was you standing up for your brother, and for April. Two people you care about, because you’re an honorable, kind man. And it was pretty darn sexy, FYI.” She dragged a finger down his shirt. It felt like every defense she made to try to convince him not to beat himself up was an argument on why she should love this man.

He grasped her finger, his breathing shaky. “Don’t.”

She met his burning gaze with one of her own. “Your grandfather thinks we can help each other,” she whispered.

“How?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I’m pretty certain we’ll know by the end of the day.”

5

Cole couldn’t seem to stop kissing Jackie. Only after she pressed her hands into his chest did he finally let up on the assault, stealing one last peck before reluctantly breaking free.

“Are you trying to duck out of working?” she asked breathlessly.

“Yes.” He tugged her close again and laughed. “It’s more fun kissing you.”

“We’re not supposed to be doing this.”

“Hanky-panky stuff?” He caught her as she tried to weave out of his arms. There was a question in her gaze he couldn’t figure out. “What?”

“You are trouble, you know that?”

He felt his smile fade.

“Oh, quit being so hard on yourself.” She patted his chest, then ran her hands up into the hair at the nape of his neck, sending shivers down his spine when she gave a slight tug. Having her body snugged against his felt right.

“I was hoping you’d be at the auction,” she whispered. She laughed when he studied her more closely.

“Maybeyou’retrouble,” he mused.

“Maybe we’re trouble together,” she retorted, kissing him lightly. Sadly, she broke the kiss before it could get out of control. But her fingers were still stroking the fine hairs on his neck, running up his skull, giving the short tufts a light tug as she explored. The sensations she was creating were doing funny things to his brain, and he was finding more reasons to keep Jackie around. After all, his family liked her, and maybe having a steady, kind girlfriend would help him earn back trust. It would be like Jackie had suggested earlier—show everyone he planned to stick around. Being committed to Laura seemed to have made Levi even more committed to the ranch and its prosperity. Cole’s family could likely extrapolate the same intentions from him if he exhibited similar settling-down behavior to his older brother. And he’d know it was working if Brant gave him a dog. His veterinarian brother tended to do that when he accepted and trusted someone. And so far, no dog for Cole.

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