Page 44 of Wounded Cowboy
“Maybe you can suggest some activities you’d like to do with them after lunch,” Spring said a half-hour later.
He turned to her, pen poised over the clipboard he was holding. After tucking the girls in bed, he’d ducked into his office and printed out a blank copy of his daily plan template.
Now, he and Kelsey were in the living room, sitting side by side on his couch. Their knees were almost touching, and Spring fought the temptation to inch closer, until her soft thigh was pressed against his.
“I appreciate the thought, but I don’t really need to write out a list of activities in advance,” she responded, her voice calm yet firm. “Why not just put ‘Activities’ in that time slot and let me figure out things to do when the time comes?”
Kelsey’s suggestion shouldn’t have come as a surprise, thought Spring.
He shook his head.“How will I know if they’re getting a balanced set of activities?”
Kelsey sighed, and he hid his wince.
His therapist had been trying to help him with his compulsion to control everything in his environment. Spring thought he’d been doing better lately, but Kelsey’s presence this week had only reminded him he still had a long way left to go.
“Part of the fun of being a child is being spontaneous, Spring,” Kelsey said, sounding patient.“Letting the day unfold naturally can be a wonderful way for them to learn and grow. Trust me, they’re getting more from this than just fun. They’re learning how to adapt and be creative.”
“Humor me,” he insisted.“I mean, we both know you’re not going to stick to the plan if something comes up.” He forced himself to smile.
“I see you’ve met me.” She laughed, and he felt the gathering tightness in his chest ease at the sound.“All right. For activities, if it’s nice weather on Monday, maybe we’ll go for a horseback ride or go for a hike around the ranch.”
“The girls know how to ride, but I’m not sure about taking them out when I’m not around…” He saw her expression, and stopped.
His heart began pounding, and he recognized the warning signs.Breathe in. Count to three.
She waited patiently, her beautiful dark eyes resting on him without condemnation.
“Look, Iknowyou think I’m a control freak,” he said, once he felt he could speak again.
She blushed and looked away uncomfortably.
“That’s okay.Everyonethinks that. I’m—” he swallowed hard.“I’m trying to work on that. I have a video therapy appointment once a month.”Fuck.He hadn’t meant to blurt that last part.
Kelsey leaned forward a little, her expression sympathetic.“It sounds like you’ve had a rough time since your wife—I mean, since the accident.”
“It’s not just that,” Spring said.“I need to plan everything because I have more work to do than there are hours in the day. It’s just… kind of… spilled over into the rest of my life. Believe me, I’dloveto be more spontaneous. But I can’t. Not—not right now.”
Kelsey reached over to place a comforting hand on his arm. The warmth of her hand soaked through the fabric of his shirt. He found the urge to lean into her touch.“I understand the need for planning in your line of work, Spring. But childcare is a different thing. If I try to plan everything in advance, there’s no magic left in the children’s day.”
For a moment, their eyes locked, and Spring saw something shift in Kelsey’s expression.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she blushed again. The atmosphere between them crackled with an electric tension, and time seemed to slow down.
“There hasn’t been any magic in my life for a long time.”Except for right now…As if drawn by an invisible force, Spring leaned in closer, until her breath brushed his chin.
Kelsey’s eyes widened, but she didn’t move away.
“Kelsey,” he whispered. He pressed his lips against hers, igniting a fire that had been smoldering beneath the surface for far too long.
She was every bit as hot and sweet as he’d dreamed about, and she responded to his kiss with passionate intensity. Her hand slipped around the back of his neck, and her lips parted beneath his as he devoured her mouth.
When they finally broke apart, Kelsey was grinning from ear to ear.“Now tell methatwasn’t spontaneous,” she panted.
“Kelsey, I’m sorry…”
She leaned in again and silenced him with another searing kiss, pulling him even closer this time.
Spring lost himself in the feel of Kelsey’s lips against his own. Without breaking their kiss, he dragged her body onto his lap, and gloried in the way her curves felt pressed against him.
