Page 63 of My Cowboy Freedom
Just looking at him felt daring.
It was almost scary, the way his eyes met mine right there in front of Elena and Maisy and the God I didn’t believe in anymore...
I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t blink. He didn’t let me see his thoughts. He’d gone blank in that way he had, but he kept his level gaze locked with mine while the night sped past around us.
My chest tightened, like all the air was being squeezed from my lungs. Finally, I dropped my gaze to the place on Maisy’s golden fur where our hands were touching.
With only the moonlight and Maisy to see us, he let his hand glide slowly against mine. Back and forth. A gentle caress. It wasn’t sexual and it wasn’t weird. It was the same kind of comfort Maisy offered me. Shared space, shared skin, and body heat.
Breath fell from my lips like a silent cry of sheer, blessed relief.
I am not alone.
The truck’s tires crunched when Elena turned onto the ranch road.
“There we go,” Elena broke the silent communication between us. Our hands drifted apart. “Almost home, boys. Thank you again, Skyler. Bet you’ll be glad to get some shut-eye. I’ll tell the boys you need a couple extra hours in the morning, my fault.”
Skyler smiled faintly. “Thank you, ma’am, but that’s not necessary. I’ll do my job on what sleep I can get like the rest.”
“Still, you were very kind, Sky. I won’t forget it.”
“It was nothing.” Sky sat back and drew his cowboy hat down over his face. I didn’t know what to make of him sometimes. Was he really the humble, kinda-shy guy he seemed to be? Or did he shrink from the spotlight because he couldn’t bear scrutiny.
Oh, man. I wasn’t sure it mattered to me just then. He met my gaze and—once again–held it a solid second too long. That’s a long time. Eons. Plenty of time to know Sky wanted the same thing I wanted.
I blurted. “Don’t you think Sky should get a phone as soon as possible?”
Sky shook his head. “I don’t need a—”
“For work,” I bolstered my case. “What if the boss needs him for something and he can’t get in touch?”
As she pulled to a stop in front of the ranch house, Elena breathed out a soft sigh. “I think it’s up to Sky whether he wants a cellphone or not. He can take one of the radios on the trail. You can show him how to use it.”
“Okay.” Still shaky, I left the cab and busied myself with my backpack and guitar. Maisy stayed next to me until I released her to do her business in the bushes.
“Let me get that for you.” Elena took my instrument.
“Give me a minute, Elena. Please?”
“Come in soon, m’hijo.” Elena shot me a sideways glance before she headed inside.
Sky’s boots crunched over the gravel behind me. I turned a little too sharply and had to use the truck for balance. Not smooth.
“Short leash,” Sky said.
“Yeah. Sometimes they treat me like a kid.”
“But you’re not a kid, are you?”
“No.” I asked, “Why did you do that, before?”
He took a step back. “Do what?”
I lowered my voice. “Why did you touch my hand like that?”
“Are you saying you didn’t—” He frowned at me. “Wasn’t that okay?”
Shaking my head wasn’t smart, given how weak I felt. My brain felt loose and squishy. The motion made me dizzy. Ice-cold fear filled my throat. kept me from saying what I wanted, which was: It’s more than okay.The touch of his hand was everything, when I had nothing.
