Page 314 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
“Areyoustopping to talk to a certain lumberjack cowboy?”
Her smile quickly falters. “I talk to everyone. Equally. In neutral, non-flirty tones.”
“So, that’s a yes?” I keep a straight face, which is harder than it should be, especially for me, queen of straight faces.
“When did you turn into Josie?” She retorts.
“When didyouturn into Josie?” I clap back.
After sharing confused, accusatory glares, we head in opposite directions. She proceeds to the stacks of tables carryingfoil-wrapped bundles of supper for the Wildes, and I make my way to the stage, juggling the awkward boxes and bags.
I see Hart before he notices me, and an unexpected jolt hits my heart. It’s different from the familiar sting of anger and frustration I’ve grown used to whenever he’s around.
I missed him today.
The feel is foreign and wonderful at the same time.
He crouches at the far end of the stage, adjusting something. Sweat latches to the back of his neck, and dust clings to the fabric and settles on his Stetson.
I unload my supplies and then walk past him, letting my fingers graze over his shoulder as I go. His body tenses at my touch, but he doesn’t turn; his head just tilts up slightly. I don’t make eye contact. I slip behind the partition wall, already knowing he’ll follow.
The moment I’m out of sight, his hands are at my waist, pulling me into the shadows between chairs stacked high and boxes of equipment. His mouth finds mine, urgent, like he’s been waiting all day to kiss me. Like he missed me as much as I missed him. The confirmation is exhilarating.
“I hated leaving you this morning.” His voice is low, and the deepness knots my insides. “You were curled up like you’d sleep through the week.”
“I almost did.” I lean my forehead against his. “Which isn’t like me.”
“No?”
I shake my head. “I’m an early-to-rise kind of girl.”
“That’s perfect, because I’m an early-to-rise kind of guy.”
I already suspected as much. All the Wildes are.
“Yeah?” I brush my lips against his. “Your scent was still in the sheets, wrapped around me, and thinking you were beside me made it really difficult to open my eyes.”
“I’m tempted to haul you back there right now.”
I laugh.
“I wanted to watch you wake up next to me,” he admits shamelessly, like he’s no longer holding anything back.
After everything we’ve done, and having seen each other in our most vulnerable states, what could we possibly still guard?
“Creepy,” I tease.
He laughs and plants another kiss on my mouth, his tongue plunging between my lips, demanding and hungry. I match that energy because this has all my mind has been thinking about since I opened my eyes and saw the gifts he’d left me.
“Thank you for the note and the honey. It was delicious.”
His fingers dig into my skin. Not painful, just enough to tell me the idea of me drizzling honey excites him.
“Did you leave any for me?” His dark and inviting eyes make it impossible to look away.
“As much as I’d like to sneak away to your tent and show you, I’m on decorating duty with Hannah, Celi, and Daisy.”
He brushes my cheek with his thumb. “Then I’ll stay.”
