Page 10 of Faking it with the Cowboy

“I’ll probably drive part of the way back tonight, since there’s nowhere to stay around here.”

“You can always stay with me.” His eyes held the same mixture of hope and apprehension I felt deep down inside.

For a half a heartbeat, I considered the offer, not sure if he was just being nice or if he felt the same confusing attraction between us. “I’m not up for sharing a bunkhouse with a bunch of cowboys,” I teased.

He let out a soft laugh. “I didn’t mean in the bunkhouse. You can stay in one of the guest cabins.”

“Oh.” I’d lost count of the number of times I’d stuck my big, fat foot into my mouth this afternoon. “Um, let’s see what time we get done?”

“Yeah, okay.” He bent down to start gathering all the picnic items.

As we packed everything up, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nervous anticipation. I ran through everything we’d said or done since we got together this morning, wondering if there was something more developing between us. Birch and I had always been close, but this was new territory. I couldn't deny the way my body had reacted to his touch, and the way my mind kept wandering to what it might be like to give into the new attraction.

When we finally got back to the barn, we took care of Swifty, then Birch filled me in on how several of the horses ended up at the Iron H. Listening to him talk about the work he’d been doing, especially caring for the horses who’d been neglected or mistreated, made me realize how much passion and dedication he had for his job.

“They’re lucky to have you here,” I told him as the first raindrops hit the roof of the barn. Just a few sprinkles, I reminded myself. Nothing to get worked up over.

“I’m the lucky one. Being here at the Iron H has been everything I hoped it would be. I’ve learned from the best and Cody, the owner, has been a fair boss. Well, except for this buying a cowboy thing.” He slid his hand along the top rail of the stall until it rested next to mine. Our pinkies touched. It shouldn’t have been such a turn on, but for some reason, it was, despite the way my stomach churned with nerves.

“What’s next for you, then?” I tilted my head to study his profile. With his hat pulled down low on his head, I couldn’t get a good look at his eyes. “Give me that hat so I can see you.”

I pulled it off his head and set it on top of my out-of-control waves.

“Looks better on you, anyway.” He grinned. “What happens next… well, honeybee, that depends on you.”

7

BIRCH

She looked up at me with the same expression she’d had the time she accidentally pulled her swimsuit top off along with her coverup at the swimming hole. Eyes wide, mouth half open, I didn’t know whether to laugh or apologize.

“Why is it up to me?” she asked, her voice on the edge of breathless.

Thank fuck. I hadn’t rendered her speechless. At least not yet. Ever since she got here this morning, there’d been something different between us. Something I hadn’t seen coming but wouldn’t have changed if I had. That kiss had been… hell, it had been everything. Everything I’d imagined it might be to kiss Jericho Sorrel. And I’d been imagining it for a fucking long time.

“I just meant what happens next, like if you want to stay at the ranch today or head back. Saturday night’s poker night. We could grab a bite, then I could teach you how to play.”

Relief washed over her face, wiping away the shock and making me wonder if I’d only imagined it. My mind was playing too many tricks on me tonight.

She blew out a breath. “Pfft. Like I haven’t kicked your butt in Texas Hold ‘Em before?”

Whew. We’d landed back in the flirty friend zone. At least I knew how to navigate that area. “Once. You beat me once and that was only because I got distracted.”

“You got distracted because someone said we should be playing strip poker instead. You’re not trying to trick me into playing strip poker with your cowboy friends, are you?” Her eyes narrowed.

“I’d knock their teeth out before I’d let any of them see you without any clothes on.” My hands curled into fists. Just the thought of someone else seeing her naked made me see red. “Maybe poker isn’t such a good idea.”

She turned on me, her expression unreadable. “What do you want, Birch?”

“What do you mean?” I shook out my hands. I’d been uptight all day. Being around Jericho had put me on high alert. It didn’t make sense. Things between us had been so easy on the phone.

“You’re sending me so many mixed signals tonight, it’s like trying to decipher some foreign language I’ve never heard before.”

Mixed signals? She was the one who’d been confusing the hell out of me, not the other way around. “What kind of mixed signals?”

Her eyelids drifted closed for a long blink and her chest expanded as she took in a slow, deep breath. “Never mind. I think all that fresh air has me feeling a little hangry, or maybe it’s the rain. That’s all.”

“You sure?” It felt like she’d brushed the surface of what was really bothering her, then decided to back off. I wasn’t going to push it, though. She probably just regretted the practice kiss earlier.

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