Page 40 of Protective Cowboy

They resumed walking.

Jenna’s Java was housed in a two-story beige brick building opposite Town Square Park from The Yummy Cowboy Diner. A sign embedded in the facade above the second-story windows said, E.F. Forster & Sons, 1913.

Signs painted over the large plate-glass windows advertised Jenna’s Java & Bakery - Locally Owned & Operated - Fresh Daily - All Natural.

He paused in front of the old-fashioned wood-and-glass door, and bent to whisper in her ear. “Codeword: Daisy?”

A faint flush colored her cheeks as she nodded. As they walked in, the smell of fresh coffee and baked goods greeted them.

A large blackboard hung from the ceiling behind the register. It advertised salads, soups, and sandwiches besides a long list of coffee drinks. On either side of the register, clean, lighted display cases held an extensive selection of tempting pastries.

“Morning, Jenna!” Autumn greeted the bakery’s owner brightly, her voice carrying over the hum of conversation and the hiss of steaming milk.

Jenna Gomez, the mayor’s daughter, had been a freshman in high school when Matt was a senior. She’d moved away from Snowberry Springs after getting married, but returned a few years ago after her divorce to open the combination bakery-café.

“Morning!” Jenna replied, her dark eyes bright with curiosity as she glanced down at their joined hands. “What can I get you two lovebirds?”

Autumn blushed deep red, then ordered their coffees and a cinnamon roll, which was Matt’s favorite breakfast treat.

I guess I’m not the only one who remembers, he thought, feeling absurdly pleased.

As they waited in line to pick up their orders and pay, Matt spotted Donna Frederickson and the rest of the Snowberry Springs Stitch-n-Bitch club watching them from a corner table piled with balls of yarn.

Autumn leaned in closer, her auburn hair tickling his cheek. “Let’s give them something to talk about,” she murmured.

Matt bent to whisper in her ear. “Why did the cowboy get a dachshund?”

He knew it was corny, but it was one of his dad’s favorite jokes.

“No idea,” Autumn whispered back.

“He wanted to get a long little doggie.”

She giggled. “Oh my God, Matt, that’s such a total dad joke!”

“But it made you laugh, didn’t it?” Looking into her sparkling eyes, Matt felt an irresistible urge to kiss her. He tucked back a lock of her auburn hair and heard her inhale at his gentle caress.

Her pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “Matt, I…”

He couldn’t help himself. He drew her close and captured her mouth in a searing kiss. A tsunami of desire swept over him, so strong his knees nearly buckled.

God, I want this woman! No matter how he’d tried to deny it, he’d never stopped wanting her. Even after she broke his heart.

Forgetting that this was supposed to be an act, he wrapped his arms around her, crushing the soft mounds of her breasts against his chest. The familiar scents of her shampoo and perfume flooded his senses.

Her arms slid around his waist, and then she was frantically kissing him back, returning his passion with a fervor that surprised them both.

“Alright, you two,” Jenna chided playfully a few moments later, “That’s enough PDA. And your order’s up.”

Autumn stiffened and broke the kiss. Matt wanted to keep kissing her, but he forced himself to pull away.

Just supposed to be for show, he reminded himself. No matter how strongly his traitorous body was reacting.

He picked up the tray with their coffees and the cinnamon roll and led the way to an empty table a safe distance from a smirking Donna and her friends, who were all armed with knitting needles and crochet hooks.

His cock stiff and aching, Matt leaned back in his chair. He picked up his mug and took a deep breath, inhaling the rich fragrance and letting the scent ground him.

Autumn sat across from him, her fingers wrapped around her own mug. Her cheeks were pink, and she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

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