Page 27 of A Surprise Wedding for the Cowboy

Tate caught his breath. She was gorgeous when she smiled like that. When the worries about her parents and their expectations fell away. Somehow, his fingers swept her cheek.

Her smile froze as she tensed, her eyes searching his face.

She was so near, smelling like blossoms after a spring rain. “I mean it. I’d fight the dragons for you.”

She laughed breathlessly. “Because you need a nanny for Jamie.”

“Because I’m beginning to think my feelings for you only used my nephew as a springboard, but now they’ve become the main thing.”

Stephanie blinked. “You have… feelings for me?”

“I do. I hope that’s not weird. I’m sorry if it is. maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I know we haven’t known each other for even a week.”

“Five days, twenty hours, and—” she glanced at the clock “—twelve minutes.”

It was his turn to pull back, startled. “That’s very specific. Also, correct. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“Was there a question in there somewhere?”

Tate thought through the conversation. Much of it seemed to be taking place without words. He searched her eyes, and suddenly both of his hands now cupped her face. “Are my feelings one-sided, or do you share them?” It wasn’t as hard to get the words out as he’d feared. Not with the way she was looking at him.

Stephanie walked her fingers up the placket of his shirt then toyed with his collar for a few seconds. Her gaze locked onto his, and he barely dared breathe. But when she stretched to brush her lips against his, his heart stuttered then soared.

He gathered her into his arms, holding her flush against him as he took control of the kiss. She tasted as amazing as she smelled. As she looked. She was the woman for him, spoiling him for any other.

Tate pulled back at the startling thought, but she was having none of that nonsense. Her fingers slid into his hair and held him in place as her mouth moved against his.

He didn’t want to stop, anyway. He could savor the assurance while he savored her nearness. Her touch. Her taste. Her simple presence in his life. In Jamie’s life.

A minute might have passed. Or maybe an hour. He didn’t know. Didn’t care. But, eventually, his brain cells clicked back into place, and he eased away from her, resting his forehead against hers. What had just happened? They’d been talking. She’d asked if he’d asked a question. And then she’d kissed him like her life depended on it.

Tate kissed her forehead. “Was there an answer in there somewhere?”

Stephanie giggled and poked his ribs. “Maybe?”

He tickled her back, and she wiggled out of his grasp, stopping just out of reach. He stared at her, seeing her in a new way. She absolutely glowed. Her lips were pink and puffy, but the light in her eyes could eclipse the sun.

She stared back. What did she see? Did she see a hopeful future stretching in front of her, like he did, or did she see regrets? Please, not regrets. “Stephanie?”

“Tate?” she mimicked, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

“Are we—” he motioned between the two of them “—are we going to see where this attraction might lead us?”

“You’re not sorry? I wasn’t too brash?”

“How could I be sorry? You’re amazing. I can’t believe you’re even interested in me.” He shifted closer, grasping both her hands, but not daring to lean in for another kiss. Words were sometimes needed.

She shook her head. “I’m not amazing. I’m really nothing more than an average twenty-eight-year-old woman who’s got a history of insipid relationships.”

“That kiss was anything but insipid. And you’re not an average anything.”

“I’m not good at relationships. Not this kind.”

“You only need to be good at one relationship like this. Maybe…” Maybe he was getting in too deep, too fast. Nah. He was going for it. “Maybe I’m the one relationship you’ll be really, really good at. I’m hoping that’s true.”

“That’s… a lot to process. After all, we’ve only known each other five days…” Her gaze flicked back to the clock on the wall.

“Five days, twenty hours, and thirty minutes?”

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