Page 29 of Lost and Found Cowboy

She offered the car a little embarrassed wave then smoothed down her apron as she turned to go back into the coffee shop. “I’ve got to pick Max up from school.”

Ooh-kay.

Apparently, they were going to act like that hadn’t just happened. Like she didn’t just rock his frickin’ world by landing in his lap and kissing him senseless.

Adjusting himself as he stood, he tried to catch his breath as he followed her into the shop. “You want me to walk down to the school with you?”

She wasn’t wasting any time. She’d already taken off her apron and gotten her purse from the back office, and she busied herself with putting the last few things away on the counter then heading for the front door, all while seemingly trying to avoid his eye. “No, I’m good. Thank you though. I’ve taken up so much of your day already.”

He passed her the keys for the door that she’d given him earlier. “It’s been fun. I like hanging out with you.”

And kissing you.

Hereallyliked that. But he truly enjoyed just being in her company. She made him laugh, and he felt at ease around her.

She unlocked the door, waited for them both to exit then locked it again, all still without looking at him. After dropping the keys in her purse, she finally raised her eyes to meet his,although he could swear she hesitated just for a second on his lips before she met his gaze. “Do you still want to come over for tacos tonight? I know Max is bugging you to help with the pirate ship, but I don’t want you to feel obligated.”

He stepped closer to her, sensing that like he would treat a skittish colt, he needed to move slowly, as he gently raised his hand to her shoulder. “Yes, I would love to still come over for tacos. And Max is not bugging me. Not at all. I’m looking forward to it.” He slid his hand closer so that his palm cupped her neck as he eased her chin up with his thumb and searched her eyes for answers to what was upsetting her. “You okay?”

“Yes. No.” She reached up to clutch the hand holding her neck. “I’m not sure. I told you I’m a hot mess, and I don’t want to give you mixed signals, I just…you’re being so nice to me…and I’m used to doing everything on my own…and you’ve really stepped up…and you were saying all the right things…and my god, you’re so damn hot…and oh, hell, I don’t know…”

“Hey, it’s all right,” he said softly, trying not to get hung up on the part where she thought he wasso damn hot. “We’re okay. I mean, that was onehellof a kiss, and I think I’m still recovering from you knocking me a little senseless, but I’m still here. For as long as you want me to be. And for whatever you need.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, as she leaned her cheek onto his hand and closed her eyes for just a moment before pulling away from him and fussing with the strap of her purse. “I’ll see you later. For tacos. Around five?”

“I’ll be there.”

Wild horses couldn’t keep him away.

Chapter Thirteen

The tacos had been delicious, but all Mack could think of was their earlier kiss as he helped Lorna clear the table and fill the dishwasher. He almost dropped a plate when she bent over to pick up one of the three spoons Izzy had dropped on the floor.

She’d changed into black leggings, a pink cami, and a loose sweatshirt that kept sliding off one shoulder—which drove him nuts every time it did.

He loved her body—the lushness of it, the curves he imagined exploring, and all he wanted was to pull her against him and slide his lips over the creamy skin of her bare shoulder.

They’d been a little careful around each other tonight. He was still very aware of when they were in each other’s space and when her hip or shoulder brushed his, but he was doing his best to be thoughtful and easy and not bulldoze her with all the feelings and desire trying to bust out of him.

“I wanted to give Izzy a bath tonight. The warm water helps her sleep, and the steam is good for her ears,” Lorna told him when they’d finished the kitchen. “Would you be willing to hang out with Max a bit longer so I can get her bathed and put to bed?”

“Heck, yeah.” He nodded toward the family room. “We’ve still got more work to do on the pirate ship.”

Max shook his head. “I don’t want to work on it without Mommy. It’s a family project.”

The sentiment hit Mack hard. The kid had no idea what it meant to him to be included in any kind of mention of family. “What do you want to do then?”

“Do you know how to play checkers?” Max asked.

“Course.”

Lorena chuckled. “Probably not the way Max does.” She picked Izzy up and balanced her on one jutted hip. “Good luck.”

Mack figured out what she meant ten minutes later when Max had set up the board and they had started to play.

“King me,” the boy said, after going back to the same spot where he’d already gotten a second black checker stacked on his first one.

“I already did,” Mack told him.

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