Page 33 of Lost and Found Cowboy

Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt in her hand as she breathed out one word. “Yes.”

Slowly, softly, he grazed her lips with his, savoring her quick inhale then capturing her breath as it released with a soft kiss. He kissed her mouth again, keeping it tender and slow, then pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, then another along her jaw, and another on her neck.

She smelled like her perfume mixed with baby shampoo and tasted like spearmint gum. The wide collar of her sweatshirt had slipped down over her shoulder, and he could finally run his lips over the bare skin that he’d been fantasizing about all night.

She dropped her head back, giving him permission to sample more of her as she let out a quiet moan, and he had to hold himself back from pressing her against the door and ripping those snug leggings off.

But he used every ounce of control he could muster and kept his hands from roaming over her curves.

Just being able to kiss her was enough.

For now.

Back at her mouth, he played his lips against hers, drawing her in then deepening the kiss.

It took everything he had to finally pull away.

Still holding onto his shirt, she stared up at him, looking a little dazed and breathless. “Wow,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” Putting his hat on, he took a step back and opened the door. “I think we’ve almost got the hang of it,” he said, offering her another grin. “But I think we’d better practice some more tomorrow.”

Practice makes perfect.

Chapter Fourteen

Lorna drew in a deep breath as Mack pulled his truck into the parking lot of the Tipsy Pig the following night.

“We’re here,” he announced a little too loudly, and she wondered if he was half as nervous as she was.

She’d spent close to an hour that afternoon destroying her closet as she tried to find something to wear. Shorts seemed too casual, and the only jeans that fit were the two pair she wore to the coffee shop, and she didn’t really want to wear herwork jeanson a date—even if it was a pretend one.

Even though Izzy was almost a year old, she still hadn’t taken off all the baby weight and her body seemed to have changed after having a second child, so half the stuff she tried on was either too small or didn’t look right on her anymore.

Not for the first, or what seemed like the hundredth time this week, she’d wished Leni had been there. They’d spent so many years apart with her older sister in college at MIT and building her career in aerospace engineering, but having her back in Woodland Hills for most of the past year and living in their old house together had been so fun, and she’d come to depend on the support and friendship of her sister again.

Although, knowing Leni, she probably would have created a spreadsheet of outfit choices, a list of pros and cons for each one, and reorganized her closet while they were at it.

It was killing her not to text or call to tell her about Lyle being back—and about kissing Mack—and talking through what she should do about both things. But her sister deserved this honeymoon, and she didn’t want to do anything to spoil her and Chevy’s time together. And knowing the two of them, if they sensed trouble at home, they’d pack up and be on the first plane back to Colorado.

No, she was an adult. She just needed to pull up her big girl panties and face going out on a fake date with a hot cowboy on her own.

She twisted the strap of her purse around her fist as she peered across the parking lot, trying to see if she recognized any of the cars.

“You okay?” Mack asked, nodding to her knee, which had been shaking for the past five minutes. “You’re as fidgety as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, pressing her foot into the floor of the truck to stop it from shaking. “It’s just that…well…I got married not long after high school, and this last year my focus has been on the kids…and it just feels a little pathetic that this is the first date I’ve been on in eight years.Andit isn’t even real.” She wrapped the strap tighter until it suddenly gave way and snapped apart in her hands. “Oh shoot.”

Tears threatened as she stared down at the two torn pieces.

“Hey, now,” Mack said, sliding an arm around her shoulder and pulling her to him. “We don’t have to do this. The last thing I want to think is that going out on a date with me makes you cry.”

She shook her head against his shoulder and huffed out a small laugh. “It’s not you. You’re amazing…”

“And so damn hot, if I recall the words you used yesterday,” he said, obviously trying to tease a smile out of her.

She laughed again. “Yes, and so damn hot that any girl would be lucky to go out with you.” She blew out a breath. “It’s just been a long time. I haven’t really been out on a date since high school. I don’t remember how to even act.”

“I get it. All those months I was in Texas, I was working so hard, and only left the ranch a few times, so it’s been a dang long time since I’ve been out on a date, as well. But I can honestly say, you’re the only woman I’vewantedto take on a date in years, even if it is a fake one.”

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