Page 22 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

“She always did that. That was her favorite flower, and she said that was her secret kiss to me,” Jaxon said from beside her.

Presley placed the picture back on the mantle and blinked tears from her eyes.

“I can see how much you loved each other,” she whispered as she looked at Jaxon.

“Yes.”

“This room is so gorgeous.” She glanced around the room. She had to change the subject because looking at those photos made her heart ache. Would he ever love someone that much again?

“Thanks. Come on, I’ll show you the rest.” He led her back through the foyer and into a dining room on the opposite side and then the kitchen which made her gasp. Black appliances sat nestled between grey marble countertops. She’d noticed the oak floors ran through all the rooms. He then led her back to the foyer and living room then down a hallway.

“This is one of the spare bedrooms,” he said as he opened a door.

Peeking in, she saw a queen size bed, dresser, chest of drawers, and a door, which she assumed, was a closet. She looked up at him and smiled. She watched his eyes roamover her face and stop on her lips. He cleared his throat and led her down the hall.

“Another spare bedroom,” he said as he pushed another door open.

Presley nodded as she looked in. It looked, basically, like the other one. Then he led her further down the hall to two more doors.

“How many bedrooms?” she asked.

“Four total, but I use one for an office. That’s this room.” He nodded toward the room. The door was open. A large cherry desk sat toward the back of the room with a wall of bookcases filled with books behind it. Large windows let the sunshine in, and a large braided oval rug lay in the center of the room. The desk was neat with just a few papers, along with a computer sitting on it. He took her elbow in his hand and led her across the hall. “This is my bedroom.”

This was the room she wanted to see. Her stomach had been in knots waiting to get to this one. Stepping around him, she entered the room to step onto dark red, plush carpeting. A king size bed sat centered against the far wall. The wall along the door she’d entered through had a row of doors which had to be a closet. The opposite wall was a row of glass, and she could see a swimming pool outside. Turning, she looked at him, and her breath caught when she saw thestone fireplace against the wall. A doorway led to a bathroom beside it, and she could see his Jacuzzi tub inside.

“So that’s why you don’t swim at the other pool. You have your own.” She smiled.

“It’s only one of the reasons.”

Tilting her head, she stared up at him. “What are the other ones?”

“I’m sure no one wants to see my scar.”

“We all have some type of scar, Jaxon.”

“I hate the stares.”

Walking toward him, she stopped in front of him. “It’s a part of you. I wouldn’t stare.”

Jaxon blew out a laugh. “You wouldn’t stare because you’ve seen a lot of shit.”

“That’s true, but I still think it’s just a part of you.”

“I’m sure there are a lot of women who would be repulsed by it.” Devin’s words ran through his mind.

“I’m not repulsed by it,” She said as she touched his black T-shirt.

“You haven’t seen it,” he murmured.

“Want to show me?”

“Not really.”

Presley nibbled on her bottom lip. She wanted him to know that it didn’t bother her that he had a scar. To her, he was a handsome man. No injury would take that away from him. She ran her fingernails downhis chest to his stomach and smiled when he sucked in a breath.

“So, if you don’t want me to see it, does that mean we’d only have sex in the dark?” she asked softly. Where her courage was coming from, she had no idea, but she wanted him, and she wanted him to know, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t turn her away. Again.

“What did you say?” he asked as he grasped her arms and pulled her to him.

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