Page 60 of A Cowboy's Convenient Marriage

"I think we better practice a little before we actually get started," she finally said, her words coming slow. He had a feeling if he leaned back, he would see her cheeks getting red, and she might have trouble meeting his eyes. The thought made him smile, and he did lay his cheek on top of her head.

"Practicing? An interesting idea. So, you want to practice before we actually have children?"

"No. I want to practice before we start having children."

"All right. When should we start practicing?" he asked, and then he held his breath. He had tried to go a little bit slow with his wife, and he’d succeeded so far, but he’d been doing it for her.

"Tonight?" she said, and her voice sounded a little squeaky, like she pushed the word out when her throat wanted to close around it and keep it in.

"I was kind of hoping you would say that." He kissed the side of her temple, and then laid his cheek there. "I think tonight sounds like a really good time."

"So, you said we were too old to make out."

"I don't think we're too old to make out. I think we're just too old to call it making out. But, I couldn't think of anything else that would be better."

"Well. For lack of a better word, I think that we ought to take a walk outside, and see if we can find a good spot to...do whatever it is that you think we ought to do that is making out but not called making out."

"Are you propositioning me?" he asked. "Mrs. Johnson. I'm surprised."

"Was that a no?" she said, and she allowed a whiny, petulant tone into her voice. It was adorable, because it was so not Ada.

"No. That was definitely a yes." He didn't say anything more, but dropped his hands from around her, and grabbed a hold of her hand, as they found their way to the back barn door.

He opened it, and she slipped out along with him.

He didn't figure anyone noticed. The lights were dim, and maybe it would be good to remember that this might not be a good place to take their teenagers.

But, they were safely married and had been for some time, and he wasn't too worried.

"I've always thought this would be a good place, right here," Ada said, leading him to a bush that did indeed provide very good cover for anyone who wanted to make out.

"I feel like you put some thought into this," he said, stopping and pulling her around to face him.

She came easily.

"Maybe. Maybe I just look forward to it. And, even more so when I had a face to put with the idea."

"Interesting. What did this face look like?"

She looked up at him, and said, “Well, it was a little bit taller than me, but not so much that I couldn't reach up and do this," she said, standing on her toes, and kissing his chin.

"That was nice,” he said, maybe for encouragement, but also meaning it.

"Or this," she said, pressing herself to him, and putting her arms around his neck.

"That's pretty nice too."

"I'm feeling that way as well. But, when I pictured it, this handsome face that I was thinking about, met me halfway."

She lifted her lips up, and he did just that. Met her halfway, and then some. He kissed his wife the way he'd wanted to since the day they got married. The way he hadn't kissed her, because he wanted to give her time to get used to him, and maybe fall in love with him a little.

He had waited long enough, and he had to admit the kiss was definitely worth the wait.

He lifted his head a little, and trailed a kiss along her cheek to her temple. "I love you."

"I love you too. Thank you. This is the best barn dance I've ever been to."

"Already? We’re only two dances in. Who knows what's going to happen."

"Yeah. Who knows. But I'm pretty sure, whatever it is, it's going to be wonderful."

He figured he could make sure of that, and he lowered his head again, smiling as he did so. With Ada, everything was wonderful, and he didn’t expect that to change.

~~~

---