Page 13 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“We’re both trying to get somewhere and…”

“And?”

“Something casual would be bad news for both of us,” she said quickly. “I’m looking for more than that, and you’re looking to repair your image around town. A one-nighter with the town flirt won’t help.”

A trace of anger had thickened her voice, as though she was as dissatisfied with her image as he was with his own.

“That’s not you, Jackie. You’re more than that.”

She gave a short laugh that sounded pained. “Spare me, Cole. My longest relationships can’t outlast a dairy product’s best-before date.”

“Yeah, but you have a…” He caught himself reaching for her, and dropped his hand. He didn’t have the words to heal her.

“I have a what?” she asked. The anger was gone, and he swore a sadness and need to be recognized had replaced it.

She seemed so alone.

He shook his head, knowing he was projecting again.

“You have a sadness,” he said, looking away. At the truck beside him, the dry grass underfoot, the stars shining brightly in the sky. Anywhere but at her.

It felt important to connect with this woman, to tap into that pain so it could be released. But he didn’t know how to get from here to there. And even if he tried to, he had a feeling Jackie might put up barricades.

Anyway, something like that would lead to entanglements, which would distract him from working on his family relationships.

“You have a sadness, too,” she replied at long last.

He finally allowed his glance to skitter her way. “I do?”

“Yes. You’re different than you were.”

They regarded each other for a moment.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Me?” She laughed, the heaviness that had settled over them broken like a flock of birds startled out of a bush. “I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”

“Jackie,” he whispered, sliding one hand around her waist and tipping her chin up with the other. “Have I ever told you you’re an amazing liar?”

* * *

“Excuse me?” Had Cole just called her a liar?

“You’re doing as okay as I am,” Cole murmured, his voice low and deep. He still had her chin propped on his pointer finger, his body close to hers. They really had to stop meeting this way. “And the kiss wasn’t a mistake.”

“It wasn’t?”

“It was the highlight of my year.”

“We’ve barely finished January.” She ignored the thrill she felt at the idea that Cole had enjoyed kissing her. It had felt pretty spectacular from her side of things, but she had the benefit of years of crushing on the man.

She needed to tread carefully, or she was going to fall for Cole. For real. More than some silly little crush.

“Fine, then. The highlight of the past twelve months. And the year before.” He released her chin. “For a very, very long time. I only wish our timing was better.”

“Right!” she agreed, giving him a wry look that loosened any tension that had built up, putting them back on track. Just friends. Light and fun. Not talking about things that could impact her fluttering, failing heart.

“If I was in a place where I was looking for something serious…” Cole paused again, as though afraid to misstep. But he was also acting as though she was some desperate, clinging woman he had to let down carefully so she didn’t go berserk. Wasn’t she the woman who’d shown him the door last night?

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