Page 55 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“Didn’t hear me come up?” she asked, amused by the way she’d caught Cole off guard. The last rain shower had ended, leaving the morning air fresh. “And isn’t it too damp to be staining the new boards?”

He shrugged, displaying his work, which looked unaffected. “San Antonio? Are the rumors about us already that bad?”

“I’m sure gums are flapping around town,” she said matter-of-factly.

Cole was studying her with that patient look of his, and she struggled to regain her cheerful facade.

The truth was she needed to get serious about moving her father to a facility with more dedicated memory care. And that meant the city, since there was nothing local. She wanted to be close to him, which meant she’d be moving, too. Possibly a full month before the end of her and Cole’s fake romance.

“But no, I haven’theardany rumors,” she said, gazing thoughtfully at the horse and rider being guided around the ring by Betty, the stable manager. The child was beaming, and waved excitedly as they passed.

Cole leaned against the fence, casually taking her in, and Jackie returned the favor. He was in a dirty pair of jeans and a thick plaid vest, his black hat low on his brow. He looked troubled and handsome. Her favorite combination.

“Then why would you move?” He watched her, his attention on her mouth, and she wasn’t sure if he was waiting for her to say something more or if he was thinking about kissing her. She hoped the latter.

“Do you think we’re stirring up a lot of gossip?” She hitched an elbow on the top board of the fence and turned to face him, resting her head against her hand. She hadn’t seen him since Valentine’s Day. Not even a text. It was weird being in an almost-relationship, as their roles were so undefined. She wasn’t even sure how she was supposed to act with him. “You’d think people wouldn’t really care what we do, since neither of us is marriage-track material.”

“April read me the riot act about being good to you.”

“Well, of course she did. I’m her friend and you’re basically the devil.”

“Ouch.”

“Is she okay with us…”

“Dating?”

“Yeah.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, unless I act like a jerk. Then she threatened to punch me.”

“Good.”

April had told her to go for it with Cole, but Jackie still feared her friend had been lying. Not that what she and Cole were doing was real, but April didn’t know that, and Jackie didn’t want to lose a friend over something that would go nowhere.

Cole took a step closer. Almost automatically she tipped up her chin, ready to kiss him.

“So the two of you are okay?”

A shadow crossed his face. “We worked through some things.”

He slipped his arms around Jackie’s waist and drew her into a hug, causing Myles’s dog, Buckey, to bark playfully. Jackie leaned her head against Cole’s shoulder, inhaling the scents of hay and man. The hug felt nice.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She laughed, feeling nervous. “Why?” She slid her arms up between them, and when he didn’t release her, clamped her fingers on a shirt button, exposed through his partially done up vest.

“You can tell me anything.”

She lifted her gaze to his. When his expression grew solemn, full of caring and concern, she let out a shaky breath, unexpected emotion welling up inside her.

“Anything?” She gave him a playful look.

“Anything.”

She batted her lashes. “You’re very handsome.”

He unwound one arm from around her slender waist, hooking a finger under her chin and gently lifting it so he could see her better. “I’m not going anywhere.”

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