Page 42 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

“You’ve spent the last few days trying to convince me we’re in this together.” The way she was looking at him made him feel whole again. “You finally succeeded.”

It wouldn’t have taken more than another half step to tangle their fingers or fuse their mouths together, but he didn’t want to muddy the new level of trust they’d reached. It was too new. Too pure. Too perfect, just as it was.

“While we’re celebrating my many illustrious accomplishments,” he informed her in the lightest voice he couldmuster, “your brother finally gave me the green light to spring you out of prison tomorrow.”

Her lips parted in a gasp of delight. “Rock Hefner!” She launched herself into his arms. “How can I ever thank you?”

It was a ludicrous question from where he was standing. He couldn’t resist lifting her off her feet and giving her a twirl. “I believe you promised to bake cookies,” He reminded as he lowered her feet to the floor. “Only a lightweight would let a little pesticide get in the way of that, and my partner isn’t a lightweight.”

Her hazel gaze glowed like a cozy home fire. “Do you want your cookies with or without pecans?”

“With.”

“Should I double the recipe since Johnny will be there?” Her eyes laughed into his.

“I’d quadruple it,” he advised, somehow managing to keep a straight face. Part of him wasn’t kidding.

“Oh, no!” Her smile slipped. “I totally forgot about gifts!”

“Sketch me something,” he urged. The right thing to do would’ve been to assure her that her homemade cookies were more than enough, but he instinctively knew it wouldn’t be enough for her. “And don’t forget to sign it. Someday, I’m going to proudly point it out to my colleagues and brag about how fortunate I was to meet you before you became famous.”

“Ha. Ha.” Though her voice was dry, the light was back in her eyes.

He returned to the sofa to pull on his sock and boot and roll down the leg of his jeans.

Mila’s mocking voice followed him. “Your limp is almost non-existent tonight. It’s amazing what we can do when we get out of our own way.”

It felt like every cell in his body was smiling as he reached for his duffle bag and cane.

She hurried his way to whisk the cane out of his hands. “You don’t need this anymore.”

“Mila,” he warned.

“You don’t,” she insisted. “I’ve watched you in action all week. Several times, you’ve used it for nothing more than a prop. Essentially, when you’re not thinking about everything you’ve lost, you don’t need it.”

Their gazes clashed in a silent duel, during which she shoved his cane behind her back.

“You’re a brat.” He wanted to kiss her. Badly.

She tilted her head at a haughty angle. “I believe the word you’re looking for is partner.”

“A very bratty partner,” he amended.

“All yours,” she added triumphantly. “Lucky you!”

All mine.In that moment, there was nothing he wouldn’t have given to make it true. However, she still worked for him, and he wasn’t about to betray her trust by crossing lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

He reached for the Stetson he’d tossed on the arm of the sofa and settled it on his head. “What time do you want me to be here in the morning?”

“Is nine o’clock a good time for you?” She looked a little worried. “I was hoping to watch Gwen open her gifts. It’s only her second Christmas. Plus, that would allow me to wait until the morning to bake the cookies, which means they’ll still be warm when you arrive.”

“Nine o’clock is perfect.”So, this is what falling in love feels like.It wasn’t like falling at all, more like watching his heart drift out of his chest and land straight into her capable hands.

He tipped the brim of his hat at her, knowing hisheart was safe with her. He was already counting the minutes until he returned to give her a ride in the morning.

You win, Gage.

He wasn’t going to admit it to him, but his brother was right. He wasn’t just obsessed with Mila Kingston. He was in love with her — a woman he’d met a mere week ago, a woman he’d been fighting to keep alive ever since, a woman he was going to continue protecting no matter the cost.

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