Page 79 of Nanny for the Cowboy

And boy, do I.

Everything rushes forward with a surge of pleasure and heat that has me pulsing around Brooks’s fingers, my hips rocking wildly as I fall apart.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

The crescendo is mind-blowing, and I’m utterly blissed out and spent after one of the best orgasms of my life. I can barely hold my eyes open, re-exhausted even though I had a full night’s rest.

Brooks crawls back up the bed, lying beside me and tucking me against his side. My heart is pounding so damn hard, and I can feel his chest rise and fall rapidly as he catches his breath.

“I sort of…” I have to suck in more air, still coming down from everything. “…bad that I’m not returning the gesture.”

Chuckling, Brooks smooths his hand up and down my arm, kissing the back of my head.

“Eh, don’t. This was about you, and trust me, I enjoyed myself plenty.” He sighs. “I just might have to take care of a few things in the shower.”

I can’t help but giggle at that, and then we’re both quiet, enjoying this moment of peace after our “eventful” morning.

After a while, I roll onto my back, still right up against Brooks, and I look up at him with a smile. He grins back at me, and then my chat with Rosie yesterday pops into my head.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you. Rosie asked me to sing at a pub on Main Street Saturday night.”

Brooks’s grin widens, and he raises his brows. “Hey, that’s awesome. You’re going to do it, right?”

“Well…” I hesitate, the apprehension I felt yesterday coming right back. “I’m a bit nervous. I mean, the fair was one thing, but singing in front of a crowded bar? That’s another.”

Adjusting so that he’s on his side, his body propped up by his elbow, Brooks faces me, taking my chin in his strong hand and getting me to look at him.

“You really should do it. I know how much you love to sing, and you’re amazing. You have nothing to be nervous about.”

“That’s very easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to go up in front of a bunch of people you barely know and warble out some non-country tune.”

He laughs at me, and I get it. I know that my fears are ruling the show right now, but it’s true. I’m not from here. I’m from the city, and I know that the audience is going to keep that hanging over my head.

“That’s fair, but I’ll be right there. You can keep your eyes pinned on me—like before.” He smiles, and I remember the first time he heard me sing and the way that night began all this. “And I’ll bring Darby. He’s the best one-man hype squad you could ask for.”

Laughing, I nod. “That’s true. He is a very good hype man.”

There’s a beat, and I can tell that Brooks sees I’m still questioning things. He tilts my chin up again, and I offer a self-conscious smile.

“Hey, it’s your passion, Lucky. And not many people have the chance to actually go after that. This is your chance. I don’t want you to miss it. If you go, and you wind up hating it, at least, then you’ll know.”

There’s a part of me that still wants to fight him, but Brooks is a damn good negotiator, all things considered.

“You know, you’re sometimestoosupportive.” I slide my chin away only to bury myself in Brooks’s arms. “But thanks. You’re probably right.”

His chuckle rocks me where I’m laying my cheek on his chest. “I’m usually right. People keep forgetting that.”

We laugh, and a comfortable silence smooths over the room as we just hold each other.

I like this. I like this so damn much.

As much as I know I shouldn’t, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if I stayed here. This moment is so…nice. It’s asimple joy that I could so get used to, and I have to admit…that I really want to.

This is comfortable. It’s comforting.

Being with Brooks was hardly on the list of things I should do while I was here, but now that I am, now that I’ve known this, I don’t know how I’m supposed to go back to where I don’t.

Rosie, Darby, my dad, they’re all these people that I’m going to miss terribly when…if…I go back. I have a life here now, something else I truly didn’t see coming, and what am I supposed to do about that?

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