Page 33 of New in Town

“Coop, this is Maddie. Maddie, my next-door neighbor, Cooper.” Grey introduces them casually, as if unbothered by the idea of a crisis happening. He dismounts and moves to hold a hand up to Maddie. She nods hello to Cooper, swinging her legs and easing down into Grey’s waiting embrace.

Once she’s on the ground, he keeps his arm loosely around her waist and turns back to Cooper. “Alright,” he drawls, “talk to me Coop.”

“Riley is on watch and noticed a grizzly hanging out near the herd. He says it’s big, and not going anywhere. We’ve never dealt with this before, not without you and Brett.”

Grey rubs his hand along his chin and nods. “I’ll be right there, give me a minute.”

“Sorry, I’m not trying to cock block you.”

“Coop!” Grey exclaims. “It’s only funny when you say that shit to Brett. Go update Riley.”

Beside Grey, she stifles a giggle and waves goodbye to Cooper. Shaking his head Grey walks her back to her Jeep.

“I know I promised you—”

“I get it. You have responsibilities as top cowboy,” she says with a wink. “And while I was very excited for tonight, the ride was amazing today. More than enough.”

He moves to stand before her, running his palms down her arms before grasping her hands. “Soon. You’ll come over again soon.”

She nods in agreement, squeezing his hands. “Be careful, please. I may be a naïve city girl, but hearing that you’re going to take on a grizzly… I don’t like it.”

“Madelyn,” he rumbles, his voice an octave deeper now. “Are you worried about me?”

She takes a step closer until her body is pressed against his. Still holding his hands, she tightens her grasp. Her pulse quickens as she admits, “Yes, I am.”

As soon as the words leave her mouth, she realizes how true they are. She might be pretending to date him, but the ways she cares about him are all too real. He brings her hands up around his neck before looping his own around her waist. She leans against his solid chest and breathes in his sweet woodsy scent.

“Sweetheart,” he whispers into her hair, “there’s no way I’d do anything that would risk my seeing you again.” His voice, so sincere, finds its way straight to her heart. She lifts her face to him, his eyes smoldering as they peer back at her.

Leaning down, he brushes a kiss below her ear. She shivers at the tenderness of the gesture, her lips parting in response. Mouth still against her skin, he murmurs, “Do you like when I kiss you there?”

She nods as he kisses her again, this time lower on her neck. “What about here?” he asks. A sigh escapes her as she nods again.

He drags his lips along her jaw, and she can feel the smile on his face as he goes. She can also feel the heat inside her building, pressure from wanting him. “Kiss me,” she begs, tightening her grip around his neck.

As if surprised by her words, he hesitates for a moment. He takes her face in both hands and then his lips are on hers, hot and needy. She kisses back with equal need as he walks her back a step to press her against her Jeep.

She moans happily from the pressure of his body holding her against the vehicle, arching up into him as if she can’t get close enough. He sucks and nips at her lips, one hand cupping her jaw and the other sliding down along her body to pin her hips against him. She tilts her head back eager to take the kiss deeper.

She forgets that they are at the ranch. She forgets about the young cowboy awaiting Grey across the corral. She forgets about the bear threatening his herd. In this moment, her world consists only of Grey, and she can’t get enough of him. He pulls back and she follows, keeping their lips locked.

Her eyes fly open when she realizes she had chased his lips for more. Releasing his mouth from hers, she pulls back. Grey smiles in response, his pupils filling his eyes, his chest heaving. She takes in the sight of him like this, hoping his appearance means the kiss swept him away as much as it did her.

“I don’t know how I’m going to walk away from you,” he says, brushing a hair back from her face and sighing.

She runs her hands down his chest and murmurs, “Then don’t go. Forget the bear.”

“Right, the bear.Shit.” He gives her an awestruck look, “I forgot.”

He pulls her in for another kiss, this one shorter, but with just as much heat. Then with a promise to call, he turns on his heels and heads into the cluster of barns. She presses her fingers to her lips, savoring the lasting feeling of him there. If he forgot about the grizzly, what did he mean about not being able to walk away?

16

GREY

“Ithought you were going to take her clothes off right there outside the barn!”

Grey rolls his eyes. “Don’t exaggerate, Coop.”

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