Page 40 of Cowboy Dreams

“I suppose.” I caught his wrist, pulling his arm higher around me. “You think he’ll make more trouble? Will he get out on bail?”

“I think a whole lot of guys in Max’s will be thrilled he’s losing his job. I trust Breyer to make sure that happens. Beyond that?” Joe hummed softly. “How do you feel about getting those cattle dogs early?”

“What cattle dogs?” I teased, like I had no idea what he meant.

“The pair of Aussies I put into the budget?”

“Oh, those.”

“The ones you were all gung-ho to get and you’re not fooling me one bit.” Joe nipped my earlobe.

I chuckled, my chest feeling lighter. “I never had a dog. Grandfather didn’t like them, why I never knew. And a hotel was not the place for pets. I always wanted one.”

“Now, now,” Joe intoned. “These will be working dogs, not pets.” I nuzzled his hair, saying nothing, and after a moment he laughed. “Who am I kidding? Of course they’ll be pets, with some working on the side.”

“I can’t wait. And it won’t hurt that they might bark, if anything’s wrong.”

“Won’t hurt a bit. We’ll go by the breeder my next day off, make a trip out of it.”

“Seriously?”

“You’ll have to watch ’em closer with the remodeling going on, if we’re not gonna wait. Maybe have the pups in your study in the daytime.”

“Oh yeah, I’ll get so much work done.”

“Wait, you’re working in there? I thought you were watching porn.”

Warmth spread through me, a tide of joy that chased the chill of the November night, of the fire and the gun. I couldn’t be cold and scared with Joe in my bed. “You’re incredible.” I pushed away enough to see Joe’s face in the faint light under the door. His eyes caught a reflection, steady on mine. A hint of silver stubble marked his jawline.

I laid my palm against his cheek. “Luckiest day of my life was when I decided to stop in the local gay bar and check it out.” His lips moved under the caress of my thumb.

“Seriously? I’m not all that.”

“You’re the man I dreamed of, all those years ago when I first knew it would be a man for me, or nothing. You’re the man I dreamed of last night, when I woke hard and needy. And tonight, you were there for me, for all our dreams—”

“You spoke up to the sheriff, and got Morse all tangled in his lies.”

“You kicked his balls and punched him in the nose. We make a good team.”

“I hope I broke it. And yeah, we do.” I saw Joe’s lips curve upward.

I took a breath and said the words. “I love you.”

“For my leather boots and my farmer’s tan?” Joe no doubt meant that to sound light, but I heard a hint of worry.

I need to get this right.“For those, yeah, but not mostly.” I moved my hand from his cheek to his chest, resting over his heart. “For the man inside this gorgeous hunk of cowboy. For your steady soul and your kind heart and your sharp mind. For the way you spar with me and hold your own, and the way you give me control when we both want that. For how the horses come running when they see you.”

“Hah. Ro comes running. Donner holds out for a bribe.”

“For the way you love that horse, even when he makes you work for it.”

“Oh.”

“For how safe I feel, how good, like I’m able to do anything when I’m with you.”

“Ah, city slicker, you don’t need me to give you wings. Youcando anything. Except cook.”

“Or herd cattle, or mend fences.” I kissed him, our smiles pressed together. “Good thing you know how.”

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