Page 12 of Cowboy of Convenience
Evelyn shook her head. "It looks quiet."
"Good." Grady shoved his feet into his shoes. “Because I’ve got to head out.” He grabbed the door, pulling it open, and was surprised when Evelyn followed him outside, her bare feet silent as they padded across the porch.
He made it down one step before turning to face her, the lower step bringing them eye-to-eye. "You can call me if you need me, you know that, right?"
Evelyn nodded. "I know." She pinched her lower lip between her teeth, like she wanted to say more but was determined to hold it back. "Have a good day."
He opened his mouth to offer her the same casual sentiment, but Evelyn's eyes flicked over his shoulder and she suddenly moved closer. Resting her hands on the sides of his face, she inched in a little more, bringing her body flush against his. Without her hands holding it in place, the front of her rope gaped open to reveal the delicate lines of a silky short set that made it hard as hell to keep his mind in respectable territory.
"Have a good day at work." Her words were louder this time. Louder, because they weren't only for him.
Neither was the soft kiss she pressed to his lips. It was quick and fleeting and wouldn't convince anyone they were together.
Not even a dumbass like Sasha.
"I think you might have to do better than that," Grady whispered as he reached out to lace his fingers into the hair at the back of her head, cradling her skull in his palm. "Unless you want him to think you kiss me the same way you kiss your grandma."
Evelyn gripped his shoulders, her lips parting on a sudden intake of breath. "I definitely don't want him to think that."
Grady curved one hand against her hip, giving it a little squeeze. "I can take care of it for you, if you want me to."
Her full, pouty mouth was begging to be kissed, but the lines in this situation were nowhere near being drawn, and he didn't want to take something she wasn't willing to give.
No matter how desperate he was to know how she tasted.
Evelyn’s tongue flicked out to skim across her lower lip, barely wetting it. "That would be okay."
It was all he needed to hear.
Grady pulled her closer, one hand still fisted in her hair, the other sliding to her lower back as he claimed her mouth. She immediately opened for him, letting out the tiniest of sighs when his tongue stroked along hers, offering him the taste he was after. The faintest hint of mint lingered, along with a sweetness he could quickly become addicted to.
Every bit of her probably tasted this good.
The sound of Sasha’s door slamming made Evelyn jump, her body going tight as she pulled away. One hand lifted to her mouth, fingers teasing across her lips as her eyes held his.
Grady unwound his hand from her hair, gritting his teeth as he eased his body away from hers. "Hopefully he won't bother you today. If he does, you call me." He pulled one of his cards from his front pocket and pressed it into the palm of her hand. "I'll see you later."
He turned and headed for his patrol car, whistling as he pretended to be on his way to work even though today was a day off. From the police department anyway. There were technically no days off for him. Hadn’t been in almost three years.
Once in his car, he waited until she was safely inside before pulling away and heading for the station. After checking in and switching to his truck, he headed for his home on Grizzly Peak where he quickly showered and dressed for his other responsibility.
In under an hour, he was back on the road, driving to the ranch his family owned and ran. His mom was waiting for him on the porch when he got there, seated in one of the rockers he’d spent the winter repairing. Her face brightened when he pulled in, and a little of the load always weighing on his chest lightened.
Climbing out of his pickup and closing the door, he greeted her with a wave. "You look happy this morning."
Her smile was bright and warm. "Well, it's a beautiful day, what’s not to be happy about?"
It was the same thing she said to him every morning when he stopped by. Rain or shine. Snow or sleet. For her, every day was a beautiful day. And that was one hell of a gift.
One of only a few.
"It is." Grady climbed the steps and leaned over to kiss her on top of the head. "You have breakfast yet?"
His mother nodded. "There was a nice lady in the house who made me sausage and eggs." Her brows barely pinched together. "She said she makes me breakfast every day."
"That sounds like a good deal. I'd love to have somebody make me breakfast every day." Grady eased down into the chair next to his mother, doing his best to pretend to be unbothered. "She a good cook?"
His mother nodded. "Oh, yes."
