Page 10 of My Cowboy Boss
“You were?”
“I was and until I was adopted, I had a rough childhood.”
“That must have been hard on you.”
Her voice is soft, her tone full of empathy.
“What about your life?” I prod, seeking information.
“My life is fine.”
She said that pleasantly enough but in such a way that it shut the door on that line of conversation. I find it damning that she’s not offering anything more about herself.
Once we drive across the line into Clover County, the area takes a seedier turn. There are abandoned structures and an air of despondency like the town is struggling to survive and drawing in its last breaths.
Out of the blue, she mentions my family again and a thread of loneliness is wrapped around her words. Then abruptly she moves on to a song that’s playing softly in the background saying how much she loves that one.
She talks a lot but she’s not saying anything that lets me get to know her.
We finally arrive at the unkempt apartment building where she lives and I pull into the parking lot. I recognize the place because a friend of mine used to live here before he moved to Lucky River.
I engage the parking brake and shut off the engine. “I’ll walk you up.”
“No!” The word bursts from her.
I glance around the darkened lot, wondering why I didn’t think about this from the start. Is there a boyfriend or husband waiting who might get the wrong idea? My stomach ties into a pretzel. I hate the idea she might have either one and I want to give myself a hard punch. What the hell should it matter to me if she does?
“Why not?” I ask.
“The security guard won’t let you in anyway since you’re not a resident.”
She lied. I know the landlord is too cheap to hire a guard. Disappointment fills me. I wanted to be wrong about her.
“Alright then,” I say. I’ll wait until she leaves my truck and then I’ll watch to make sure she gets inside safely.
“Thank you the ride and I’m sorry.”
Her clothes whisper as she moves, and I turn my head to ask her why she’s sorry.
Our lips brush.
She freezes.
I freeze.
She jerks back, her blue eyes open wide.
I cup the back of her neck and pull her toward me. My lips find hers and I’m immersed in the connection like we’re slow dancing on a summer lawn as the sun dips low. It’s a crash that was meant to occur. It’s beautiful. Fitting. Perfect.
Her lips are soft. Welcoming. She tastes like everything good. A promise waiting to be explored. A hope for the future.
Future?Heart racing, I pull back.
Her lips are swollen and she’s breathing as fast as I am. I don’t know what to say but feel like I should at least say something. “Arizona…I…”
She pulls on the door handle and bolts from the truck.
Chapter 5
