Page 33 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
In the circle of Finn’s arms, Karen sighed happily.
It was comfortable, and contentment at being in Heart Falls, in this community, grew in a way that Finn hadn’t expected. Not here.
Really, not anywhere.
For most of his life, home had meant one location… Now the word conjured up not a place but people.
More specifically, aperson. Karen had come to represent home, so this other sensation was interesting.
But it wasn’t something he needed to spend a lot of time dwelling on. His priorities were clear. Do what it took to be with Karen, and make sure Brandon never got to have a piece of this pie.
8
How are you getting your tasks done for my father and still finding time to pick me flowers? It’s not working, by the way. Not making me soften up and forgive you for tricking me into that kiss behind the barn the other day.
That’s a total lie. There’s nothing to forgive because I was a full participant in that kiss, and we both know it.
Painkillers talking right now, but I’m having dirty dreams about kissing you. Maybe more. Trying to figure out where and when is taking up way too much brain time, damn you, Finn Marlette.
Don’t you dare follow me into the chicken coop later today. I swear I won’t have any inclination to kiss you again.
~Note from Karen to Finn, summer at Whiskey Creek ranch~
The next week passed in a blur. It was pretty much sunup when Karen got out of bed, and then the day would explode into activity.
She went for regular rides on Starlight. Some with Zach, some with her sisters. All the while looking for routes that would satisfy everyone from the rawest beginner to the most experienced riders.
She made phone call after phone call, not only to her contacts at Willmore Wilderness camp, but also to people she’d talked to over the years while working at Whiskey Creek.
Mealtimes when she stopped for a break, there’d be a knock on her door, and someone would show up with blueprints that needed her opinion or her ideas. Her phone buzzed with messages from her sisters and regular pictures at crazy intervals as Tamara gushed over her baby boy.
It was the busiest Karen remembered being in a long time, and it was good.
The only part missing was Finn.
After his talk about wanting to get back together and wanting to be with her, it seemed he had absolutely meant the bit about leaving the timing up to her. He was scarce. Or more correctly, he was always around, but never close enough to chat with. It became impossible to get her fix in a casual way like she had at Lisa’s party.
She’d admit it. She liked spending time with Finn, and the urge to say yes continued to grow.
He left wildflowers on her back porch every morning.
While her body was very willing, she still didn’t know if it was the best idea. She wished she could stop being wishy-washy, yet taking this time felt right. Felt necessary.
It’s not as if she had a ton of time to get lonely. Not with popping over to Tamara’s, or over to Lisa’s, or even to Julia’s teeny studio apartment. Spending time with her sisters was a great distraction.
They’d finished another dinner at Julia’s when Lisa spoke up from her place at the sink. “Hey, Karen. Okay if I come spend the day with you at the soon-to-be dude ranch?”She placed a clean plate in the drying rack and reached for another dirty dish. She gestured with her head toward Julia, who was putting away the rest of the leftovers into her tiny refrigerator. “Jules is on day shift, Josiah’s got a full workday, and I’m at loose ends.”
“I don’t mind, but I’m putting you to work,” Karen warned. “There’s a heck of a lot of buildings to go through and see if there’s anything we can salvage.”
“I thought you were in charge of the horse side of things, not construction.” Julia started putting away the dry items Karen had stacked to the side.
“My job description got expanded. I don’t mind,” Karen said. “I have a lot of people I’m waiting to hear back from, so I may as well give Zach a hand.”
Lisa and Julia exchanged glances. “GivingZacha hand. Sure you’re not giving Finn a hand?” Lisa asked.
“Haven’t seen him for days.” The words came out sharp and annoyed.
Silence shouted back at her.
