Page 79 of The Cowgirl's Chosen Love
“You have to take a look at my ideas. Some of them are pretty over the top.”
He pulled the truck to a stop outside the barn at Sonora’s. Before he could move, she leaned up and tipped his hat off so she could press a kiss to his cheek.
“By the way. You’re pretty amazing too,” she whispered.
Screw it. Josiah reached over and undid her seatbelt, hauling her into his lap. He tossed aside her hat to thread his fingers into the hair at the back of her head and hold her close. Then he took her mouth hard.
She caught him by the collar, diving right in, their tongues sliding together and sending jolts of pleasure all over his body.
He had no idea how long they sat there, kissing and touching. She unbuttoned the top of his shirt so she could rub her palms over his skin. His fingers dug into her hips and he wished he’d had the presence of mind to drape her over him instead of having her sidesaddle.
Dragging her over his cock at this angle wasn’t nearly enough. Not for either of them.
A sharp knock struck the window next to them and they broke apart rapidly. Through the steamy glass, Sonora Fallen stared at them in exasperation.
“Oops,” Lisa muttered, waving quickly as she cautiously crawled off him.
Josiah couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he opened the door. “Afternoon, Sonora.”
“Would’ve been evening before you knew it if I hadn’t interrupted you,” the woman said grumpily, but she tipped her head, directing them toward the barns that had been partially renovated. “Come on. I’ve got the office area set up since you were last here.”
First, though, Sonora marched them all around the barn. Josiah noted with approval the new pens and holding areas that had been constructed. “How deep are you digging into your own pocket to pay for this?” he asked.
“I’m not poking holes in the bottom yet,” she assured him. “Besides, it’s just temporary. That’s what this fundraiser is all about.”
Lisa took a deep breath, then launched into an explanation of the event she and Sonora had envisioned. “Think of it as a community barn party. We’ll have entertainment and auction tables with donations from businesses like Buns and Roses. We’ll make it a family-orientated gathering, so add in a petting zoo, and a pet photography station, and maybe fort-building in the hayloft, or horse rides. But the kicker is we combine the day with an adoption celebration. People who want any of these rescue animals can get all the paperwork done ahead of time, but that’s the day they’ll get to pick up their new family member.”
Sonora listened with an approving smile while Lisa spoke, then added her two bits. “If there are dogs that go out in the next while, before the week of the auction, well, we’ll have them back as special guests. We figure it’ll just be a few adoptions that week to work out the timing, and we’ll already have the money and vaccination shots done. But won’t it be a motivator to see someone picking up their puppy? Seeing the ones that already found good homes?”
It was brilliant. Big enough to make some money and build a ton of community spirit, yet small enough to be managed by a modest crew.
Josiah checked the paperwork that Sonora had already begun to fill in for permits to host the event. “One suggestion. Anyone who falls in love with an animal still needs to complete the usual wait-and-approval period. We don’t want anybody moved on the spur of the moment to take a dog home and then realize they can’t keep it.”
Sonora and Lisa nodded in agreement.
“We figured they could put down a deposit, so they get to feel like a part of the party and celebration,” Lisa said.
Of course they’d already thought of that issue. Josiah caught himself staring at Lisa in admiration as he shook his head. “Doesn’t look as if you needed my help at all.”
Lisa’s expression had suddenly gone all mischievous. “We have a very specific task in mind for you.”
Sonora patted him on the arm. “I know you’re not interested in acting with the community players and I don’t blame you. You’ve got enough on your plate. But you’re comfortable in front of a crowd, so will you agree to work with Lisa as emcees for the event?”
He glanced at Lisa. At the brightness in her eyes and the happiness on her face about everything she’d been able to accomplish in such a short time.
No way was he saying anything to take that expression away. “It would be my honour.”
They worked a little longer on the details. At one point during their discussion, when Lisa and Sonora slipped outside to check something, Ollie following like a shadow, Josiah took Lisa’s earlier offer to snoop at face value. He flipped through a few pages of her idea notebook, taking mental notes on some of her shiny“someday in thefuture”ideas.
She was right. Some of them were pretty dramatic and out there. But some…
Ideas were brewing in his brain. He moved quickly, grinning at the bit of mischief he accomplished before the women returned.
Sonora was beaming hard by the time they were done. When they got back into the truck to drive away, Lisa leaning against his arm, Josiah was happy to be able to pronounce it a successful meeting.
Now to turn it into a very successful night—
He turned to face her. “What’re the chances of you and me stealing away for the rest of the evening?”
