Page 29 of A Cowboy's Trust
She could have heard a pin drop.
Tansy was tempted to buried her face in her hands again, but instead she glared at Lisa, cheeks burning hot.
Lisa faked a gasp. “You haven’t had sex? Who are you, and what have you done with Tansy?”
“Stop it,” Tansy whined even though she grinned through the embarrassment. “It’s not as if I’m sitting around not working. We’re both killer busy these days. Plus…” She considered how much to say but decided this was worth mentioning. “He and I are polar opposites, so it’s a good idea to take it slow. Making sure that we—at least on my part—don’t give up what makes us unique just to try and be together.”
Which got a chorus ofawwws from the group.
Marina sighed heavily. “Well, I’m gladsomeoneis having fun in the dating world. The last guy I went out with spent the entire date talking about his fantasy football league.”
Petra snorted into her wineglass. “You’re kidding.”
“Sadly, no. I know more about his imaginary team than I do about his real-life.”
At which point the topic drifted, and Tansy no longer found herself the center of attention. Which was nice, since she hadn’t really wanted to be there in the first place. This whole thing with Jake was new and odd and yet still somehow shiny.
When Kelli took the opportunity and slipped onto the couch beside her to chat, Tansy welcomed the distraction. They spoke softly, separated enough that no one could overhear.
Kelli eyed her for a moment. “You happy?”
“I think so.” Tansy laid her head against the back of the couch. “I don’t know where this is going, Kell, but I feel hopeful. It’s a nice sensation.”
Her friend nodded slowly. “You had any serious talks with him yet?”
A shiver went through her. Tansy shook her head.
“Okay. I get it. There’s no rule that you have to tell him everything, but—speaking from experience—when I finally got to tell Luke the truth about my past, it felt good. Really good, like I’d been carrying a giant box around my entire life, and suddenly I didn’t have to anymore. Not with him.” Kelli grabbed her fingers. “Your secrets areyours, and I will never share them.”
“But you think maybe I need to share them with Jake?” The really scary part was the thought didn’t make Tansy go into an instant panic.
Kelli took a moment and breathed out slowly. “You’re not that person anymore, but what you went through, what you did, make you who you are today. Which is a wonderful, loving, amazing person. I see it, and I think maybe Jake sees it too.”
Which was a wonderful thought, but the opposite could be true as well. “He could decide he wants nothing more to do with me.”
Kelli lifted a shoulder. “Might be better to know that sooner than later, but if you’re feeling deep Tansy-feelings for him, I doubt that’s something you have to worry about. Trust yourself, sweetie. You’re smart, and you’re kind, and you’re amazing. You need to believe that.”
Tansy offered Kelli a giant hug. “You’re so kickass.”
“Takes one to know one.” Kelli squeezed her tight before letting her go as they rejoined the general party.
But it gave Tansy a lot to think about as she and Petra returned to High Water. Petra gave her a hug then took off to the apartment she shared with Aiden. Tansy slipped into the house quietly.
It was nearly midnight, but the light in the living room shone clearly on Jake as he rose to his feet and approached.
“You’re up late,” she teased.
“Not that late.” He took her coat from her. “Besides, I had lists to make.”
She snickered. “Of course you did.”
In spite of the whirling in her brain, she didn’t protest as he pulled her into his arms. A good, long kiss was followed by another, and Tansy pressed her hands to his torso, caressing as she slid her palms around to his back. The firm muscles under his soft flannel shirt made her sigh happily, and it was tempting to tug him down the hall to her room so they could get rid of their clothes and increase the skin contact.
Before she could act on the impulse, Jake eased away. “We’d better stop now.”
“Really?” She couldn’t imagine why that was a good idea. Tansy dug her fingertips into his chest a little harder, scratching slowly, and he groaned.
A second later, dog nails sounded on the floor. Dixie came dancing up to them, and Tansy separated herself to stand at Jake’s side a second before Jinx rounded the corner, blinking sleepily.
