Page 5 of My Cowboy Kiss
“Your woman…” Bobbing her head and smiling like she’s glad to hear that, Allison says, “Of course, take whatever time you need.”
My adrenaline is still pumping as we leave. I hate that my best friend went through this without me at her side. I met her boss and colleagues before and wasn’t impressed. They’re the type that judge people based on background and bank balance.
“I can’t believe she just went along with that,” Courtney says afterward as we walk along the sidewalk.
We pass the bookstore with its twinkly lights in the window and an array of books on display. Next is the antique shop and then the ice cream parlor where I used to treat her to cones once a week after she moved here to live with her grandma.
I can still remember sitting across from her and one moment I was enjoying a sweet treat with a friend and the next, I knew she was the one I wanted to marry someday. Every time she’d look away from me, I’d stare at her, silently memorizing her face. When her lips curved into a smile, my heart danced. Whenshe frowned, I was unhappy. When someone hurt her, I was the devil on a mission to drag the other party to hell.
It didn’t take long for word to get around that no one fucked with Courtney unless they wanted a taste of my knuckles.
We move around a planter filled with flowers when Butterfly Buck’s dog cuts us off on the sidewalk. Butterfly Buck is the town’s oldest artist and just celebrated his ninety-first birthday. He used to shuffle around town painting colorful butterflies on everything. That ended when he painted the hood of the mayor’s car.
Ahead of us, Courtney’s colleague Mark draws near. She once told me he likes to make suggestive comments. I tried to find him as soon as she told me but wasn’t able to catch him. He’s lucky I’m not alone when we come across him now. Otherwise, he’d be sporting two black eyes like a panda.
I put a snarl in my voice and say, “I better not fucking find out that anyone is messing with Courtney.” I stare at him through narrowed eyes. “I’m in an ass-kicking mood.”
Mark quickly averts his eyes.
“River!” Courtney scolds but I hear the delight in her tone that I’m standing up for her. She didn’t have that in her life until she met me. She should know by now that I’ll pave the road with the bones of anyone who hurts her.
“River!” she says again and tugs on my arm. “You’re walking too fast.”
I slow and we keep walking until we’re in front of the library where I left my truck parked. “Get in.”
She frowns at me. “You’re so bossy today.”
I shut the door behind her without answering because I’m laying out a strategy in my head. “I have an idea. The pictures online were designed to make your boss think you’re interested in her boyfriend.”
“Bleh.” She makes a face as I pull away from the curb. “I’ve never thought of him like that. He’s so not my type.”
“Good. As your boyfriend, I wouldn’t like that,” I tease.
“About that…the reason I acted so crazy is because my boss said I was fired and then I saw you and I just reacted and kissed you and?—”
Courtney tends to talk rapidly without pausing to take a break when she’s worried. It’s one of hundreds of little things I know about her. “It’s okay. I think what you did is the best answer for what’s going on.”
She chews on her lower lip. “Acting like we’re together?”
I nod. “I’ll talk to my family and let them know. They’ll back you up.” I find the last available spot to park at the curb close to Bear’s Diner. “Whatever you need, you know we’ll do it.”
Courtney takes off her seatbelt. “I know. Your family has been more of a family to me than my own ever was.” She leans forward and looks one way down the sidewalk, then the other way.
I avert my gaze because her movements pull her shirt tight against her body and it outlines her full tits. I’m not a saint but I don’t look because right now with the memory of that kiss lingering on my lips my self-control is at an all-time low. “If you don’t feel like being around people, I can get takeout, and we’ll eat it at the park.”
“Let’s do that, then.” She smiles in relief.
Something else she tends to do is hide when she’s feeling vulnerable. A couple of times, she’s hidden out with me sitting on the bank of the river with her head on my shoulder.
“Put up the sunshade if you need to. It’s behind your seat.” I get out and go into the diner to get her favorite things. It takes longer than normal because the lunch crowd hasn’t thinned yet.
When I’m finally done and motion for her, she hops out of the truck, and we walk across the street to the park. She keepsher head low, and I hate that she feels the need to hide like she did something wrong.
We walk deeper into the park, and she takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing as the noise of the town fade into the background.
Lucky River has staunchly refused to allow the sale of the park’s land despite lucrative offers from outside developers who wanted to build businesses on it. As a result of that refusal, the center of town has plenty of green space.
Once we’re seated on a bench, I begin unpacking the food. “You look worn out. Is it the stress from today?”
