Page 138 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“That’s not what I asked.”
He avoided her gaze.The tears he would not shed shone in his eyes for a brief moment before he blinked them away.“I don’t know what I would have done,” he said gruffly.“Everyone thinks they’d be a hero.Mike was the real deal.”
She placed her fingertips on his jaw and tilted his face toward hers.No matter what else passed between them, she wanted to let this rest.She hoped he felt less burdened now.He’d tortured himself for too long.“Thank you for telling me.”
“I should have done it in the beginning,” he said.
She didn’t disagree, but the anger she’d felt over his deception was no longer at the forefront of her mind.She wasn’t numb or stuck in the same place anymore.She could heal, forgive, and move on.“I’m sorry I didn’t let you say goodbye to Marcus.”
His eyes traveled over the planes of her face.He seemed to understand that she’d softened toward him, and he wasn’t the type of man to give up easily.He didn’t give up, period.“I miss you,” he said in a low voice.
“I miss you too.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed beneath her fingertips.He leaned toward her, his mouth close.“Can we try again?”
She answered by lifting her lips to his.He grasped her face with one hand, his thumb brushing a tear on her cheek, and gave her a kiss that took her breath away.It started slow, but it wasn’t gentle or tentative.His mouth was hot and hungry, his tongue searching hers.He kissed her with all of the emotion he’d been suppressing for years.He kissed her as if their lives depended on it.
She kissed him back with the same fervor, threading her fingers through his hair.He smelled delicious, like soap and aftershave and warm male skin, and he tasted faintly of iced tea.His hands roved her body, skimming her bare back.
She wanted him.She wanted to pull the dress over her head and push the shirt off his shoulders.She wanted to forget about everything that had driven them apart and come together in a frantic rush.So she arched her body against his and moaned into his mouth.She tugged at the nape of his neck and urged him on.
But he didn’t take her up on the unspoken offer.He didn’t press her down on the couch cushions and have her.He broke the kiss and buried his face in her throat.Their breaths mingled, heavy with need.Fraught with emotion.
“Did you read my letter?”he rasped.
“Yes.”
He lifted his head.“And you thought I’d go to San Diego?”
“You left a Montana address.”
“I was on foot.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
His lips curved into a wry smile, and his dark gaze searched hers.After a short pause, his hands fell away from her, as if he wanted to focus on the conversation and couldn’t manage the feat while touching her.She kept her arms around his neck, unwilling to let go.“I accepted a temporary job offer at Fort Cavazos,” he said.“One of their mechanics is on leave.But there’s a permanent position I’m considering.”
“What’s that?”
“Munitions safety instructor.”
Natalie realized that this would be a more challenging assignment for him than fill-in mechanic.It would be more dangerous.She kissed the side of his jaw, where a muscle flexed.“You don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
“I want to.”
“Why?”
“I want to be a better man.”
Tears sprang into her eyes at his sincere confession.“It doesn’t matter what job you take, Jason.You’re already one of the best men I’ve ever known.”
His throat worked as he swallowed.“I’m going to take care of myself, like you said.I’m going to be as steady as a rock.”
“You’ll stay in Texas then?”
“Yes.I’ll stay.”
She liked the sound of that.Her fingertips wandered down his hard chest.“There’s something I should tell you.”
