Page 71 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Uh-oh.
Jason showed her the phone.“I was talking to my dad.”
Her expression softened.“Bad news?”
“No.We just suck at communicating.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Did Mike say I love you?To you and Marcus?”
She nodded.“Every day.”
Jason’s eyes watered again.Why had he asked that?Clearing his throat, he changed the subject before he embarrassed himself further.“Let me guess.Marcus used that slingshot in the house.”
“Yes.”
“That’s my fault.I should have told him it was for outdoors only.”
“Live and learn,” she said.
He huffed out a laugh.“Is something broken?”
“Just the TV.”
His stomach sank.“I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I’m kidding,” she said, passing him the slingshot.She smacked it into his open hand.“I heard him spill a bucket of marbles across the floor in his room, and I caught him before he could destroy the entire house.It was a close call.”
He frowned at the slingshot.“What should I do with it?”
“Keep it in here somewhere.He can play with it outdoors, under supervision.”
“You want me to be in charge of that?”
She shrugged.“You bought it.”
Jason put the slingshot on a top shelf.He stayed with his back to her because he felt vulnerable and foolish.Last night, he’d trembled like a baby in her arms, but he hadn’t cried.When he needed release, the tears wouldn’t come.
She came up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist.Her cheek rested against his shoulder, her palm over his beating heart.Her touch was a balm to his soul.“Don’t feel bad.It’s not your job to supervise him.”
“Loading him up with weapons isn’t very helpful.”
“Taking him to breakfast is.Thanks for the muffin, by the way.”
He covered her hands with his, noting how slender they were.Her touch stirred more than emotions in him.He remembered the feel of those hands on his bare chest, skimming his muscles as she moaned into his mouth.
He wanted her so much, and he shouldn’t have her.He needed to go before it became impossible for him to leave.His mind rebelled at the thought of walking away from her, but what was the alternative?He couldn’t tell her the truth about why he’d come here.He couldn’t tell her about the letters he’d read and the letters he’d written.He couldn’t tell her any of the things he needed to say to put the past behind them.
Removing her hand from his chest, he kissed the center of her palm.
She made a sound of pleasure and pulled away.“I’m taking Marcus to visit my grandmother today.”
He turned to face her.“All right.”
“I thought we could do something together tomorrow.Somethingrestful.”
His lips quirked at the caveat.“What did you have in mind?”
