Page 95 of Cowboy's Last Stand
She nodded.“He goes from zero to sixty.”
“I threw up three times,” Marcus said proudly.
Jason ruffled his hair.“I’m glad you survived.”
“Can I play with my slingshot?”Marcus asked.
Jason glanced at Natalie, who shrugged.She was dressed in jeans and sneakers now, along with the same sweatshirt she’d been wearing before.Jason collected the slingshot from the garage and handed it to Marcus.“Don’t aim at windows.”
“OK.”Marcus ran off to gather gravel ammo from the driveway.Jason hoped he wouldn’t cause any damage.
“You bought a loveseat,” Natalie commented.
The mattress and sofa had been delivered while he was upstairs.He admired the sofa in the afternoon sunlight.It had plush cushions in a nubby green fabric that reminded him of a forest.Although the style was more modern than vintage, he thought it would look nice in the space.She might not agree, however.He knew she didn’t want him spending his own money on her renovations.
“I can return it if you don’t like it.”
She smoothed her palm over the back of the loveseat.“I like it.”
They both fell silent for a moment, watching Marcus take aim at the roof of the garage.He wasn’t adept with the weapon.The rocks sailed high and harmless.
“Thanks for the takeout,” she said.
“My pleasure.”
Her gaze was curious.“Did you eat anything?”
“Not yet.”
“Are you feeling OK?”
He patted his stomach.“Actually, I’m starving.Do you mind?”
She waved him on.He entered her kitchen, washed his hands, and grabbed the bag from the fridge.Then he settled into the porch swing and proceeded to demolish his lunch.After he finished up, he went to join her.She was still petting the loveseat absently, her slender fingers tracing the textured fabric.He imagined her stroking his back, skimming the taut muscles of his arms as he braced himself over her.The fantasy was so arousing he had to look elsewhere.He was in a bad way if the sight of a woman’s hand could turn him hard as stone.
“Do you need help getting it up?”
He did a double-take.“What?”
“The stairs.”She pointed.
“Oh.Right.”
“Is it heavy?”
“I think we can manage,” he said.
Clearing his throat, he went upstairs and propped open the door.Then he returned to her side.They carried the mattress up first.Jason could have lifted it on his own, but Natalie wanted to help.After they came through the door, Jason took over.He placed the mattress against the wall near the window.Then they returned to the driveway for the sofa, which had a bulky shape.He lifted one end of the couch, and she grabbed the other end.They tilted it sideways before starting the climb.
“You go up first,” he said.
She backed up the steps while he shouldered most of the weight.The tricky part was pivoting at the landing in order to fit through the door.When they reached the threshold, Jason paused to readjust his grip.
“Wait a sec,” he said, grasping the middle of the couch.He had to lift the back end over the top of the railing.It was doable but not easy.Jason was glad he’d fixed the handrail because he braced against it as he heaved.
Marcus chose that moment to dart up the steps.“Let me help!”
“Not right now,” Natalie said, but her voice was muffled by the couch, and the boy was already there.His elbow jabbed into Jason’s stomach and knocked him off-balance.Jason almost dropped his end of the couch.Worse, he nearly tumbled backward over the handrail.He stayed on his feet, but it was a near thing.
