Page 55 of My Cowboy Trouble

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"Yep. You. Hands down. Biggest dick energy on the ranch."

She laughs so hard, she nearly drops the hammer. "That's the weirdest compliment I've ever gotten.

"I aim to please." I watch her work for a moment, admiring the determined set of her jaw. "You know, you never did show me your nails."

"My what?"

"That day with the fence. I teased you about showing me your nails, like you were some prissy city girl who'd be worried about breaking one."

She sets down the hammer and holds up her hands. Her nails are short, practical, with chipped pink polish that's mostly worn away. There's dirt under them, a blood blister on one thumb, and calluses forming on her palms.

"Not exactly manicure-ready," she says.

I take her hands in mine, studying them. "They're perfect."

"They're a mess."

"They're working hands. Ranch hands." I trace my thumb over her calluses. "They're earning their place here."

"I'm not staying, Gavin."

"I know." But I don't let go of her hands. "Doesn't change the fact that you belong here. Right now, in this moment, you belong."

She looks at me, something soft and dangerous in her eyes. "You're going to make this harder than it needs to be."

"That's the plan."

"I mean leaving. You're going to make leaving harder."

"Also the plan."

"Gavin—"

"Stop overthinking." I pull her closer. "Just be here. Now. With me."

We're almost donewith our section when it happens. She reaches for one last shingle, stretches too far, and her foot slips on the sweaty tar paper.

"Shit!"

I catch her before she can fall, yanking her against me. We both freeze, her body pressed against mine, my arms tight around her waist. Her hands are fisted in my shirt—well, they would be if I was wearing one. Instead, her nails are digging into my bare shoulders.

"You okay?" My voice comes out rougher than intended.

"Yeah." But she doesn't move away. "Thanks."

"Can't have you falling. Who'd help me finish the roof?"

"Right. The roof." But she's looking at my mouth, not the roof.

"Kenzie."

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to kiss you now."

"Okay."

"Just okay?"

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