Page 37 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
Lawson shook his head. The cowboy hat was on the booth beside him now. At least he had his manners. “Stop right there,” he said. “I can hear your thoughts and you don’t need to get upset. Those are just two things I never saw myself enjoying. And I do enjoy watching those princess movies with my niece.” He leaned forward, his gaze grabbing hers and holding.
Her heart pounded as she looked at him. She wanted to hold on to her defenses, but he was melting them away.
“And I enjoyed class tonight,” he said. “Not just because of you.”
A warm, gooey feeling moved through her. “Oh.”
“So about that kiss,” he said.
She swallowed and shook her head. “It never should’ve happened.” That was her defenses talking again. No matter what Val said, she couldn’t be carefree when it came to Lawson. He was already igniting things that sent off warning bells inside her. She wasn’t ready to be in a relationship yet. Not until she could stand her ground.
He stared at her, then sliced more of the cheesecake with his fork and slipped it into his mouth.
Was he going to suggest something different?
“I agree,” he finally said, surprising and disappointing her a little.
“You do?”
“Umm-hmm. Better to be friends first.”
Her breath hitched at the word “first.” That implied there’d be a next. She could live with that. “Right. Friends first.”
He sliced another piece of cake and suspended his fork to her. Hesitating, she took the piece in her mouth, aware that his gaze was locked on her.
“Mmm. So good,” she said reflexively. Then her body burned because he was watching like a man who wanted to be more than just friends.
“I need help,” he said.
“Help?”
“As my friend I need to ask you a favor. These clothes aren’t right for your class.” He gestured at his loose-fitted T-shirt. “What do you think about taking me shopping and helping me pick out some yoga clothes on Saturday?”
She pulled her lower lip into her mouth. Friends. And he was right. He couldn’t do yoga well in the clothes he had on. “I think that it’s my responsibility as your friend to help you out.”
He grinned. She loved those dimples and blue eyes of his. Loved pretty much everything about him, she thought as more warning bells rang.
“Perfect,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
And despite herself, so was she.
Chapter 11
After finishing off her second week of yoga class and first week of babysitting, Julie wanted nothing more than to spend her entire Saturday in bed.
In bed with a certain tall, golden cowboy.
She face-palmed and sat up. It was ten o’clock in the morning. Instead of spending time in bed with Lawson, she’d be going shopping with him this morning. As friends. Just friends, even if that kiss they’d shared on Tuesday evening had left her wanting more. Every encounter she’d ever had with the man had left her wanting more.
She glanced over at her nightstand and noticed her phone blinking, signaling that she had a text message. It was probably Kat or Val. Picking up her phone, her heart stopped at Lawson’s name on her screen.
Are we still on for this morning?
There was her out. She could take it if she wanted to.
Instead, she typed:
Yes.
