Page 28 of A Cowboy Home for Christmas
“Are we still breaking old habits this morning?” he asks.
I nod, unable to find the words.
His solid arm lifts me up. I hold in my surprised scream. We’re not alone in the cabin, and if Savi saw us, I’d never hear the end of it.
My fingers dig into the material of his T-shirt. He spins me into the kitchen, and presses my back against the stone wall. My whole body tingles with the feel of his frame leaning against mine.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you all goddam morning,” he breathes.
“Your sister is on this floor.”
“I don’t give a shit.” His mouth crashes against mine. This time, a faint sound of surprise escapes me. But I melt into his kiss. His tongue slips between my lips and tangles with mine. Before I know it, we are in a deep, wet and steamy make out session. I forget we’re in the kitchen. That Savi could walk in. Or my girls could come back. His touch, his kiss, they take me away to a world all of our own, and I never want to leave.
A door shutting rips us apart. I’m leaf panting with the support of the wall. His large step takes him to the counter. He wraps his fingers around the edge like he’s resisting the urge to touch me. His hard-on rages against his denim. Raging for me.
“You go up first,” I whisper. “Start the shower, and I’ll meet you there.”
His chest rises and falls breathlessly. It’s so damn sexy.
He waves out the archway at someone then sneaks a small peck on my lips. It melts my toes.
“See you upstairs.” He disappears out the kitchen.
I lick the flavor lingering on my lips. I gotta pull it together. Savi or Alison could walk in this kitchen at any moment. I push off the wall. Just as I grab my mug off the counter, Alison hobbles in. For a second, I want to tell her everything. We used to share every aspect of our lives. Except my feelings for Barker. They were only for me. And apparently her feelings for my husband.
She stops in the archway. “Where is everyone?”
“We are all meeting in the lobby. Barker’s parents took the girls to get a fox pass, and Savi and Barker are getting ready. I’m going to get ready, too. I think swimming is on the agenda today. Hope you brought your bathing suit.” I’m babbling like we are best friends. And I think I’m grinning too. Like a silly teenager. Damn it.
“You seem good. Real good.”
I’m beyond good. I’m floating on cloud nine. But she doesn’t need to know any of my business. Especially with how close she and Savi apparently are.
My smile drops. “Not everything is what it appears on the surface.” I glance down at her middle.
One day I’m going to have to be civil with her. Nice even. I get that. I’ll do it for my daughters. But not today.
Her hands circle her middle. “I mean, you seem better than usual. Before all this happened. You seem happy. Like really happy.” She sounds so sincere, I could mistake it for caring.
My eyes behind her where Barker is waiting upstairs for me.
I lose control of my frown.
Shit.
Her eyes follow and when she meets my gaze, I know she knows. “It’s about time —”
“Don’t.” I walk around her and stomp to the stairs.
“It’s good, Lauren. He’s one of those guys you never have to worry about.”
My foot stops on the first step.
Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around.
Fuck.
I turn around.
