Page 30 of A Cowboy Home for Christmas
I’ve been stood upand left with a morning wood.
Sort of.
The longer I wait, listing possible scenarios of why Lauren stranded me, the quicker my erection ceases to exist.
Fuck me.
I finish my shower and snatch a towel from the rack. I blot my hair and facial hair before I fastened it around my waist.
What the hell happened to Lauren? She’d been giving me go-ahead signs all morning. That frenzied make-out session had my blood boiling, and her heart racing. I assumed we were on the same page. Something spooked her. There’s no other explanation. And all signals point to Savi.
I don’t bother knocking on Lauren’s bedroom door. I’ve been back and forth banging on it enough times that I’ve formed a river that I have to sop up with a towel.
I change into fresh Wrangler jeans and a T-shirt. I run a comb through my damp hair and groom my beard and moustache.
Downstairs, Savi poses by the fireplace wearing a pink winter beanie and taking selfies. “Could you take any longer?” She manages to say without moving her puckered lips.
“Where’s Lauren?”
“Alison said she already left. And Alison is feeling sick, so she’s going to stay in.” Savi slides her phone into the back pocket of her flared jeans. “I guess it’s just you and me, brother.” She playfully punches my arm on the way past.
“You haven’t talked to her since breakfast?”
“Nope.”
What the hell happened? I hope the girls are alright.
Outside, we trek through paths of decorated light-up candy canes and snowmen.
“Thanks for behaving during breakfast.”
“Anything to please you.”
I scoff. “Bullshit.”
She kicks the ground with the toe of her boot. “I thought about what you said, and I don’t want anything to slip in front of the girls.”
“That’s very mature of you.”
“Yeah, don’t go tellin’ anyone.” She pushes her side off mine. “Are you quitting the rodeo for her?”
I shake my head. “It’s not the same without Gunnar.”
“Is that the only reason?”
I wrap my solid arm around her shoulder. “Fuck, no. I’ve missed my lil’ sister.”
She tries to squirm away. “Now who’s calling bullshit?”
I plant a loud kiss on her head.
“Ugh, Barker, seriously.” She swats at my face.
I chuckle and release her. “Are you sure didn’tyou say anything to Lauren before she left the cabin?”
“No. I didn’t see her. Why? Trouble in paradise, already?” She rubs the surface of her deep red fingernails before admiring them.
“I love her.”
