Page 22 of A Cowboy Home for Christmas
“I’ll help you look.” I catch Lauren’s arm and pull her back to me. I don’t know what today will bring, but I can’t leave without a kiss. Morning breath or not, my tongue dives past her lips and tastes all that is this woman. It’s hard, hot and short, but worth it.
The persistent knocking breaks us apart.
“I’ll see you at breakfast.” She pecks my lips one last time before disappearing outside.
I open the door and rest my arm on the frame. “Morning girls.”
“We can’t find mommy.” Clara twists the hem of her matching striped pyjamas. Worry flutters her eyes.
“We searched the whole cabin.” Lark’s hands are planted on her waist, but she can’t hide her panic from me. “Everyone else is sleeping, and mommy is nowhere.”
“Did something happen to her in the night?” Clara twists her shirt tighter, hiking it further up. “Did she go to the hospital?”
Their fear crushes me. “Nothing happened. She didn’t go to the hospital. I’ll help you find her.” I place my hands on their small shoulders and turn them around, giving them a little nudge forward. Halfway through the bathroom, they slip their tiny hands into mine. Even strong, independent Lark.
Lauren’s bedroom smells like her. The warm magnolia scent takes my breath away. Memories of last night could never be more perfect.
“She’s not in bed.” Clara points at the empty bed. Untouched. Unslept in.
“See.” Lark yanks back the covers.
I spot Lauren on the balcony. Early morning darkness swallows her. But I can see she’s straightened her silly Christmas-themed pyjamas. She must’ve brushed her fingers through her hair to tame the locks I drove my fingers into last night.
Fuck, I’m getting hard. How the hell am I going to manage an entire week wanting her? Craving her? With my whole damn family watching our every move?
Lauren knocks on the window.
“Mommy!” The girls dart over.
Lauren opens the door to meet them. “Good morning.” She bends to one knee, and they crash into her with a barrage of words.
“We couldn’t find you.”
“I was scared.”
“Were you outside the whole time?”
“We didn’t look outside.”
“We should’ve looked outside.”
Clara sits on Lauren’s knee and rests her head on her mommy. Lauren smoothes her fingers over Lark’s wild curls.
“Come outside. It’s beautiful and the sun is about to peak over the horizon.” She kisses their heads before rising.
Her eyes meet mine and for a second, her gaze breaks my heart. She’s hurting for them. For their fear that she’s going to leave like Gunnar did.
But something chases that fear away, and her sultry smirk teases me. “Barker, why don’t you grab a couple blankets and join us.”
“I reckon I can do that.”
“Yeah, come on, Uncle Barker.”
I snatch the blankets off the floor and ten minutes later were snuggled outside on a couple of outdoor chairs. Clara is curled up on my lap, while Lark sprawls across the length of Lauren.
“What are we doing today?” Lark’s fingers play with Lauren’s.
“What do you want to do?” Lauren asks.
