Page 16 of Her Candy Cane Cowboy
Then I turn to him, and he spreads his arms wide like ta-da! I have the crazy urge to run into his arms and have them wrap around me in a warm, tight hug.
Instead, I laugh again and he grins as he takes out his phone. “We have to capture this.” He motions me forward and I draw close.
He tucks me against his side and puts an arm around my shoulder. My heart picks up speed and my stomach tightens.
“Say Dallas is sexy.” His eyes sparkle with challenge.
“Dallas is sexy.” I laugh and he takes the picture.
“I can see you need to be taught a lesson,” he says as we examine his phone to see how the photo turned out. “The sweaters are funny. Me being sexy isn’t. It’s a truth.”
“My bad,” I say, struggling to get my coat on over the sweater.
He walks behind me and guides my arms into the sleeves. “You’ll need to practice. And put some feeling behind it.”
I laugh again and as we walk out of the shop, I realize how often I’ve laughed tonight. I haven’t laughed or felt this warm and happy since I stood at the altar with my world crumbling.
For a quick flash, I wonder what my life would be like now had Dallas been my groom.
I know as sure as I feel the sidewalk beneath my shoes that he never would have abandoned me. Why am I thinking this way about him? I’m troubled but careful not to show it. Because I’m afraid if he asks what’s wrong, I’ll tell him what I was thinking and then my heart and body might cross a line.
We spend another hour visiting the various shops in the town before we call it a night. It’s over too soon at least for me. Dallas takes me to the Inn and walks me to my room door.
“Goodnight,” he says, his cheeks red from the cold.
“Goodnight,” I say reluctantly. Before I can stop myself, I put my hand on the solid wall of his chest. A foolish move I know but I wanted a physical connection with him, however brief.
He immediately covers my hand with his.
Then he lowers his head, and his warm breath lingers across my lips as he whispers my name. It’s emotion spoken aloud. Sweet. Full of longing. Full of care.
Then his lips settle on mine. Passionate. Possessive. Powerful. My head spins. My mind is captured. My body carried is wanting and willing. So willing…
I raise my arms then snap back to my senses and push against him, sucking in a deep lungful of air.
He steps back. “You want me.” It’s not an accusation he’s making, but an acknowledgement of what we both know.
“I do.” Is that my voice? I sound raw.
“Then why stop?”
“It’s a long story.” You’ll hurt me. You’ll walk away after I’m head over heels in love with you. You’ll shatter my heart leaving my trembling life to try and pick up the pieces without getting cut. Again. I force a smile, trying to ease the tension between us, but I don’t know what else to say.
“It’s okay. I’ll listen when you’re ready to tell me.” He gently smooths my hair away from my face. “Goodnight, again.”
He turns around and strides the length of the hallway, and I watch him go.
His kiss lingers on my lips. Regret lingers in my heart. But whether it’s for pulling away or not I can’t tell.
Chapter 8
Dallas
I kissed Ginger. Walking off afterward was difficult, but she needs time. And if that means if it takes me a lifetime of waiting, I’ll do it. I’ll wait for her. I wonder what she thought about after she went inside her room. Hopefully, it was me.
Last night, I came back to the ranch not remembering how I got here. I know I talked to the others. Had some food. Spent time with Mary and Christopher. But all I could think about was the feel of my lips on hers.
Like I’m a giddy teenager, I touch my fingertips to my lips. Then I leave the bunkhouse before disturbing the others. I don’t want anyone asking me about an update on Ginger. I don’t want to take the time. I’m in a hurry to get back to town to see her.
