“Then tell me.”
His breathing slowed.
He opened his eyes.
“When I was nineteen, I nearly killed a man.”
The ranch woman became still.
“He attacked my brother.”
She listened.
“I hit him.”
The cowboy looked toward the barn floor.
“Once.”
The ranch woman said nothing.
“He didn’t wake for two days.”
Understanding settled.
The cowboy continued.
“Everyone told me it wasn’t my fault.”
“But you believed it was.”
“I knew what I was.”
“What?”
“Too strong to be careless.”
The ranch woman touched his cheek.
“That isn’t the same as dangerous.”
“It can become the same.”
“Only if you stop caring.”
He looked at her.
She continued.
“You care so much you’ve spent months running away from a woman sitting three feet from you.”
His mouth twitched.
“You make that sound ridiculous.”
“It is ridiculous.”
He shook his head.
The ranch woman smiled.
“Are you going to kiss me now?”
He stared.
“Still?”
“Yes.”
“You heard everything I said?”
“Every word.”
“And your conclusion is still kiss me?”
“Yes.”
He looked at her mouth.
Then back at her eyes.
“I’m asking once.”
“Ask.”
“You’re sure?”
The ranch woman leaned closer.
“No.”
His expression changed.
She smiled.
“I’m impatient.”
Then she kissed him.
The cowboy froze.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then months of restraint cracked.
His free hand moved to the back of her neck.
Not roughly.
Firmly.
His other arm tightened around her waist.
The ranch woman felt herself pulled closer.
She had expected strength.
She had not expected how controlled it would feel.
Every movement deliberate.
Every change waiting for her response.
She kissed him again.
Longer.
When they finally separated, the cowboy’s forehead dropped against hers.
His breathing sounded uneven.
The ranch woman smiled.
“That was terrible.”
His eyes opened.
“What?”
She fought a laugh.
“Absolutely awful.”
He stared.
She broke.
The laugh escaped.
The cowboy understood.
His expression hardened.
“Cruel woman.”
She laughed harder.
He caught her waist with both hands.
“Still think it’s funny?”
“Very.”
He shifted her slightly higher across his lap.
Her laughter stopped.
Their eyes met.
The cowboy smiled for once.
“Good.”
The ranch woman’s face warmed.
“That was deliberate.”
“Yes.”
“So you can flirt.”
“When motivated.”
She placed the book against his chest.
“You’ve wasted months.”
“Probably.”
She leaned closer again.
Then hoofbeats sounded outside.
Fast.
Not one horse.
Several.
The cowboy’s expression changed instantly.
Desire vanished beneath instinct.
He moved the ranch woman gently from his lap and stood.
She felt the loss of warmth immediately.
“What?”
“Stay here.”