“Oh no! That’s horrible.”
“I spent the next three days covered in pink calamine lotion and just vibrating with the need to scratch.”
“Poor you.” I went up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “But feeling sorry for that version of you it doesn’t mean I’ll take it easy on you tonight.” I grinned at him and retrieved his axe. I then showed him how to hold the axe with two hands. He was taller than me and when I leaned toward him, my breasts brushed against his back. My nipples tightened and I felt a shiver go up my spine.
Cal didn’t seem to notice so I pushed through my increasing attraction, trying to give him the best instruction I could. It must have worked, because on the third toss, he finally managed to land in thebull’s eye. He was so excited, he let out a whoop and scooped me up, spinning me around before setting me down again.
“That was amazing. Thank you,” he said, then planted a kiss on my lips before freezing and looking around to see if anyone saw. “Shoot. I got swept up in the excitement. I didn’t mean to be so forward but you’re such a good teacher, I couldn’t stop myself.”
In the moment, I didn’t care who might’ve seen us. I was too happy. This was the most fun I’d had in a very long time. I knew I would hold onto this moment after the rodeo ended and Cal went on his way.
TWENTY
AMY
The stars were bright in the moonless sky when Cal drove me back to the ranch. Butterflies were dancing in my stomach the whole time. I had a crush on him in a big way, which was silly for a widowed mother of a little boy. But I couldn’t help myself.
Who could? Cal was gorgeous and sexy, good with Henry, and he treated me like a partner, not a possession. And every moment we spent together, my attraction toward him increased.
It didn’t hurt that, thanks to Cal, I was now convinced that the rodeo would be a success and the community center would get rebuilt. I was still floored that when people tried to congratulate and thank Cal for agreeing to headline the rodeo, he’d re-directed the attention and credit to me. Luke would never have done that. Luke had always accepted all recognition as his due. It was just another way that Luke and Cal weren’t alike.
I peeked at his profile as he drove. I’d had a great time at Buckman’s. It felt so good to let loose and have some fun. I might have forgotten what that was like, it’d been so long. We’d laughed over drinks, talking about everything and anything. He told me more about hissister’s kids, and I’d shared with him my love of movies, thanks to my mom’s influence. I’d flirted a little with him, too. My skills were rusty, but it felt good to spend time with him in that way. As a matter of fact, the more I thought about it, the more certain I felt that having a crush on him was emotionally healthy, and a step in the right direction for me.
I was certain there was no danger to it because I’d keep my hands to myself, and he’d leave town soon enough. I frowned in the darkness, not liking the thought of him leaving.None of that, I told myself. I could enjoy his company as a…friend. A friend who made my heart flutter and my pulse race.
When we pulled up to the ranch house, he cut the engine and reached for his door handle.
“You don’t have to see me to the door,” I said, unsnapping my seatbelt. He’d done the gentlemanly routine during our practice date, but this evening had been different, lighter and more fun.
“I want to.” He got out of the truck before I could argue and came around to my side. He took my hand, lacing our fingers together as we went up the steps. The romantic gesture surprised me, but the real shock came on the porch when he pulled me close and kissed me.
Exactly like our first kiss, he delicately teased my lips, and I opened to him. He deepened the kiss and I gripped his broad shoulders when my knees threatened to buckle. With one hand on my hip to steady me, he combed his fingers through my hair before cupping the back of my head.
I moaned, surprising myself at the intensity of my response to him. When he backed me against a post, I felt the full heat of his body against mine.
“Amy, Amy,” he murmured as his lips left mine to rain small kissesover my cheekbone and jaw. “You are so beautiful.” His stubble added an extra layer of sensation, and I couldn’t get enough.
But…
I opened my eyes and exerted a little pressure on his shoulders, making him take a half-step back. “You don’t have to do that,” I said, my voice shaky with desire. “We already had the practice goodnight kiss the other night.”
“I’m not practicing now, and I wasn’t then. But you went into the house so damn fast, I didn’t have the chance to tell you that.” His fingers coasted over where his lips had been. “I want to kiss you because I think you’re amazing. I want to touch you because I think you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, inside and out. I want to be with you, Amy.” He kissed me again, softer this time before continuing. “I can’t pretend that I know where things will go between us, but this is no game to me and I need you to understand that.”
“Oh.” My breaths were ragged, and I struggled to process his words.He wanted me?Half of my instincts cried out that dating Cal was a bad idea. I could get hurt, and so could he. The other half relished the idea of being with him. Kissing him, touching him, making love.
I had to think, so I pushed off the post and walked a few feet away. There were so many reasons not to get involved with him. The first was that he’d leave town as soon as the rodeo was over. The next was how it would look to the Thorne family and to everyone in town. I sucked in a breath, not liking the scenes I imagined.
“Talk to me, Amy,” Cal said, coming to stand in front of me.
“I’m not sure I can do it,” I whispered.
“You don’t like me?” His voice was equally soft.
“I like you.” I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. “A lot. But a relationship is never just two people. What will Laura and Jake andBrian think? I don’t want to hurt them.” I sighed. “Plus, there’s the folks in town. They’ll gossip about us and speculate that I’m only with you because of your resemblance to Luke. Small towns generate big gossip.”
“They do,” he agreed with me, but his hands slipped to my waist again.
I made myself look him in the eye. “I’m not sure I’m brave enough to date you with everyone watching us.”
