“You’re right.” He leans in. “You should be more careful, but maybe I should be less rough around the edges too.”
I nod and then reach, looping my arms around his waist. “I missed you today.” Those words come from my mouth before I can stop them. The truth is, I don’t even mean to say them.
His body tenses for a split second before I feel his muscles relax under my touch. That broad chest of his rises with a deep breath, and his arm drops from above my head to wrap around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
“I missed you too,” he admits, his voice low and rough, like it costs him everything to say those words. “Couldn’t stop thinkin’ about you while I was out there.”
My heart jumps at his confession, and I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. I tilt my head back to look up at him, my chin resting against his chest.
“Yeah?” I question, enjoying the way his features soften just slightly when his eyes meet mine.
“Yeah,” he confirms, the pad of his thumb brushing across my cheek. “Truett caught me staring off at nothing at least three times. Said I was distracted.”
“Were you?” I can’t help teasing him, standing on my tiptoes to get closer.
“What do you think?” His lips quirk into the hint of a smile. It transforms his whole face, making him look younger and less guarded. I want to see more of that.
“I think…” I trail off, pressing my body against his more firmly. “I think I like that I was on your mind.”
He groans, dipping his head down until our foreheads touch. “You’re trouble, Atlee.”
“Good trouble, I hope.”
“The best kind,” he whispers, and then his mouth is on mine, hot and demanding. It’s not the gentle kiss from this morning. This one is hungry, like he’s been waiting all day to taste me again. His hand slides down to my lower back, pressing me against him as his tongue sweeps into my mouth.
I’m instantly lost in the sensation of him. My fingers dig into the solid muscle of his back, feeling the strength there as he holds me like I’m something precious. When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard.
“Should we take this inside?” I ask, voice embarrassingly breathless.
He nods, his eyes dark with want, but then he takes a step back, giving us both some space. His hand finds mine, though, our fingers intertwining as he gently guides me back inside the house.
The warmth of the cabin envelops us as we step through the doorway. I watch as Devlin kicks off his boots by the door, revealing thick wool socks underneath. There’s something oddly intimate about seeing him like this, the rugged cowboy transforming into someone more relaxed, more at home.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, looking toward the kitchen. “I could make us something to eat.”
His eyebrow quirks up. “You cook?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” I laugh. “I’m decent enough not to poison us both, at least.”
That gets me another one of those rare smiles that makes my insides melt. “I’d like that,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “Haven’t had a home-cooked meal in this house that wasn’t made by me in…hell, I don’t think ever.”
“Well then, I’m happy to change that.” I head toward the kitchen, taking stock of what he has available. “I can throw together something simple with what you’ve got here.”
He follows me, leaning against the doorframe, watching as I open cupboards and the refrigerator. “Need any help?”
“You can help by keeping me company,” I tell him, pulling out pasta, canned tomatoes, and some dried herbs I spot in a rack. “And maybe by telling me how long you’ve been living out here alone.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder if I’ve pushed too far. But then he moves to sit at the small kitchen table, stretching those long legs out in front of him.
“About five years,” he finally answers. “Built this place myself.”
“It’s beautiful,” I say honestly, filling a pot with water. “Especially that bathroom.”
A chuckle rumbles from him. “Yeah, that was the priority.”
I smile, setting the pot on the stove and turning to face him. “Can I ask you something?”
His face turns serious again, but he nods. “You can ask. Might not answer.”
