Page 30 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

“I have clothes!” she called out.

No answer. Picking up the tulle skirt, she put it on before pulling the lace top over her head. Of course, both pieces fit like a dream. Well, if ever she had the urge to marry, this was what she would like to wear.

Marry? Where on earth did that word come from? As she put her hands on the top to take it off again, the curtain opened again. June entered with a black top in her hands. Ellie, Rose, Laura, Arlene, and Willow, who were talking in the background, all turned to look at Abby.

As everyone oohed and aahed, Arlene moved forward, clasping her hands together. “Oh, Abby, that is absolutely perfect on you.”

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Abby pointed to the top in June’s hands. “I’m not going to …”

June thrusted the black top in her hands. “Oh, come on, just try it on. We’re outside paying for our purchases.”

Of course, the black top was also a great fit. The clever cut of the silky material left her one shoulder bare. It definitely wasn’t something she would normally buy because it wasn’t the kind of thing she would wear when working, but it was way too easy to imagine Carson’s eyes when he saw her in this. Quickly, she took it off.

All of this was very temporary. By next week this time she’d be back in Seattle, working. Marietta and everyone she’d met here would just be a memory. Spending money on clothes she would never wear again was just silly.

The underwear set in red, however, she would get. With her own money.

Chapter Nine

As Carson stood at the bottom of the stairs in the B & B waiting for Abby on Monday night, he was giving himself a stern talk. Abby had asked him not to touch her, not to kiss her. This morning at breakfast, his hand had been already out to do just that when he’d remembered her request.

She probably had a point. They’d made love thinking they’d never see one another again and then it turned out she was his new sister-in-law’s best friend. What he also knew by now, was that she wasn’t just a one-night stand, easily put out of his mind. Abby Swanson seemed to have found permanent residence in his mind and heart.

But damn, it was hard keeping his hands to himself. Pun intended.

Craig appeared at the end of the corridor. “Carson, hi. You waiting for someone?”

“Yes, I’m taking Abby to Rocco’s Italian Restaurant.”

Craig grinned. “I see. Not wasting time, I see.”

Before Carson could answer, a movement at the top of the stairs caught his attention. He turned and there she was. Dressed in jeans, a black top that left her one shoulder bare, a sling bag over the other shoulder, big golden hoops in her ears, she took his breath away. Her hair wasn’t in its usual braid but cascaded loosely over her shoulders in soft curls. As she stepped down from the stairs, his eyes fell on the pair of killer heels she was wearing.

Damn, he was a dead man.

Behind him, Craig laughed softly, but Carson’s attention stayed focused on the beautiful woman in front of him. Everything inside him was urging him on to take her hand, drag her out to his truck, and take her somewhere where they could be together. That wasn’t what she wanted, though.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket, he just nodded and grunted. His throat wasn’t working, his mind jumbled, he wouldn’t be able to construct a proper sentence even if he’d wanted to.

As she put on a jacket, he steered her through the front door out onto the porch with his hand behind her back, not quite touching her.

“Enjoy your evening!” Craig, clearly amused, called out behind them.

Outside on the porch, she turned to face him, her eyes mere slits. “What’s going on? I spent a ridiculous amount of money on this freaking top and a red bra today and you just grunted? If you’ve changed your mind about taking me out, now is the time to tell me.”

Taking a deep breath, he looked away. “You told me not to touch you,” he growled. “I can’t even look at you without wanting to put my hands on you. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to not be able to touch you, to kiss you, to strip you out of the top so I can see the damn red bra?”

Grabbing his hand, she pulled him toward his truck. “Open the damn door.”

Ticked off, he unlocked the truck but didn’t move to help her inside. She waited, arms folded, staring at the door.

“You’re killing me, you know that?” he sighed as he moved to her side and opened the door.

She waited.

Rubbing his forehead, he inhaled deeply. “If I have to help you in, I’m going to have to touch you.”

Without saying a word, she continued waiting.