Page 9 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

“There is one in your room, please keep it. You’re not the first guest who has misplaced a brush. At Annie’s, we try to anticipate every scenario. Not that we always succeed.” Laughing, she moved up the stairs.

“Thanks, Annie. But please let me pay you for it.”

“Don’t worry about it.” At the top of the stairs, she glanced at Abby’s small bag again. “I seriously don’t know how you fit everything into such a small bag. You should see me when we travel. I always overpack. June mentioned you specialize in decluttering and organizing people’s homes. You have to show me how you manage to travel with just one small bag.”

Abby followed her. “I love talking about making life easier by decluttering. Any time.”

“Great. I’ll invite my sister, Vivian, and my sister-in-law, Riley. Oh, and our aunt and godmother, Janice, never misses anything either. She’s a teacher at the local high school but I have to warn you, she’s also a notorious matchmaker.”

Abby chuckled. “I won’t be here long enough to be matched with anyone. Besides, my calendar is fully booked for the rest of the year. I need to get back to Seattle as soon as I’ve helped June.”

Annie’s eyes twinkled as she opened a door. “That’s what everyone says. Your friend June was adamant she was only staying for a while …”

“Well, I have no intention of falling for anyone, least of all for the first cowboy I see.” Of course, in that moment, last night’s cowboy without his shirt flashed through her mind. Turing away quickly so as not to betray her thoughts, she looked at the room. “Oh, Annie, this is a beautiful room.”

Quickly she walked to the window, where she had a gorgeous view of a magnificent blue and purple mountain rising high above the town. “That is Copper Mountain I presume?”

Annie joined her. “Yes, it is. Lovely, isn’t it?”

Inhaling deeply, Abby stared up at the highest peak. “Breathtaking.”

“Everything you need to make coffee or tea is over there,” Annie said as she pointed toward a small kitchenette, “but I’m always in the kitchen, ready for a chat and coffee or tea if you feel like it. Is there anything else you need?” Annie turned and moved toward the door.

Abby followed her. “No, thanks. June will be here soon. I’m spending the afternoon with her on the ranch, but I should be back around six.”

“We’re all going to Grey’s Saloon tonight. I’m sure when you see June, she’ll tell you about it. You’re more than welcome to come with us and meet up with them there.”

“Please don’t worry about me. June and I will probably have lunch. Besides, I think I’ll have an early night.”

Annie cocked her head. “You look kind of flushed, are you feeling okay?”

Of course, all Annie’s kind remark did was to make her blush all over again. Trying her best to ignore it, Abby smiled. “I’m totally fine, thanks.”

“Okay, I’ll send June up when she comes.”

As Annie closed the door, Abby headed for the bathroom. Maybe she’d be calmer after a shower.

Shower. Vivid images of what exactly had happened the last time she was in a shower, flashed before her eyes. The cowboy had been insatiable, finding new ways to torture her throughout the night. And for one night, she’d turned into someone she’d hardly recognized—a sensuous being with needs she hadn’t even known she’d had.

Seriously. Stop it. Right now. This was ridiculous. She was never going to see him again. He’d probably already forgotten all about her.

Quickly she stripped, stepped into the shower, and opened the cold tap. It didn’t really help. As she dried herself with the soft, white towel, it was all too easy to remember what a thorough job the cowboy had done last night as he’d proceeded to lap up every, single drop of water on her body.

Out of breath, she groaned. Surely this craziness would be over soon?

*

As usual, everyone except June, his brother’s wife, and Luke, his oldest cousin’s nine-year-old son, was around the table when Carson joined them for lunch on Saturday. This time on a Saturday, Luke was usually playing outside with all the other kids on the ranch.

“Welcome back,” his cousin Willow said as he sat down. “So how did it go?”

Carson sighed. “I’m sure you know already. I told Dylan and June last night everything went well. The exhibition will be held at the end of October. I still can’t believe it. Thanks again for contacting Noah.”

“Of course, you’re so talented. And yes, we know already it went well at the gallery,” Willow said, smiling. “I’m talking about your glow? Doesn’t he have a glow, Coop?”

Keeping his eyes on his plate, Carson ignored them. He’d come to understand why the good folks of Marietta referred to the Westons as weird. Willow, Cooper, his youngest cousin, and Luke all had the uncanny ability to know things about other people. Cooper’s gift or whatever you wanted to call it, to talk to animals was also legendary in these parts of the state. Whether it was a difficult horse, an ornery bull, or a stray dog or cat, Cooper usually had the answer.

The fact that they could all read other people had never really bothered him before because all he usually had on his mind was ranching or his photography. Today, however, his mind was filled with images of last night—something he’d prefer not to share with anyone else around the table.