Page 32 of Home to the Cowboy

*

It was nearly nine by the time he was finally walking toward the front door. June had insisted on making him a quick breakfast. “I’ll pick you up for lunch at Arlene’s.”

June was zipping up the tracksuit top she’d put on to see him to the door. “I don’t know if I …”

Her phoned bleeped. “It’s Arlene. With an invitation to lunch. Did you ask her to invite me?”

Shaking his head, he pulled her closer. “No, but she loves to see people around her table. The more, the merrier.”

“Okay, I’ll bring a salad.”

“I’m sure there’s more than enough food, but she’d appreciate it. Kiss me, I have to go.”

Stepping into his arms, she slipped her arms around his neck. “Drive safely.”

He made the mistake of looking down and got a glimpse of her cleavage where the zipper had stopped. “Oh, June …” Groaning, he pulled down the zipper and cupped her breast as he kissed her.

Within seconds, he was ready for her. With the sound of his blood racing through his veins, he unzipped his jeans, pulled down her tracksuit pants, and pushed her against the wall.

“I’ll never not want you,” he ground out as he entered her.

*

June was waiting for Dylan to pick her up when he called to say they had a problem with one of the calves. He was going to be late, would she mind going to Arlene’s on her own.

Holding the salad in one hand and a children’s mystery adventure book she brought along for Luke in the other, she walked the short distance to Arlene’s house.

There was a scratchy feeling in her throat, but it was another beautiful day, she was simply going to ignore it. It was probably only an allergy or something. Above her, Copper Mountain rose up high into a cobalt-blue sky. Birds were singing, a few kids were playing in the street, their laughter ringing in the air, a dog was chasing a cat.

This wasn’t a scene she was used to. In Seattle, her small apartment was close to her place of work. There was no park nearby, so she seldom saw kids playing, and she’d definitely never seen a dog chasing a cat on a Sunday just before lunch.

They hadn’t been allowed to have pets in foster care and somewhere along the way, she’d buried the need for something warm and furry and forced herself not to think about it. In a place like Marietta, though, she would be able to have a pet …

Groaning, she shook her head. One night with Dylan and she was ready to play house. She knew better. Nobody was coming to save her, to give her a home and a dog and tell her everything was going to be okay. That was a lesson she’d learned a long time ago.

Anyway, her life was back in Seattle. She had a job she loved, a nice apartment, a best friend who had seen her at her worst and loved her anyway; she didn’t need rescuing anymore. It was way more than she’d ever expected to have.

Her phone rang, it was Abby.

“I’ve just been thinking about you,” June said.

“Is that why I don’t hear from you? What on earth do you do with yourself in a small town?”

June laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such a busy social life! I’m on my way to a Sunday lunch; I went to a farmer’s market yesterday, then there was a picnic at the courthouse gardens, and last night I went to a dance at the Graff Hotel. Oh, and on Wednesday I went shopping with a wonderful group of women I’ve met.”

“Back up a bit. You’ve been to a dance? Did you dance with a cowboy?”

June grimaced. Abby was way too sharp, she had to keep this light. “With two actually. Look, I’m going to have to call you back later, but first tell me how you are.”

“I’m fine, don’t change the subject. There is something in your voice, I want to know the whole story.”

“Talk to you soon!” June said before she ended the call.

Willow’s car was already in front of Arlene’s house, but none of the trucks were there. Arlene opened the door.

“Welcome, June. I’m so glad you could come.”

“Thanks for having me again, Arlene. I’ve brought a salad.”