His chest heaved. “She’s probably right, but I’ve faced tough odds before.”
“You wouldn’t even be thinking this way if I’d stayed in Seattle instead of running down here to get comforted by you.”
“And Lucy.”
She nodded. “And Lucy. But mostly I came to be with you. Bad decision. If I hadn’t—”
“I would’ve hopped a plane.”
“And consequently been immersed in the city. You’d have faced the reality of noisy traffic, my tiny apartment and the frantic pace of my life as a business owner. I’m reasonably sure you wouldn’t have considered moving there after that.”
“But you don’t know for sure.”
“We’ll never know, because I came here. I walked off that plane rehearsing my speech about living separate lives. Then you took me in your arms and my perfect solution has been unraveling ever since.”
He reached for her hand and slid his fingers through hers. “It needed unraveling. Please don’t beat yourself up over this. From my standpoint, you coming here was the best move.”
“How can you say that?” The warmth of his touch radiated up her arm and spread through her body. We couldn’t get enough of each other. She swallowed.
“This is where it all began.” He stroked his thumb gently over her palm. “This is where we need to be while we tease out a solution.”
“Is there a good one? If so, I can’t see it.”
“I can. We found something special back in April. I believe we could find it again. And I’m not talking about sex.”
Her pulse rate climbed with every lazy stroke of his thumb. “Be honest.”
“Mostly I’m not talking about sex. Like for example, I’d like to tag along on your ride with Matt and Lucy tomorrow. But I won’t if you don’t want me to.”
“Of course I want you to. But I understand the dynamic better, now. What I want and what’s best aren’t the same things. After this discussion, I’m wondering if I should pack my bags.”
He sucked in a breath. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“But you’ve suggested rekindling the flame while I—”
“Oh, it’s rekindled, Iz. I doubt we’ll succeed in dousing it anytime soon, even if you hightail it out of here.”
“You make it sound like I’d be running away.”
“If the shoe fits.”
“I’d be trying to make things easier for both of us.”
“Speak for yourself. Your leaving won’t make my life easier. Just the opposite.”
The tension in his voice ramped up her frustration. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You had a plan when you came. If you leave now, you won’t satisfy one of your stated objectives.”
“Which one?”
“That we become friends.” He gazed at her. “You do still want that, right? To give us a better chance of getting along as we co-parent our baby?”
“That was my original goal.”
“It’s a good one, too.”
“Are you saying you want to pursue a friendship with me?”
“That and more. I’d like to rediscover the connection we had during the wedding weekend, the mutual admiration society that led to climbing into bed the last night.”
“Because you’re hoping it’ll lead us there again?”
He laughed. “Yes, ma’am. Can’t blame me for that. But if friendship is all I get, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. FYI, riding together promotes friendship. Ask anybody on the ranch.”
“I’ll take a wild guess that you’ve already mentioned this to Matt and Lucy.”
“I have. It’s fine with them, but you have veto power.”
When it came to getting his way, CJ had skills. She’d be wise not to underestimate that as she navigated this tricky situation. But the prospect of seeing him on a horse was too delicious to pass up. “I’d like you to go. We can work on cultivating our friendship.”
“Definitely.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I should let you go in. Get some rest.”
“Good idea.” She was wide awake and humming with sensual energy. Putting a closed door between this cowboy and her aroused self was a wise choice. Not her first one, though.
He released her hand. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
“That’s not necess—”
“Yes, ma’am, it is. I still want to claim my kiss.” He was out of the cab and around the front of the truck before she’d opened her door all the way.
To be fair, his last comment had distracted her. “What does a kiss have to do with friendship?”
“I’ll be friendly about it.” He helped her down.
If she had a brain in her head, she’d nix the kiss. But as her brain had taken a sudden vacay, she was totally looking forward to it. He was an excellent kisser. The brief touch of his lips when he’d met her at the airport had barely tapped into his abilities in that department.
“I’ve never given you a goodnight kiss.”
“I guess not.” She climbed the steps, her hand in his, her nerves vibrating in anticipation.
“Just a good-morning one.”
Her breath caught. “No fair.” Her core tightened.
“One of my favorite memories. You were so warm and relaxed.”
“Well, I’m not relaxed, now.” His lingering kisses from throat to thigh had led to the most intimate kiss of all, giving her one last orgasm. To remember me by, he’d murmured before slipping out of bed.
When they arrived at her cabin door, she turned to face him, heat simmering in her veins. “You’re not kissing me.” She freed her hand from his.
“Okay, I shouldn’t have brought up the—”
“I’m kissing you.” Lifting off his Stetson, she cupped the back of his head, rose to her toes and brushed her mouth over his.
He groaned softly. “Be my guest.”
Lips parted, she pressed lightly at first, relishing the contours of a mouth designed for this activity. No prickle of scruff marred the sensuous connection. She drew back a fraction. “You shaved.”
“Just for you, Iz.” His warm breath caressed her lips as he enclosed her in his strong arms. “Don’t stop.”
“Not gonna.” She took the kiss deeper, exploring with her tongue. His virile body tempted her to nestle closer.
With a hum of
