“We could go to your cabin.”
“Would you be comfortable going there?”
For a second, I thought he was joking, but the look on his face hadn’t changed.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Being there alone with me?”
“I’ve been there alone with you before, Paxon.” I reached into my pocket, pulled out the key to my truck, and put it in his palm. “Let’s go.”
I kept my head down as we walked from the porch to my vehicle, so I didn’t know if the man was watching any longer or not. When Paxon opened the passenger door but kissed me again before I could climb inside, I guessed he probably wasn’t.
“Come over here,” he said once he got in the driver’s side. I scooted to the middle, loving that my old truck didn’t have bucket seats. Paxon draped his right arm across my lap and pulled me even closer. Before putting the truck in gear, he kissed me again. He pulled back. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“That’s the second time you’ve asked me a similar question. Why do you think you would be?”
He kissed me again. “Because now that I’ve started, I don’t want to stop.”
“I don’t want to stop either.”
“Flynn…”
“Whatever you have to say, we can talk about when we get to your cabin.”
He put the truck in gear and drove away from the dining hall.
When we got to the cabin, he cut the engine but didn’t open his door.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“I think so.”
“Why aren’t you getting out of the truck?”
“I want you to know that I meant what I said earlier. I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment I met you. I know it sounds like a line, but I felt an immediate connection.”
“I felt it too.”
Paxon turned to face me. “You did?”
I nodded. “Can we go inside now?”
He laughed. “Sure.” He opened the door, climbed out, and held out his hand. When I jumped down, he put a hand on either side of me and kissed me one more time before leading me inside.
37
Irish
It had been a long time since I’d been with a woman, not that I had any intention of being with Flynn tonight. However, things had changed between us, and I needed to be mindful of what I now knew was her complete innocence.
“Can I get you anything?” I asked.
“Water would be nice.” She rubbed her arms.
“Are you cold?”
“A little chilly. I can start a fire if you’d like.”
I thought about telling her I’d do it, but she’d probably been the one who put the logs in the fireplace to begin with.
When I brought her water over, I saw she’d propped some of the pillows from the sofa onto the floor. I sat down beside her and watched the fire spread from the kindling to the logs.
“Of all the cabins on the ranch, this has always been my favorite.”
“Yeah? How come?”
She shrugged. “I can’t really say. It’s just got a nice feel to it.”
I put my arm around her and snuggled her close to me. “I’ve had a condo in DC for several years. I haven’t spent much time there for the last couple, but even before that, it never felt as warm and inviting as this place. Probably because you’ve made it feel that way.”
I loved the way her cheeks turned pink whenever I complimented her.
“Flynn, I need to tell you—”
“Paxon, I swear to God, if you’re about to tell me we can only be friends again—”
I cut her off with another kiss and then rested my forehead against hers. “No, sweetheart. That wasn’t what I was going to say.”
“Anything remotely close to that?”
I shook my head.
“Okay, go ahead and say whatever it is.”
“I told you earlier that things were going to be hectic for the next few days. As much as I know I’ll want to spend time with you, I may not have much of it to spare.”
“You don’t have to explain. I understand.” She rested her head on my shoulder and sighed.
“I feel like there’s something else you want to say.”
“There’s a lot, actually.”
I slid down so I was lying on the floor rather than sitting up, rested my head on the pillow, and brought Flynn with me. I kept my arm around her, and she turned and put her arm around my waist.
“I’m ready to hear whatever you have to say, Flynn.”
She took a deep breath. “I unloaded a lot of stuff on you earlier. I hope you aren’t feeling sorry for me.”
I turned to face her. “I’m not. I promise.”
“I’m sure you know my story already since it’s Buck’s story too, but my mother died when I was three years old.”
“I did know that.”
“My father never remarried, so I grew up with four brothers and a dad who didn’t seem to care whether I had a female role model. I wasn’t lying when I said I never wore dresses. The one I had on at the Flying R was the first one I ever owned.”
“Is this the second?” I asked, running my fingers across its bodice.
When Flynn shuddered, I moved my hand away. She put it back, and I smiled. “It’s the third. Actually, it’s one of many.”
“Each one prettier than the one before it.” This time, instead of running my finger over the fabric, I touched her skin where the two met. Flynn leaned forward, and I kissed her, pulling her so her body rested on mine.
“I’m too heavy,” she said, attempting to move away, but I wouldn’t let her.
“You’re perfect.”
She lowered her gaze. “I’m the furthest thing from it.”
I put my finger on her chin and raised her face so I could see her eyes. “You’re perfect,” I repeated. “Every part of you is. Not just your beautiful face.” I touched her lips with my finger. “Or your body that makes me want to hold it next to me whenever I’m with you.” I trailed my fingers along her dress like I had
