Page 63 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

“And missed all that two-stepping and line dancing?” Asher said, his words wry. “I don’t think so.”

They arrived at the front door and Kelley turned toward him. “Thank you for tonight.”

“It was my pleasure,” he said simply.

And then Kelley bent the rules. Wanting something even stronger to remember. She leaned in and pressed her lips ever so softly against his. She felt him still. Felt his breath on her skin. Then she started to lean away. Only he framed her face in his hands gently and Kelley met him halfway for a different sort of kiss.

One that buckled knees.

One that whispered of everything they would—and could—not express in words.

One that promised to linger in every heartbeat.

But, she reminded herself, whatever was between them could not last.

Finally, the kiss slowed. Kelley pulled away and waited for her breath to even out and pulse to stop racing. And all the while, Asher kept her anchored in his arms as if he needed to ground himself.

Kelley started, “That was…”Amazing. Addicting. Habit forming. She exhaled and said, “That was simply us giving in to a mutual curiosity, right?”

His gaze traveled over her face like a caress. His voice was quiet and tender. “Exactly.”

“Then there is no need for a repeat.” Even if she very much wanted to kiss him again. Right now. Right there. One deep sigh, her words came out thin like vapor. “Because we know all we need to know.”

“Right,” he said, his voice more gravelly than drawl.

“I should go in.”I should let go.

He nodded but gathered her even closer.

Kelley settled against him. Rested her cheek over his heart. And let her cowboy hold her on the front porch under the moonlight. She closed her eyes. After all, this was not an evening for stargazing and firefly wishing.

It was not a forever kind of night.

It was a cowboy. A cowgirl. And an unforgettable memory made. That was all it was ever meant to be.

Kelley released her hold, rolled onto the balls of her feet and pressed a kiss on Asher’s cheek. “You were right,” she whispered. “The evening was infinitely better with you.”

He chuckled and tucked a curl behind her ear. “See you at the singles’ table.”

“Save me a seat, cowboy.” Finally, she stepped away and walked into the house alone.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The next morning, Asher reached over the stall door to greet Derby Dreamer. The colt nudged the back of his hand and nickered softly. Asher grinned, even though he knew he was going to ruffle some feathers soon enough. Although, the sooner the confrontation was over, the quicker he could get to the good part of his day, like seeing Kelley and taking her on a sunset ride out to the stream.

If he was lucky, perhaps there would be another opportunity to pull his cowgirl into his arms and give in to his new curiosity. After all, he was dying to know if a second kiss would be just as spectacularly world-altering as the first. Something told him it would be all that and more.

The slam of the stable door alerted Asher that he had company. Asher gave the colt one last stroke, tucked his curiosity away and prepared himself. After all, it was not every day he meddled in stable business.

“Elliot tells me you want to pull Derby Dreamer from the Rising Star Classic this afternoon.” Irritation tightened across Joe’s face and echoed in his heavy footsteps down the center aisle of the stable. “Care to tell me why?”

“He’s not ready.” Asher turned away from the stall door.

“Doc gave him a clean bill of health,” Joe said, with resolve. “He’s cleared to compete.”

A clean bill of health was important, but Asher held firm. “It’s not his health. It’s his conditioning I’m concerned about.”

“I know full well how to properly train and prepare a horse for competition.” Frustration tightened through Joe’s words.