Page 17 of Her Steamy Cowboy
"Is that so?" she purrs, wriggling suggestively in my lap. "Care to give me a preview of these friendly activities?"
I groan as I feel myself hardening again beneath her. “I thought you'd never ask."
Chapter Six
LINDSAY
The conference roomat Clayton Ranch has been my second home for the past three years.
Normally, I live for these meetings—color-coded notes ready, marketing proposals polished, and social media analytics compiled. Being the marketing coordinator here isn't just a job for me, it's everything I've worked for.
But today, all I can focus on is Jace.
He's sitting directly across from me, one boot propped casually on his knee, looking every inch the cowboy businessman in his pearl-snap Western shirt and dark jeans. His chair is also angled just slightly toward mine, even though he's pretending to be absorbed in the budget report.
It's amazing how quickly everything can change.
We didn't get back to the ranch until late last night—Mr. Henderson had insisted on telling us the history behind every single vintage sign before we loaded them up.
By the time we pulled into the ranch, the moon was high and bright over the pastures. Jace walked me to my apartment door, and even though every part of me wanted to pull him inside, we both knew we needed to at least try to maintain someprofessionalism. One lingering kiss turned into several before we finally managed to say goodnight.
Now it's Monday morning, our first time seeing each other at work since everything changed, and I'm failing miserably at acting normal.
We're in the last meeting of the year, and all I can think about is how his hands felt on my skin, how his voice got rough when he whispered my name.
"Lindsay?" Wyatt's voice draws me back. "Thoughts on the spring festival timeline?"
Jace shifts in his chair, and I make the mistake of looking directly at him.
He's got that subtle half-smile playing at his lips, the one that says he knows exactly what I'm thinking about. The same smile he gave me this morning when I ran into him at the coffee maker and had to pretend my skin wasn't burning where his fingers brushed mine as he handed me my mug.
"Actually," I manage, forcing my attention back to Wyatt, "I've been working on some new ideas for family engagement. If you look at page three of my report?—"
I stand to point at the projection screen, very aware of how Jace's jaw tightens as I walk past him. "We could set up activity stations throughout the property."
"Like the reading corner we did last fall?" Wyatt asks, but I barely hear him because Jace is doing that thing where he runs his hand through his hair when he's thinking.
It shouldn't be this distracting. I've seen him do it a thousand times before.
But now I know how that hair feels between my fingers.
"Exactly," I say, proud of how steady my voice sounds. "We had great feedback from that event. I'm thinking we could expand the concept, maybe partner with local schools..."
I continue my presentation, hyper-aware of Jace's eyes following my every movement.
He keeps making little noises of agreement at all the right moments, playing the part of the attentive ranch manager perfectly. But I recognize the heat in his gaze now, the way his fingers tap restlessly against the table when I lean forward to point out something in the budget.
Finally, Wyatt closes his laptop. “Alright. I think that covers everything for the year. Good work, everyone. See you all at the party tomorrow.”
The room starts to clear out. I'm gathering my papers when I feel it—that electric awareness that means Jace is close.
Sure enough, when I look up, Jace is casually leaning against the conference table next to me, looking for all the world like he's just making friendly conversation.
"Got a minute?" His voice is perfectly professional, but his eyes are anything but.
"Sure." I snap my laptop bag shut and spin around to face him. "What's up?"
He waits until the last person leaves, closing the door behind them. Then suddenly I'm pressed against the conference table, his mouth hot on mine. I make a surprised sound that turns into a moan as he deepens the kiss, one hand tangling in my hair while the other grips my hip.