Page 64 of Hometown Cowboy

She couldn’t help the intensity of the hope that welled. Maybe Gabe was right? Maybe things were starting to slip through?

The back door opened and she looked up, stirring sugar in the cups to dissolve it.

“I’ve cut you enough for a few days, plus a bit of kindling.” He held a pile of split wood in his arms and headed through to the lounge room. “I’ll just get this going for you. It’s a little cool in here.”

Darby smiled at the warmth that flooded her that he was here, clucking over her like a mother hen.

She was more than capable of chopping a bit of wood. She had an electric heater that she used for emergencies, which she’d had on the night before, but she wasn’t going to dissuade him from being the big male protector.

She quite liked it, if she was honest.

Mick had only dropped the load off a couple of hours earlier. He’d been inundated with requests for emergency loads due to the cold snap and hadn’t had time to cut it for her.

It was late November, for pity’s sake! They shouldn’t need their damned heaters on.

If Ryan wanted to play the hero, who was she to say no?

She heard his booted footsteps on the floorboard behind her and turned. He reached down close beside her and picked up the steaming mug.

Darby’s breath caught at the scent of his cologne, mixed with the faint scent ofhim. She held it deep, letting it swirl through her blood. It was enough to make her head spin.

She opened her eyes to see the knowing look in his.

This time though, she didn’t blush. She sipped her coffee and leaned back against the kitchen benchtop. He was flirting. Subtle and unobtrusive, but flirting nonetheless.

She hid her small smile in the rim of her cup.

Things seemed to have moved forward since the barbecue. He’d been attentive, friendly, and helpful that whole afternoon. It was as if he’d made some kind of decision and chosen his course of action.

She hoped like hell she was right.

“I’d better go.”

He sipped from his mug. “Can I grab one of your keep cups to have this on the go?”

She hoped her disappointment wasn’t plastered across her face. “You can’t stay?”

He reached past her to place the mug back on the benchtop, but this time slowly, taking his time.

He was so close. She wanted to turn her head and lick him from jaw to cheek.Thatmight get a fast response. She held herself still. Even the air seemed to be holding its breath.

He stopped in front of her, only inches away.

Too far.

He leaned in. His lips were so close to her ear that a shudder shook her from nape to heel. He lingered; the heat of him drew her closer, seeking it out, desperate to sink into it.

“I have to stop past Gabe’s. He’s expecting me.” His whispered words turned the shudder to shivers.

The air moved and his lips brushed over her cheek, leaving a trail of fiery heat in their wake as he drew back slightly.

Hell, yes!

She forced herself to breathe and drew more of him inside her. She touched his chest, his thick work shirt separating her palm from the heated skin she was so desperate to touch.

The brush of his mouth became heavier. Goosebumps erupted along her arms.

His lips touched the corner of hers. She gasped and turned her head the smallest amount.