Page 15 of Lost and Found Cowboy
It had been seven years since she’d kissed anyone other than Lyle—and she couldn’t remember ever feeling this way with him. Ever feeling this way withanyone.
Heart pounding, stomach churning, heat rushing through her body as sweat formed in the small of her back—she was terrified and excited at the same time, exhilarated while also feeling a bit like she might throw up.
And it was wonderful.
It lasted only a second—surely not long enough for those millions of emotions and sensations to run through her—and no way could it have been long enough for her to already miss the feeling…but she did.
He pulled back, but notaway, the barest space between his lips and her skin. She couldn’t move, could barely breathe, anticipation coursing through her as she waited to see if he would kiss her again.
What if he does? Do I want him to kiss me again?
Will I die if he doesn’t?
Or if he does?
She could still feel the barest traces of his lips against her skin. His breath caressed her cheek as time seemed to stand still.
Was he waiting for a sign from her? Waiting for her to give him any kind of indication that she wanted more.
She’d already told him she wanted to be friends. She was a mess…he’d witnessed,and cleaned up, just a small slice of the chaos of her life. She didn’t have time—or hell, even the energy—for one more thing in her life. Max and Izzy and running a business and a house took everything from her.
So, why hadn’t she pulled away?
She wasn’t sure who moved. It could have been him...or her...or both at the same moment. All she knew—all shefelt—was the brush of his lips against hers, a soft graze, this time fully against her mouth, not just the corner.
A tiny gasp escaped her, a small shuddering breath before his lips pressed to hers, capturing the rest of her exhale, taking in her breath as if it were his own.
She melted into him, her bones dissolving as his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer to him and keeping her from sinking into the floor.
“I got Izzy down and thought I’d make us a cup of tea,” Gertie’s voice came from the stairwell.
Lorna pulled back. Fast. Stepping back as if his body were on fire.
“Oops, sorry,” Gertie said, stepping into the living room, seeing them then turning to head into the kitchen. “Didn’t mean to interrupt. Pretend I’m not even here.”
Mack offered her a sheepish grin. “I guess I should go. Be sure to text me about how Izzy’s doing tomorrow. Good night, Lorna.” He retrieved his cowboy hat from the side table and gave her a nod before putting it on his head and slipping out the door.
She touched her fingers to her lips—surprised to feel the tremble in them—as she watched him amble across the grass to where his pickup was parked.
Wrapping her arms around her middle, the scent of him still surrounding her, she felt something inside her shift. An ache she’d buried a long time ago resurfacing. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted to embrace it or push it back down again.
The reception had ended,and the guests were gone by the time Mack got back to the ranch. Ford, Elizabeth, Dodge, Maisie, and a few members of the band were the only ones left when Mack walked into the large white tent.
Two golden retrievers, one russet and one yellow, came loping toward him, their furry butts wagging with excitement. Dixie, the red one, belonged to Ford, and Murphy, the English Cream, was Chevy’s dog. Mack crouched down to receive the puppy love, wanting to believe that the dogs remembered him. But the goldens seemed to love everyone.
“Hey, how’s Izzy doing?” Elizabeth asked, as the two couples, who were stacking chairs and packaging leftover food stopped what they were doing and crossed to him.
“Is Lorna okay?” Maisie asked.
“Yeah, they’re all good,” Mack told them. “The doctor gave Izzy some antibiotics for the ear infection, but they’re home now. The kids were asleep, and Miss Gertie was still there when I left.”
“That’s good,” Ford said, as Dixie circled his legs then dropped at his feet.
“Where’s Moose?” Mack asked Dodge, referring to his giant black Bernese Mountain dog.
“We left him at Maisie’s,” Dodge said.
Maisie laughed. “But we promised to bring him some brisket.” She pointed to the takeaway aluminum tubs stacked on one of the tables. “Which shouldn’t be a problem. We’ve got enough food left to stock Duke’s fridge and for each of us to take some home.”
