This Cowboy's a Keeper

by Kimberly Krey

  A spark of something new flared in Luke’s gorgeous green eyes—interest or maybe even surprise. “If that’s your dream,” he said, reaching out and taking hold of her sock-covered foot. With a small tug, he encouraged her to straighten her leg. “Then when do you plan to pursue it?” He pressed his thumb into the bottom of her heel, continuing the motion in a circular stroke. It felt amazing.

  She couldn’t help but get sidetracked by the action; it was something she’d expect from a couple who’d been together for years. Or at least months.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” Luke asked. “My dad always rubs my mom’s feet.”

  She shook her head. “No, it feels nice. Thank you.” She found herself relaxing further as he worked his way up the arch of her foot. “Let’s see, what was your question?”

  Luke chuckled low in his throat. “Your dream,” he hinted.

  “Oh, yes—when I plan to pursue it. Well, I guess I pictured working my way into that around the time I retired. You know, build a bigger name for myself in the design industry first. You know how people who want to go into, say, singing, don’t jump to doing it as their profession. They keep their day job, right?” She sighed, enjoying the feel of his thumb pressing just beneath her toes. “I guess that’s how I see it. Designing is my day job. And if I’m ever lucky enough, I’ll get to do my dream job someday.”

  He stopped rubbing for a blink. “You do know why people have to keep their day job, don’t you?”

  She gave him a sideways glance. “Because they shouldn’t be living in a world of fantasy. They need to stay grounded in the real world.”

  Luke shook his head just slightly as he replied. “Okay, that might be a tiny part of it. But the reason they need to stay grounded, as you call it, is because they have to support themselves somehow. And until they can do that with their dream, they can’t afford to go off doing things that aren’t making them money.”

  “Hmm. Yeah, I guess you’re right.” It made sense, after all. But it seemed, when she paused to think about it, that Luke might actually be looking for a way to get past what separated them. Like he was trying to imagine a scenario where she could fit into his Montana life. It was sweet. Perhaps he didn’t feel comfortable making out with someone night after night when there was no chance of a future.

  The idea caused an odd dart of guilt to sneak in. Payton had been so caught up in thoughts of his kiss that she hadn’t allowed herself to consider the possibility (or lack thereof) of having a real relationship. Of course, that’s where her feelings for him had started, though: fantasizing over the man in the picture. Of having a life with him.

  Luke moved to her other foot, his strong hands taking hold of it as he began to work over the ball of her left foot now. “I’m just saying that—unlike most people—you can afford to quit your day job, as they say. If you wanted.”

  She nodded. “I guess that’s true.” For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine how wonderful that might be. No pressures from her fashion team or PR rep or her relentless parents. She could ignore her phone all she wanted, return calls about venue availability at her leisure. She’d get to work with colors and themes for weddings. Rustic 18th century for one wedding, an elegant, whimsical theme for the next. “So what would your dream be?” It wasn’t just Payton trying to turn the tables; she was curious to see what he’d say.

  “I can honestly say that I’m already living it.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “I never wanted anything more than owning my own ranch. Living comfortably out here in the country. Open skies, horses to ride, and my family close by.” He pulled in a deep breath and sighed. “It’s everything I need.”

  She considered that, feeling envious in a way. Until another question came to mind. “So this picture—of your life—isn’t incomplete in some way?”

  The question caused him to stop rubbing again. “In what way?” The massage started up once more.

  “Well, did you intend to stay single your whole life? Or would you like to get married one day?” An unexpected knot formed in her chest. Sharp, like it might hurt to swallow or breathe. She froze as she awaited his response.

  “Some days I want that. Other days I don’t. Well, in honesty, most days I don’t.”

  Payton hadn’t taken so much as a breath; still, the knot seemed to jab her just the same. “Why not?”

  “I guess after the whole thing with Elizabeth, love hasn’t been the most desirable thing. I worry that a woman will do what she did. Or that maybe my feelings will be out of proportion this time, and I’ll be head over heels for a gal whose feelings will never get beyond lukewarm.”

  She sighed out a breath. “I could say the same thing, you know. I could decide that I don’t want to date anyone after what Archie did to me.”

  He lifted a brow. “Even though you didn’t love him?”

  “It was still a betrayal,” she snapped.

  “You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry. Maybe I’m kind of doing the same thing you are with your job. Picturing me settling into that once I’m old and gray. Thinking it’s not exactly living in the real world, I guess.”

  Payton set her gaze on the fire, pondering what Luke said. “You mentioned that, at least on some days, you do see yourself getting married. Like at a decent age, I’m assuming. What …” Her face filled with heat. “What brings that on?” Sure, she might be fishing, but she couldn’t help it. Now that Luke had opened the floodgates she wanted to test the water.

  She turned back to look at him, and was captured by the heat in his eyes.

  He held her gaze, answering the question before even saying a word. Her heart fluttered out of beat as she gulped, the moment stretching past measured time, reaching into something beyond the world of seeing and touching to believe. Still, the gnawing ache in her chest told her that it was more real than anything she’d known.

  Luke leaned closer, slid his hand up the back of her calf. “It hasn’t really happened until now.”

  Payton leaned in too, a thrill shooting through her chest at his confession. Something was happening between them. Something more than mere fantasy. Perhaps being here wasn’t the escape she’d been looking for. Maybe it was where she belonged.

  She reached out, wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, and pulled him in until his mouth was a breath’s space away.

  Luke pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, scooted closer, then kissed her again. Between kisses, he lay back on the couch, bringing her along with him in a whirl of wanting and needing to connect. Soon they were lying on a couch no wider than a single bed. Her heart felt like it might beat out of her chest. And as she ran a hand over the muscled contours of Luke’s solid chest, she reveled in the heated thumps beneath her palm, thundering like the hooves of a massive stallion.

  She thought his kiss had been mind-blowing before, but Luke had been holding back. It was evident in the teasing of his parted lips, the velvety touch of his tongue, and the magnificent push and pull of his kiss. Payton let out a soft whimper as their legs twined. And suddenly he moved his lips to her earlobe, teased it gently with his teeth, and then trailed kisses down the side of her throat.

  Time ticked on, but the euphoria remained. Slower, softer kisses one moment. Stronger, more intense kisses the next. And through it all, a small question nagged at the back of Payton’s mind: how would she ever walk away from this?

  Chapter 19

  “That’s good for now, you two,” Dee hollered as Luke steadied the ladder for Payton.

  “That’s what I keep telling her,” Luke said. “But when she gets going on something, there’s no stopping her.” The sentence triggered an image of their time together last night. One of many that had accompanied him throughout the day.

  “I’m just about finished,” Payton assured.

  “Still think you should’ve insisted on getting up there yourself,” Bob grumbled, joining his mom where she stood by the doorway.

  “Oh, a woman can scale a l
adder as well as any man,” Dee said. “Maybe even better.”

  Luke left that one alone. He’d already tried to talk Payton into letting him hang the hooks and draping the fabric, but she’d insisted she could do it just fine; he’d already hung the fixtures and she’d do the fabric, like they’d agreed. Besides, she knew right where each hook had to go in order to make the material “fall just right”—Payton’s words, not Luke’s. Who was he to argue? Especially when the place was turning out so great.

  “Pretty impressive.” His dad blew out a short whistle. “Guess you guys know what you’re doing after all.”

  “Of course we do,” Payton said as she climbed down the ladder. Luke stabled it with both hands as she trailed down the opposite side. At last her boots were in front of him, then her legs, and finally they were face-to-face between rungs of the ladder. “Thank you,” she said with a wink.

  “Where in the world did Taylor and Jason run off to?” Bob asked as he circled the place.

  “They’re hitting the club tonight,” Luke said. “Think one of them met a lady there, not that they’re dishing any dirt yet.” Luke followed his dad’s gaze to take in the job they’d done.

  Already the barn had been transformed from an old forgotten structure to an inviting, rustic work of art. Large, Old English chandeliers hung throughout the place, lighting the weathered wood with a golden, antique-looking light. The fixtures complemented the fabric Payton and Dee picked out, lighting each colorful piece with a heavenly sort of glow. He could hardly believe they’d been able to take a place so cold and vacant and turn it into such a warm and inviting space. Of course, women were good at that, weren’t they? Spreading God-like warmth wherever they went.

  “You done for now?” he asked as Payton stepped onto the barn floor and looked up at her work.

  Her eyes narrowed as she took a step back, and then another, her gaze fixed on the vaulted interior peaks of the structure. Gradually, she moved her focus to the other touches. A portable wet bar with dark leather lounge chairs stood nearby. Display tables were set up along the entrance, while serving and dinner tables waited in an area set up for dining. Stacks of chairs were lined against the far wall, ready to be set up as needed.

  “Yes …” she finally said. “This will do for now.” She grinned, lifted her shoulders nodded to Dee. “We did good.”

  Dee scurried over, her bronze earrings clanking as she moved, and tossed her arms around Payton. “Oh, we sure did, you sweet, talented girl.”

  Bob gave Luke a headshake. “All right, all right,” he grumbled. “Let’s get going. Only reason I came out here is cuz I’m hankering for my late-night snack.”

  “You know how to get your own snack, Pops,” Luke said.

  “Well, what if your mom is the snack? I want some of those kisses before I shut my eyes for the night.”

  Laughter broke out over the barn.

  Payton walked over and put an arm around the man’s back. “Fine, you can have her now, ya big baby.”

  Dee tipped her head back in a loud, exuberant chuckle. “Oh, she’s speaking your language now, Bob. Looks like you’ve met your match.”

  Bob shook his head, pulling Payton in for a hug that looked like he meant it. Like the kind he gave Pete and Mel and Ross’s wife, Rachel. He’d hugged Jason like that a time or two as well. A glad you’re part of the family type of embrace. The sight of it did something to Luke’s insides. He liked seeing Payton win over his family. Liked knowing that they were falling for her too.

  He considered that on the drive home, realizing how different the relationship was from what he’d had with Elizabeth. Sure they might have been young, but one thing about his first serious girlfriend (first and last, in truth) was that she hadn’t wanted to spend time with his family or friends. She hadn’t wanted to spend time with her own, either. Luke was all for enjoying a little alone time—heck, he and Payton had been making the most of their hours alone—but life was more than that. The women he loved needed to love and be loved by the important people in his life. Especially if she’d become the most important person in it.

  “You know what?” Payton said. “The eggs are supposed to hatch tomorrow. In fact, I guess they could start hatching today, even. Or the day after tomorrow, but if they actually hatch on day twenty-one, it’ll be tomorrow.”

  He liked the excitement in her voice. “I’m glad you’re here to help out with that. To have someone excited about it, the way Doug would be, it’s nice.”

  Still, with the darkness coming at them from every window of his truck, Luke couldn’t help but look forward to what lay ahead. And with Jason gone, he and Payton wouldn’t have to wait for the kid to go to bed before they met up in the front room. At the mere thought, Luke’s foot grew heavier on the pedal. He wanted her delicate frame close to his side, her warm hands on his chest, and her tempting lips against his.

  “When you climbed down the ladder,” he said, “I almost reached in and kissed you. In front of my mom and dad, even.”

  “That’s funny,” she said. “I had the same impulse. Guess we’re going to have to be careful.”

  Luke nodded, though he got stuck on what she’d said. Be careful for how long? Would what they had ever turn into something Payton didn’t have to hide? Sure, things were still new between them, and they weren’t even sure what exactly was happening. But at some point they had to decide if they had a future.

  He couldn’t help but cringe at the thought. Luke was in no hurry to force her hand. For now, he was happy to take it one day at a time.

  Back at the house, he helped Payton out of the truck and walked her up the stairs. The porch light created shadows that followed each step they made, but no one else was around. They had the place to themselves.

  “I’ll meet you out here in a few,” he said as he held the door open for her.

  Payton stepped inside, but stopped by the door until Luke joined her. She surprised him by planting a kiss to his lips. “See you in a few.” And then she was off, darting around the corner, the lovely red locks of her hair dangling down her back.

  Luke rushed into the bathroom, smeared toothpaste on his brush, and took it into the shower with him, washing up before the water even ran warm. He dried off in a hurry, got dressed even quicker, and—though he hadn’t bothered shaving—splashed a bit of aftershave on his neck.

  As he opened his door and moved toward the front room, thoughts of Payton’s kiss flooded his mind. It wasn’t until he’d set the fragrant logs in place that he heard her calling from the other room.

  “Oh my gosh, chicks! We have chicks! They’re hatching!”

  “They’re what?” But then he remembered. And if he were honest, it wasn’t what Luke would call good news. Why couldn’t they have waited until morning?

  “And some are breaking out of their shells right now,” she continued. “Oh my gosh …”

  Luke straightened up, charmed by the excitement in her voice, and headed toward the mudroom, where the incubator was kept. Payton’s wide smile caused the apples of her cheeks to catch the light. She tapped the glass slightly—absently, probably—as she counted under her breath.

  “Three, four, five. Okay, all but five have hatched. And two, no, three of those are already starting to crack and move. Oh my goodness, my heart is pounding so fast!”

  Dang, this was a cute side of her. “Yeah,” Luke agreed. “Mine too.” And his was—just for an entirely different reason. He dragged a chair from the kitchen table and rested it behind her. “Here’s this if you’d like to sit.”

  “Thanks,” she mumbled, her eyes still set on the chicks and eggs in the incubator. Once Payton was seated, Luke pulled up a chair for himself.

  “I read that they won’t be fluffy right off,” she mumbled, tilting her head as she observed. “I’ll be right back.” She darted out of the mudroom and disappeared around the corner.

  Luke set his eyes on the goings-on behind the glass. Nothing too exciting, as far as he was concerned. And
it definitely wasn’t what he’d had in mind for their night, but the delight Payton was getting from the experience was priceless.

  The familiar clanking of red-hot candies made him realize what she’d run off to get. Or perhaps he was wrong.

  “Here,” she said, shoving her phone into his hand. “It’s off, but would you mind turning it on, clearing the screen of any and all texts or voicemail alerts, and then hand it to me so I can take some pictures?”

  His brows scrunched. “You really are ignoring everything from home, aren’t you?”

  She slid a handful of candies into her mouth before nodding. “Yes.”

  Hmm. It was dumb, but Luke couldn’t help but feel flattered by her answer. Of course, the dumb part was that he couldn’t take credit for her sudden disinterest in a life that meant everything to her before she arrived. But he took pride in the fact that she found life here so fulfilling that she didn’t want anything else.

  Luke pressed a button on the side of her phone until it glowed to life. The light pink case reminded him of the pajamas she’d worn the night before. Tonight she wore something even more tempting, if that was possible: a loose nightshirt that hung off one shoulder, the deep blue color contrasting her fair skin beautifully.

  Luke cleared the home screen on her phone and pulled up the camera app before handing it to her.

  “Thanks,” she said, passing the box of Red Hots to him. “Have as many as you’d like,” she mumbled while positioning the phone’s camera up to the glass. “I’m going to text a few of these to Doug. He’s going to be so excited.”

  Payton didn’t know how right she was. “He sure is,” he agreed, before tossing a few candies into his mouth. Mmm. Tasted like those pretty lips of hers. As time stretched on, Luke realized the candy might be the only thing he’d be tasting that night. Still, he liked seeing this side of Payton. A caring, almost motherly side. Besides, it wasn’t every day folks got to witness such a thing.