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“Okay. But what made you want to read about cowboys?”
“The one I’m reading now is part of a series, and if I’m being honest, I was originally swayed by the cover of book one.”
“Oh? What did it look like?”
“I’m sure you’ve seen similar before… a muscular man, in jeans and a t-shirt, with a cowboy hat on. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as romance novels go, and just as unrealistic as the contents.”
I nod my head, picturing the type of book, of which we stock several… although a lot of them don’t bother with the t-shirt.
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of escapism… although I’m not sure how or why discovering that would have stopped you from dating.”
“It didn’t. The problem was, I never had a moment to call my own. Between studying, working and helping my mom, there was no time for boyfriends.”
“What about at high school? There must have been someone back then. Surely?”
She shakes her head. “The boys in high school always seemed so immature.”
I lean down so my lips are just touching hers. “At least you can’t accuse me of that.”
“No.”
“Do you think we should sit up and eat this picnic?” Before I’m tempted to kiss you again.
“I guess. But I kinda like lying here on your couch.”
“I kinda like you lying on my couch, too.” I kiss her forehead, just to be safe, and then kneel up, pulling down my shirt, to hide my erection. She notices, her teeth nipping at her bottom lip, but she doesn’t comment, and I help her sit before joining her. “Of course, now you know where I live, you can come over any time you like,” I say, leaning in to her.
She turns her head. “You mean that?”
“Of course.”
“So, you wouldn’t mind if I came by after work tomorrow? It probably won’t be until around six or six-thirty, by the time I’ve got home, showered, changed my clothes, done the laundry, and caught up with my schoolwork, but…”
I can’t help grinning. “Hey… I don’t mind when you come over.”
She nods her head and rests against me, waiting until I put my arm around her before she says, “Thank you, Tanner.”
“What for?”
She looks up, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “For giving me a fantastic excuse not to finish unpacking my books.”
“Why, you…”
I push her back down on the couch, drowning her squeals and giggles with a long and lingering kiss.
Chapter Eleven
Zara
“Give me that!”
“Stop it, Alexander. There’s enough for everyone. You just need to share.” He grabs the leaves from in front of Skye and glares up at me, defying me to argue with him. “Put them back,” I say, hardening my voice.
He tilts his head, but makes no move to return the leaves to Skye, who’s a very pretty little girl with dark hair. She’s painfully shy, and I guess that makes me even more protective of her, although Alexander’s attitude isn’t helping, and I glance at Margot, uncertain what to do. She’s busy with some of the other children and hasn’t noticed my predicament, but even if she had, this is my classroom, and I guess I need to make the rules.
“If you can’t join in like everyone else, you’ll have to sit at the back of the classroom by yourself.”
His shoulders drop. “But we’re making pictures.”
