Page 39 of September’s Cowboy Travis

“You were avoiding me with a fence.”

“That doesn't even make sense.”

“It made enough sense that you're arguing about the fence instead of answering me.”

The corner of his mouth moved, but not all the way into a smile.

I set my folder on a fence pot and put the pliers on top of them. “My audit being finished doesn't automatically end everything else.”

His attention stayed on me.

“I don't know what happens next,” I continued. “I'm going back to Bozeman because I live there and because I have work waiting for me. I'm also not going to make six-month plans after knowing you for a week just so we can pretend there aren't any unknowns.”

“That sounds reasonable.”

“I work hard at it.”

His mouth finally made it the rest of the way into a smile.

I flattened my palm against the front of his shirt. “What I do know is that I don't want this to end when I leave.”

Travis looked down at my hand, then covered it with his. “You sure?”

“Yes.”

His thumb moved across my knuckles and he smiled. Then his arm came around my waist, and I caught the front of his shirt as he pulled me closer. He leaned down to kiss me, and I lost track of everything else until my folder tipped sideways on the fence post and several pages started sliding toward the grass.

I broke away and caught them.

Travis laughed. “You’re very professional.”

“Oh, hush.” I shoved the pages back inside before Margaret Whitaker's century-old inheritance arrangement ended up under a cow.

Travis picked up the pliers but didn't go back to the fence. “When are you leaving tomorrow?”

“After I finish the report and check out.”

He looked toward the house, then back at me. “Stay here tonight?”

The invitation was simple. He didn’t try to convince me it would be easier or more convenient.

I lifted an eyebrow. “My car would be parked in the drive overnight.”

“People already talked.” He shrugged.

“And?”

His mouth curved.

“Let them.”

I smiled and set my folder more securely on the fence post. “Okay.”

When Travis reached for me again, I melted into him.

CHAPTER 9

TRAVIS