Page 170 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

“You knew that before you kissed me.”

She looked away, but she smiled.

I understood in that moment why she was scared. She’d been waiting for me to turn it into something bigger.

A question about what we were.

I wasn’t going to, not tonight at least. I hung the cord on the wall. “For the record.” She stiffened slightly. I waited until she looked at me to continue. “I’d like to do that again.”

The pink deepened. “But?”

“No but.”

Her expression shifted. “That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

I picked up the next cord. “If you want to kiss me again, I’m available.”

She stared at me in disbelief. “Available?”

“Very.”

A laugh escaped her.

A second later, something soft hit the back of my head. I turned as a work glove landed on the floor.

When I finally headed toward my truck thirty minutes later, the ranch still glowed behind us. Carson walked me out, keeping her distance a few feet away.

I opened the driver’s door. “Night, sweetheart.”

She rolled her eyes, even though she smiled at her nickname. “Goodnight, Beau.”

I got inside, hand on the lip of the door to shut it⁠—

“Beau,” Carson called my name. “I’d like to do it again too.” Then she turned and walked inside the barn. I sat there like an idiot, and looked out across Marigold Ranch. Orange lights ran along the fence where we’d kissed. Two weeks ago, the place looked like it was barely holding itself together.

Tonight, it glowed.

And somewhere along the way, I’d stopped coming here because Willow Creek needed volunteers. I came because Carson was here and despite her cold shoulder, I couldn’t stay away.

Chapter 23

CARSON

I had kissed Beau Jones.

That fact had been following me around for three days.

It followed me into the dairy barn every morning. Followed me through invoices and milk deliveries. Sat beside me during dinner with Meme. Climbed into bed with me at night, and waited until I closed my eyes before replaying the entire thing with enough detail that I could still feel the roughness of Beau’s thumb against my cheek.

And apparently, it followed me into Blueberry’s stall too.

“He kissed me,” I whispered to my best friend. Blueberry continued chewing and I leaned against the stall door. “Technically, I kissed him first.”

Still chewing.

“You could at least pretend to be surprised.” One ear flicked in my direction. I smiled and ran my hand along the white marking between her eyes.