Page 44 of Cowboy Mountain Man

“From your room. He had the owner meet him.”

I look toward the little duffel beside the door. Fresh clothes. My own toothbrush. Civilization.

“I could kiss him.”

Harlan’s eyes narrow.

I smile into the mug. “Jealous maybe?”

“As jealous as you were of June.”

That gets a gasp out of me.

“You think I didn’t notice?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow.

“I hoped you hadn’t.”

He sits on the edge of the bed, cupping my cheek. “I like you jealous.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Lets me know you feel it, too.”

I look down at the tangled blankets. “I think I’ve given you plenty of better clues.”

“True,” he says with a broad smile. “But that was the first one.”

For a moment, neither of us speaks. In daylight, the cut along his shoulder looks angrier than it did last night.

I touch the edge of the bandage beneath his sleeve. “How is it?”

“Fine.”

“I’m going to start grading your answers.”

“Still fine.”

I study his face. He lets me. Then his hand closes around mine. “Any regrets?”

“No.”

The answer is easy.

His thumb moves over my knuckles. “Good.”

“How about you?”

“No.”

Also easy.

I lean forward and kiss him again. This time, he lets it last. Then his phone rings.

I sigh against his mouth. “I dislike your coworkers.”

“So do I.”

But he answers.