Page 57 of Cowboy Mountain Man

Hope watches. Then looks at me. “I think that’s my job.”

“I think you’ve done enough of it.”

She comes back to my side. This time, when I offer my hand, she takes it without hesitation.

Alden’s eyes snag on that, narrowing. His jaw clenches, and anger flashes across his face. But he doesn’t upbraid. Doesn’t say a word. Instead, he sighs long and low, the tension evaporating with his breath. “That was your one pass, Harlan. Don’t fuck it up.”

My chest tightens.

Hope chuckles, her hand coming up to my heart. “Don’t worry, North. I won’t let him.”

He shakes his head slowly as he walks away.

“Guess I’m stuck with you if I want to keep my job,” I grumble.

“You have to figure out how to keep me first,” she answers with a wicked grin.

“Already working on that,” I say drawing her against me. My mouth drops, moving slowly over hers.

“Good start,” she says breathlessly.

Outside, the clouds are breaking. Sunlight reaches the wet leaves along the edge of the clearing.

Buck lifts his head when we approach. Hope stops beside him and puts one hand against his neck. “Hello, handsome.”

I look at her.

She glances back. “You’ve had plenty of attention.”

Buck lowers his head toward her shoulder. She laughs. A real laugh this time.

I want to keep that sound. I want it in my kitchen. On my porch. Beside me when I wake up.

Alden brings Black Maple around.

Hope turns toward it, then pauses. “My camera.”

“The deputies found it in the suspects’ pickup,” he says, eyeing me. “They’ll need to hold it for evidence.”

“Is it okay?”

“Looked intact.”

She exhales. “That’s good.”

I open the passenger door. Before she gets in, she turns to me. “You came.”

I cup her cheek. “Always.”

It’s a bigger promise than I intended to make. I mean every word.

She rests her hand over mine. “Good,” she whispers. Then she rises onto her toes and kisses me. Right there beside the black SUV.

In front of Alden, the sheriff’s deputies, and a horse with no respect for privacy.

I kiss her back.

When she pulls away, there’s color in her face again. I help her into the seat and fasten the belt because my hands need one more useful thing to do. Then I close the door.