Courage (Heroes of Big Sky #1) - Kristen Proby Page 0,8

me, we executed a plan. It all came together.”

“But you had to take off of work.”

“And if that had been an issue, I would have said something. Tash, I’m not here because I feel sorry for you or something. The kids are my responsibility, too, you know.”

“But I’m not.”

“Aren’t you?”

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. She narrows her gorgeous dark eyes, and that sass she’s always been known for comes to the surface.

I much prefer the sass to the sadness.

“I don’t need you to save me, Sam Waters.”

“No, ma’am.” I chuckle and shake my head. “Absolutely, not. But I can be here because I want to be, can’t I? If not, just tell me to get lost. It’ll wound my ego, but I’ll survive.”

“You can be here anytime you want,” she says with a laugh. “I just don’t want you to feel obligated. I know we’re co-parenting the twins. And that’s awesome because I couldn’t do it by myself.”

“You could. But you don’t have to.”

She licks her lips. “Do you remember that one time when I was twenty and supposed to go out with Monica, but when I got to the house, she had already left for a date with Rich? There was a lot of miscommunication, and you were there for something. I forget what.”

“I was fixing my parents’ sink,” I reply, remembering that night vividly. “And you were so disappointed that Monica had left, so we hung out.”

“And you kissed me.”

Hell, yes, I’d kissed her. She was so sweet and pretty.

“And you put on the brakes. Said Monica would kill you. And I came to my senses because you’re almost ten years younger than me.”

She nods, remembering that night.

“I had such a horrible, painful crush on you,” she admits softly.

I knew. Of course, I knew. From the time she was in middle school, Tash watched me with lovesick eyes.

“But then we grew up,” I add. “And you started dating Jeff Slimeball.”

“Jeff Simpson,” she says with a laugh. “He wasn’t a slimeball. A little weird, maybe. He moved to Seattle. Last I heard, he and his husband are quite happy together.”

“Good for him.” I lean closer to her. “You have a little something right here.”

I brush the tip of my finger over the corner of her mouth. Of course, I lied. There’s nothing there.

But I want to touch her so badly I ache with it.

“What was it?” she asks quietly.

“Nothing.” Her eyes narrow, but I only chuckle. “Your skin is so soft.”

“That’s what you said when I was twenty.”

I swallow and watch her lips move. “I want to be clear here, Tash. I’m attracted to you, though not because of the situation we’re currently in. I want to set that straight right now.”

“So noted. And appreciated.”

She watches as I lean in closer. I want to kiss her. I need to kiss her.

With the very tips of my fingers, I brush her dark locks off her cheek and over the soft crook of her ear.

She swallows and licks her lips.

Just as I’m about to lay my lips on hers, we hear, “Can I have some water?”

I sigh and glance to the right. Kelsey, looking tousled from sleep, holds her brown bear close to her chest.

“I’m thirsty,” she says.

“Sure, sweetie,” Tash says and stands from the couch. “And then right back to bed, okay?”

“Uh-huh,” Kelsey murmurs as she follows Tash to the kitchen.

I blow out a breath and rub my hands over my face.

What am I doing? Getting tangled up with Tash only adds more complications to the whole situation.

I need to keep my hands—and my lips—to myself.

I’m about to say just that when I hear the woman walking back down the hall toward me.

“You know, I was just thinking—”

Before I can finish the thought, she straddles my lap.

I have no choice but to cup that gorgeous ass of hers in my hands—finally!—and stare up at her, waiting.

“Don’t think,” she advises.

Chapter 3

~Natasha~

Sam’s hands grip my ass, those strong fingertips pressing firmly into the flesh beneath the denim of my jeans, and everything in me goes soft and just plain…wanton.

I’m crazy. I just straddled Sam as if I do it every day.

I’d like to do it every day.

I’ve wanted him for as long as I can remember, damn it, and he literally just admitted that he wants me, too.

So why shouldn’t I get a little forward and enjoy him? Push some of the doubt, sadness, and goddamn fear out of my mind—if only for a little