He sent another quick text to Etta, telling her he and Hailey were running a little bit behind, and she responded that they could take their time. With her, he didn’t want to take his time. He found himself wanting to accelerate the relationship, and his mind drifted along the road that led him and Etta to his back porch, under the moonlight, sharing a kiss.
Twenty minutes later, he crouched down in front of Hailey. “I’ll be back before midnight, probably. Oakley says they’re not staying the whole time. You do whatever she says, ya’hear?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He glanced at Etta, who smiled at him. “Etta says you can sleep in her bed until we get back. You got your pj’s?”
“Mm hm.” Hailey put her arms around August’s neck and hugged him. “I’ll be okay. Go have a good dinner.”
He pressed his eyes closed and smiled. “Okay, sweets. Love you.”
“Love you too, Daddy.”
With her cute Texas twang in his ears, he straightened and reached for Etta’s hand. It was the first time he’d shown any affection toward her in front of anyone, his daughter included, and a blip of nerves pounced through him.
Her grip was firm in his, and that gave him strength and courage to head for the front door. “Bye, Range,” she said, pausing briefly to give her brother a quick kiss on the cheek. “Tell Oak thanks too.”
“Will do. Have fun,” he said, and with that, August and Etta spilled out of the homestead. Alone. Hand-in-hand. Free.
August felt more free in that moment than he had in four, long years, and a sigh of contentment and gratitude streamed from him.
“Okay?” Etta asked, and August nodded.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m okay.” They went down the steps together, and August went right over to the passenger door of his truck, telling himself not to be embarrassed by it. Etta had ridden in the old thing before. She hadn’t commented on it at all, and it was a good, reliable vehicle.
He opened the door and stepped back. Etta crowded right into his chest, one palm flat against his pulse and the other hand curling up and around the back of his neck. “Thank you for telling her about us. I’m excited for what this new year will bring.”
August wanted to say something sweet and romantic. Maybe something teasing and playful. He had no idea what, on either front, and all he could think about was kissing this gorgeous woman who’d come into his life and thrown him a lifeline. A way back to real living. A chance to love again.
“Etta,” he whispered, and because it was wintertime, the sun had already set, casting them in near-darkness. The next thing he knew, he’d leaned down far enough to meet her mouth with his, and entire waves of heat rolled through him, over him, and around him.
His hands came up to cup her face, holding her where he could kiss her, and kiss her, and kiss her. In fact, kissing Etta Glover was the only thing August wanted to do for a good, long time. Thankfully, she seemed to like the idea, and she kissed him back with as much energy as he gave.
Chapter 14
Etta had never been kissed the way August kissed her. His large hands held her face so lovingly, and while they’d only met about three months ago, it felt like she’d been waiting her entire life for a kiss like this.
She breathed in through her nose, trying to commit every moment of this intimate moment to memory. She enjoyed the scent of him—clean, crisp, and cowboy. She pulled on his warmth. She could not stop herself from kissing him again and again.
He finally had the willpower to break the kiss, and they breathed in together. In the past, Etta had giggled and smiled shyly after a first kiss. She’d ducked her head, too embarrassed to look the man she’d just kissed in the eyes. She’d pulled away and stepped away when it had been bad.
This had been the opposite of bad, and she wasn’t embarrassed or shy. She raised her eyes to August’s to find him watching her, and the moment between them lengthened. A charge hung in the air, and Etta hoped it would never leave.
“I really wasn’t going to do that,” August whispered, his eyes drifting closed as he leaned close and pressed his lips right against the corner of her eye.
“I’m glad you did,” she whispered back. “I’ve been thinking about kissing