One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,34

that sense of hope and purpose that was rolled up inside the intoxicating attraction she had for him. He watched her expectantly, waiting for her to come out with what she wanted to say. “What if I came to the rodeo to see you?”

“Are you remembering something?” he asked carefully.

“No, not exactly. It’s just a feeling. I think my being in the road had something to do with you as well.” He frowned as she rushed on. “What if I was coming to see you that night? And then I had the flat tire?”

He looked thoughtful. “It’s possible.” Time seemed to pause as he caught her gaze. “Why do you think you were coming to see me?”

She swallowed. Here’s where it got tricky. “Well, I have no way of knowing for sure.” Her pulse was tapping out a fast beat against her neck. Her hands were clammy. She wondered if Jaxson could tell. “When you tripped on the rug and fell, it about ripped my heart out.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

Her eyes rounded. “You did. But the anguish I felt was more than just temporary fright.” Her voice quivered. She spoke fast to cover it up. “Thoughts rushed through my mind.” A shaky laugh escaped her throat. “I’m not even sure where they came from.”

Interest touched his features, but she also saw a trace of concern. “What thoughts?”

Tears rose in her eyes as she blinked. She cleared her throat in an attempt to get ahold of herself. Jaxson released her hand and touched her arm, rubbing it up and down in a comforting motion. “It’s okay. Just get it out.”

She nodded. “I’m not usually this emotional.” Realizing what she’d just said, she laughed. “Or at least, I don’t think I am.” She took in a deep breath. “Whew,” she breathed, fanning her face, “this is harder than I thought.”

“Take your time,” he said calmly. “We have all night.”

“Or at least until the doctor calls,” she retorted.

He grinned. “At least until then. Lemon, what is it?”

“Okay, I’ll just tell you.” She was at the point of no return. But whatever happened, at least she would know that she’d been honest. The words tripped over themselves, coming out in a heap. “I can’t lose you. Not when I’ve just now gotten you back.”

His eyes bulged. “Huh?”

Her cheeks flamed. “Those were my thoughts.” She rushed on. “I don’t know what happened to break us up. And, yes, we’ve lived separate lives for years. But I just can’t help but think that I regretted whatever happened.” Her voice broke. “Jaxson, the feelings I have for you are strong. They didn’t just come out of nowhere.” She groaned. “I’m not making any sense. I’m a wreck!” She looked down, feeling like a complete moron. His laughter caused her head to snap up. In a flash, heat blasted over her. With that heat came a scorching humiliation. “Seriously? You think this is funny?” She growled. “I bare my soul, and this is what I get? Forget everything I just said,” she barked as she moved to get up off the couch, as far away from him as she could get.

He caught hold of her arm. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I have feelings for you too.”

It took a second for his words to sink in. “Really?” she breathed.

“Really.”

That one word sent her heart soaring. An instant later, she came crashing back down to earth. “What about your women? Your playboy lifestyle?”

A devilish grin flitted over his lips. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”

“Of course I’m jealous,” she spouted. “I want my man to be invested in me.” She clenched her jaw. “Only me.”

A large, pleased grin split his face. In those beautiful, warm chocolate-brown eyes she saw playfulness, tenderness, a deep-abiding affection that would make her forge rivers and climb mountains for him. “Lemonade Massey, my heart has only belonged to one woman. I’m just glad she finally had enough sense to come back home and claim her prize.”

Lemonade? Had he always called her that? It was intimate, affectionate. She liked the sound of it on his lips. Laughter gurgled in her throat as her eyebrows shot up. “Claim my prize? You really are a Hotshot Cowboy.” His cockiness was unbelievable and wildly attractive.

“That’s what they tell me,” he drawled.

His eyes deepened with intensity as they moved over her face, stoking a smoldering ache inside her. “I’d forgotten,” he murmured, “how wonderful we are together.”

“So did I,” she sighed dreamily. A grin twitched