Take the Reins (A Cowboy's Promise #2) - Megan Squires Page 0,58

had slurped down over half and needed to pace itself.

“I absolutely can believe it. Don’t you remember, I was standing by your side while you delivered this very calf?” Josie said. “So how come you never pursued it?”

“It’s a ton of schooling, and a whole heap of money that I couldn’t really ask my parents for at the time.” He shrugged. “Anyway, that ship has sailed.”

“What if it hasn’t? What about starting out as a vet tech to see if it’s something you’d even enjoy. It would be a great way to get your feet wet before committing to vet school for the long haul.”

“That’s the thing. I know I would enjoy it. It’s just not my path. Not right now, at least.”

“So what is your path, Seth? Is it waiting around to see if your parents will give you a bigger piece of the family business? Because that doesn’t really sound like a path to me. It sounds like a road block.”

Josie spoke bluntly, but Seth respected that because the truth of the matter was, she was entirely right. He didn’t have a future at the ranch. At least not one that would ever end with his name on the deed.

“I’m sorry.” She must have sensed the doubt swirling in his eyes. “It’s not my place to talk like that.”

“Sure, it is. You’re my pretend wife, remember? You should get some say in my pretend future.”

“If all of this were real and I actually did have a say, I would tell you that you’re worthy of chasing after your own dreams, Seth. Just as worthy as anyone else.”

“And I would tell you that you’re worthy of love, forgiveness, and happiness. More than worthy, even.”

Josie’s eyes had been fixed on the calf, but at those words, they flicked up to meet Seth’s. Without thinking, he leaned over and took her lips in a soft kiss, a move that was only vaguely familiar after their night together. In answer, she pressed closer, her full mouth against his. Seth chucked the calf bottle to the side of the stall and reached out to grasp the back of Josie’s slender neck to beckon her toward him, his heart ratcheting up to a drum line chorus pace. She met him move for move, her lips both frantic and firm as she crawled over to straddle his lap. She cupped his jaw in her hands and deepened the kiss in such a way that Seth had to repress the low noise that rumbled in his chest.

Kissing Josie was an exploration of his heart and hers, seeing how they responded to the other with their mouths and their movements. They were in sync in so many ways that weren’t just physical. Seth wondered if he had ever met anyone that did that to him before. Or if he’d ever meet anyone like that again once she was back on her feet financially and didn’t need to park on their land. Once she left the ranch—and Seth—for good.

That thought pulled him up to a full stop. His hands dropped from Josie’s waist.

Reading his hesitation, she slunk off his lap. “I’m sorry.”

“No. Please don’t be sorry. I started it. It’s just—I’m realizing the more I kiss you, the more I don’t want to stop.”

The calf wobbled over to Josie’s side and flopped down, and he let out a small moo when he draped his sweet head across her lap. She scratched the baby animal right behind its ears. “If it’s any consolation, I feel the same.”

“Yeah. I guess it is.” Seth jammed his fingers through his hair and raked his scalp. “I just don’t know what’s real and what’s not anymore, Josie.”

She took up his hand and placed it right above her heart. “I’m real.” She said, then moved their hands to the same spot on Seth’s chest. “And you’re real. That can only mean that all of this must be real, too.”

“And is that okay with you if it is? If it’s not all fake feelings and playing the part?”

“Yeah, Seth. It actually is.”

He kissed her cheek and dropped his head to her shoulder while his fingers unwound from hers and moved to pet the calf, stroking along its adorable little face. “I think I’m falling for you, Josie Friar.” His heart lodged in his throat with the brave admission.

“I go by Josie Ford now, remember?” she teased, never missing a beat.

Wouldn’t that be something?, was all Seth could think but this time, he kept that confession