Page 64 of Risking it for the Cowboy

He glanced out at the countryside, rolling his lips together and rested his arms on her shoulders as his fingers idly plucked her hair.

“I’ve never dated,” he admitted.

“You’re so full of it, Thad.” But her smile fell when she looked up to meet his serious gaze. “You’re … not joking…” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, as he cleared his throat. “You? You’ve never had a girlfriend?”

He readjusted his hold to tug her hips tighter to his belt buckle, chuckling uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, it might just surprise you,” he enunciated as if he was about to enlighten her to the secrets of the world, “that girls don’t take me seriously too often. I mean, who gives the disowned flunk out a commitment? It ain’t like the girls have been beating down my door for a wedding ring.”

Her smile fell. Disowned? She touched the divot in his cheek contemplatively. He cleared his throat again and stretched his neck up, scouring his jaw.

“Is he gone?” Daisy’s thin, distant voice sounded as feet creaked down the stairs.

*

Charlie yanked away, T.R. jolting forward at her unexpected severance.

“God, I don’t want her to see me crying,” she whispered, trying to hide her face and clearing her throat as she pushed a smile into her voice. “Yes, baby, he’s gone!”

He dipped his head to get a read on her face. He pushed away the mist in her eyes with the pad of his thumb, as if hardwired to touch her.

“Were you guys … kissing?” Daisy asked, face peering through the cracked screen door.

“Daisy, listen,” Charlie hurried, squatting down and cupping her cheeks, as if they’d been caught doing something wrong. “We were just, I mean, Thaddeus and I were deciding if we, uh—”

“Yes,” he said, reaffixing his Stetson.

He arched a brow down at her.

No need to pussyfoot around the issue. They’d been caught, and he didn’t regret it.

His eyes bounced back to Daisy. “Is that okay, Daze?” he asked, his blue eyes pinned on Daisy even if the question was for Charlie. His skin tingled at what her answer might be. “Is it okay if I kiss your momma and take her out?”

Charlie’s face burned in his periphery, as she bit her plush lip. To date her was a helluva step toward more serious than he’d ever been. Dating required honesty, and yet, the conviction only strengthened at the thought. Out playing music. Out for tacos. Early mornings nursing coffee together, or evenings cooking out, or Fourth of Julys spent with sparklers, lying on his tailgate overlooking the escarpment watching fireworks, his house turned into a home…

He swallowed, then also squatted down, resting his forearms on his knees as he looked at the girl standing before them with her unicorn sundress and twin buns. “You can say no, and I’d understand—”

“Yes.” Daisy threw her arms around his neck. “But only if you treat her nice. Because I want her to be happy.”

Did Daisy think she wasn’t? Can Daisy see that you aren’t, Flower Girl?

He enfolded her in his arms and stood, Daisy’s arms and legs cinching him. And then, he reached a hand down to her and pulled Charlie up, into the embrace. Just like he had at the carnival.

The three of them together. His arm around her shoulders, hooking her neck close, and both their others around Daisy between them. Finally, Daisy wiggled to be let down.

“Go clean up the tools, Daisy May, and make sure Pumpkin has fresh water. Everything’s fine now.” Charlie cupped her cheek. “I’ll finish getting dinner ready.”

“Aw, I don’t waaant to clean up,” Daisy moaned.

T.R. grabbed one of Daisy’s buns and wiggled it, nodding toward the door. “Listen to your momma, Daze. A good chicken coop builder always cleans up after a project.”

Daisy scampered back inside as his phone buzzed a reminder notification against his thigh.

“Thanks for that. Uh…” Charlie smiled tentatively at him, licking her lip as if she could still taste him on the swollen flesh, when she whispered with such visceral distress, “Don’t break Daisy’s heart.”

He brushed her lips, staring at them, as her words sank in. “I think what you mean is, don’t break yours.”

She cleared her throat and glanced askance.

“You better answer your cell. It’s been buzzing all day.”