Page 20 of October’s Cowboy Beau

“Yeah.”

“I’d like that in writing.”

His mouth twitched. “Do you always have to get the last word?”

“I coordinate events for a living. It’s practically a job requirement.”

“I thought the job requirement was telling people what to do.”

“That too.”

I slid the phone back into my pocket, expecting him to step away. Instead, he moved closer until I had to tip my head back to keep looking at him. My pulse picked up, and this time there was no loose wagon step to blame for it.

Beau’s eyes dropped to my mouth before lifting again. “You’re looking at me again. Just like yesterday.”

There wasn’t much point denying it. “I admitted it.”

His hand came up, but he didn’t touch me right away. His fingers hovered beside my jaw for a split second, long enough that I could have stepped back.

I didn’t.

His palm settled against my cheek. Warm and rough. The same hand I’d spent my whole evening editing and staring at. That thought should have embarrassed me.

I reached for the front of his jacket. Beau waited. I pulled him down.

His mouth met mine, and the first thing I thought as our lips touched was that I’d expected him to be careful. He was, but he also didn’t hesitate. He slid one giant hand behind my neck while the other settled at my waist, firm enough to bring me closer without making the choice for me. I went willingly, pressing my palms against his chest and feeling the solid heat of him under his jacket.

He didn’t rush the kiss. Just took his time like he didn’t have anything else to do beyond figuring out exactly what I liked. Going slow affected me so much more than rushing would have.

My fingers tightened in his jacket. He changed the angle and kissed me again, deeper this time. Heat simmered under my skin in spite of the cold air, and for several seconds the festival grounds disappeared.

There was no site plan, no food trucks, no vendor deadlines. Just Beau’s mouth and his hand at my waist pulling me close enough that I could feel exactly how much the kiss was affecting him too.

When his thumb moved once against my side, I made a sound I didn’t recognize.

Beau heard. His mouth curved against mine.

I pulled back just enough to glare at him. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You look like you were about to.”

He kissed me again before I could add anything else. Unfortunately, it was much shorter this time. But still enough to leave me clinging to his jacket for balance when he lifted his head.

I took a breath and looked toward the empty grounds, because looking at him wasn’t helping. “That was definitely not on my schedule.”

“Good.”

I turned back. Beau’s hand still sat at my waist, and for once I didn’t reach for the tablet. I didn’t have to. I already knew what it said. Two weeks until the festival, and then I was gone.

There was always an end date. This was the first time I could ever remember thinking that could be a bad thing.

CHAPTER 5

BEAU

Caroline set her tablet on the hood of her SUV like she was putting down a live grenade.