A Cowgirl's Secret(54)

“You’re so lucky,” Jonah said to Kolt. “My parents never do anything this cool.”

“Yeah,” Kolt said, ambushing Luke with a monster-size hug. “I like my mom and dad a whole lot.”



“YOU’RE AWFULLY QUIET,” Daisy said to Luke halfway to the Grange hall.

“To tell you the truth,” he said, tightening his grip on the wheel. “I’m having a tough time keeping it together. Kolt’s hug was epic.”

“There’s plenty more where that came from,” she said with an impromptu squeeze to his right hand.

“I can’t wait. It’s funny, but I can’t remember life without him. In such a short time, Kolt has come to mean everything to me.”

“I’m glad—for both of you.” Luke’s words served as a powerful aphrodisiac. Daisy had never adored him more.

By the time they reached the party, it was already in full swing. There were witches and a Dolly Parton and a giant purple crayon. Meeting up with many of their old high-school friends was fun, but also hard. Daisy lost count of the number of times she was asked where she’d been. An equally hot topic was how she was coping with being back in the same town as Henry. Honestly, what made people think she’d want to discuss something like that on a night designated for fun?

“Daisy!” her old chemistry lab partner, Tammy, squealed. She’d squeezed into her cheerleading uniform and her husband, Blake, wore his Weed Gulch football jersey. “Oh, my God, when we heard about what y’all’s ranch foreman did to you, we were amazed Dallas hadn’t shot him dead. How in the world are you coping?”

Daisy reached for Luke’s hand, his support. “It’s been tough, but I’m getting by.”

“I was so tickled to hear y’all are finally getting married. My mom says you’re having another baby and that’s why you bought the old Peterson place.”

Wow. Daisy wasn’t sure where to start on damage control.

“Your mom must really get around,” Luke said with his most charming smile over blaring country music. “Daisy and I didn’t even know we were having another baby, let alone getting married.” He winked. “We did know she bought a house, though. It kind of matches my costume.”

After taking a moment to process his dig, Tammy’s smile faded. “You don’t have to be rude, Luke Montgomery.”

“But I’m so glad he was.” Daisy stood on her tiptoes to give her favorite ghost a kiss on his cheek.

While their old friend flounced off, Luke asked, “Want to get the hell out of here?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

They were quiet all the way to Luke’s cabin. It was chilly, so Luke started a fire.

Daisy scrounged in his kitchen for a bottle of wine.

“That’s better,” he said after scrubbing off his white face paint and sitting next to Daisy on the sofa. “Want music?”

She shook her head. “I like the fire’s crackle.”

“I can’t stop myself from liking you.” They kissed, drank wine, kissed more until Daisy felt as loose and hot as the flames. How many years had she longed for just this, and now it felt as if her every dream were on the verge of coming true.

“Does the small-town gossip bother you?” Luke asked, skimming her palms with his thumbs, in the process shooting pleasurable tingles through her body.

“Not as much as what you’re doing.”

“I’m serious.” He stopped to cup her face, directing her focus on him. “Tammy’s own personal rumor mill had to sting. How are you coping?”

Daisy shrugged. Some days were better than others. “Aside from keeping Kolt from you, I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Day by day, I’m learning to deal,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Time for you to forgive yourself.”

His words acted as a balm to her soul. Ten seemingly endless years she’d harbored such guilt and fear. To even think of letting it go filled her with such relief she wasn’t sure how to handle the overflow of emotion.

“I—I want to be with you,” she said, pressing her hand to his dear cheek. No matter what she’d told herself, she’d always wanted to be with him.

“You are.” He bowed his head to nuzzle her throat.

“Men…” Since he didn’t get her hint, she gave him a bonus clue and eased her hands under his T-shirt to drag it over his head. Pressing her lips to the warm skin of his pecs, she said, “How’s a girl supposed to get any action when her guy’s so dense?”