Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(108)

Naked, obviously. But what else?


What else do you need? Wasn’t this deal supposed to be a way to prove that sex was separate from love and companionship?


Not love. Logically his need for companionship made the most sense on why he was so insanely crazy about her. He was missing his son and spending time with AJ was a substitute. The minute Ky arrived, things would be back to the way they’d been.


Wouldn’t they? Wouldn’t he be happy then?


Cord knew he shouldn’t be such a damn ostrich about this stuff, but he wondered if the “out of sight; out of mind” adage would hold true once AJ was gone.


He piled food on a tray and carried it upstairs. AJ was lying on her side, breathing evenly. “AJ? I made lunch.”


“What?” She scrambled upright. “Where am I?”


“You fell asleep in my bed.”


“Oh. Wow. How long ago?”


“Little more than an hour. You hungry?”


AJ stretched. “Always. What’s on the menu?”


“Cold cuts. Cheese. Fruit. Nothin’ fancy.”


“Sounds good. Do you have a robe I can borrow?”


“A robe? What the devil do you need a robe for?”


“I don’t want to sit in the kitchen naked.”


He grinned. “Who said anything about eatin’ in the kitchen? I brought you lunch in bed.”


“Aren’t you worried about crumbs?”


“No. We’ll do a number on the sheets anyway.” Cord scooted closer and plucked up a grape from the tray. “Open.”


Her gaze narrowed thoughtfully on the piece of fruit. “Are you gonna smear condiments all over me again?”


“Would that be so bad?”


“No. I just wish I could’ve taken a turn.” She scrutinized the tray. “Where are the cookies?”


“What cookies?”


“Exactly. Lunch isn’t lunch without cookies.”


“You sound just like Ky,” he said dryly.


“Ky is a boy after my own heart.”


A tiny stupid flare of jealousy appeared: Cord wanted to be the man after her heart.


You could be. Just take the chance. Admit this is long past a simple roll in the hay.


“Your son and I even have the same favorite cookie.”


“Peanut butter kisses?”


“Yep.”


Cord leaned closer. “I don’t have any peanut butter kisses. How about a real one instead?” He granted her a quick peck and dangled a fat green grape above her lips.


“Open up.”


AJ sucked the grape from his fingers with deliberate sensuality, which made his dick stir. “This makes me feel like a lady of leisure. Laying in this soft bed. Having a hot guy hand feed me. You have palm fronds hidden somewhere too?”


“Hot guy. Right. You mean old guy.”


“So you have a few years on me. Hasn’t kept you from keeping up with me.” She purposely looked at his groin.


“True.”


“It’s never mattered to me.” Her serious gray eyes searched his. “Do you remember the time I fell off my horse? When I was five? And you picked me up, wiped my tears and calmed me down?”


Cord frowned. Didn’t ring a bell. “You gonna be upset if I say no?”