A Cowboy To Kiss

She squinted as they stood out in front of the horse barn, the sun blazing down on them like a spotlight in an interrogation room.

“Let me get this straight. Just how long do you intend to hang around here?”

“As long as it takes.”

“As long as it takes for what?”

“For you to smile at me.”

She flashed him a great big pearly white smile. “How’s that?”

“Pathetic. My horse has a more genuine smile.”

“Your horse doesn’t know any better. You’re the hand that feeds him.”

“Is that what you want? Food? ’Cause if you do, I’m a great cook.”

She stepped in closer to him, narrowing her eyes. “Is there anything you can’t do, Jake Scott? Or are your virtues boundless?”

Teasing Kenzie had always been fun, but now that they were both adults, he had to admit, he liked it even more. His dad liked to tease his mom the same way. He always said it acted like a barometer. If his mom interacted with him, and got all riled up, he knew she still liked being with him. The day she stopped reacting was the day he’d start worrying.

So far, his dad didn’t have a care in the world...except maybe which of his sons would take over the ranch. Jake knew it would most likely be him, but for some reason, he hadn’t really made that clear to his dad...yet. He didn’t want to step on any toes in case one of his two brothers wanted the glory for himself. But so far, neither one had stepped up to the plate.

“Pretty much boundless,” he told her, knowing it was total baloney. Lately, ever since his divorce, he couldn’t seem to do the most menial of chores. He’d burn all his food, pound and poke his fingers whenever he’d try to mend a fence or build something. Forget to order hay and have to buy it locally paying almost twice the amount. The list was endless. He’d been so distracted with his own thoughts that whatever he tried to do wouldn’t get done. Even his brothers had mentioned it to him, and Lucas had tried to pick up the slack.

And his parents...well, they just worried.

But since he’d gotten the phone call from Henry asking him to come on down for a spell, his whole attitude had begun to change.

And sparring with Kenzie seemed to pick up his spirits even more.

She threw him an eye roll. “You really are full of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Just telling the truth.”

“Oh, you always did infuriate me.”

He thought about his dad’s barometer and smirked. “And you always tempted me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Tempted you how?”

“To kiss you.”

He leaned in, thinking maybe all her bluster was a prelude to that alley cat lover hidden inside, but she shoved him away with both hands, and he nearly fell right on his butt in the process.

“Let’s get one thing straight. I’m only tolerating your presence here because my dad invited you. I have absolutely no desire to get intimate with you on any level. Do you understand me? Or is that pig-headed brain of yours too ripe with self-adulation that you can’t understand the truth?”

That barometer was heading up toward the bursting point, and Jake loved every minute of it.

“I hear you loud and clear,” he said, trying his best to avoid showing the smile that tugged at his lips. “Now, where’s that guest cabin?”

* * *

THE CABIN WAS in worse shape than Kenzie had envisioned it to be. Not only was it filled with Carson’s things, but some of the furniture had water damage from an apparent open window and the wooden floor in front of the window had warped.