The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles 1)

"I don’t know. Kind of a cad, you know? A guy who’d bed a woman without knowing her."

"Seems I recall the whole thing was your idea, sugar. Who was I to say no?"

"You’re right." Holly couldn’t deny it. That night had been her idea. She’d used him, really. It hadn’t been a nice thing to do. "I’m sorry."

He grinned. "You hear me complainin’?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Sugar, the only complaint I have is that you left without saying good-bye. I wanted to see you again."

"Like I said, Jack, I was in a bad place then. I needed something. Someone. You were there and you gave me a nice memory. It meant more than you know."

"I don’t want to be a memory, Holly. I want to see you."

"I’m too old for you."

"That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard."

"It’s not dumb. You’re just starting out in life, and I’m—"

"For Christ’s sake, Holly, you’re forty. You’re not dead!" He looked around and lowered his voice. "I got a bigger bang out of being with you than I’ve ever had with a woman. I haven’t been able to get

you out of my mind. Yeah, the sex was great. It was earth moving. I won’t lie to you. I want more of it. But I want to get to know you, too."

"Now you know me. I’m Holly. I’m forty. Single, never been married. I’m a lawyer who wants to draw. Enough said."

"Why don’t you want me?"

Holly’s mouth dropped open and she stared at his chiseled face. "Are you serious?"

"Well, something’s keepin’ you from seein’ me again."

"It’s...it’s the age thing, Cowboy." She swallowed. "That’s all."

"Not good enough, sugar." He stood and tossed his empty coffee cup in the nearby wastebasket. "We’re going out tonight."

"Jack, I have class."

"Mark doesn’t have a class tonight."

"It’s not Mark’s...er, Professor Fleming’s class. It’s a different class. Conceptual drawing."

"Skip it."

"No. Drawing is my passion. I don’t want to skip it."

"I’ll make it worth your while."

"Damn it, Jack. Why are you so determined?"

"I do whatever I can to get what I want, sugar. Right now, you’re it."

Holly sighed. "Tomorrow night?"

"Don’t want to wait. But tomorrow it’ll be, if that’s what it takes. The day after, I pick up Sam from my mom’s and my time’ll be more limited." He grinned. "In fact, tomorrow’s perfect."

"Perfect?" What did he have in mind? And why did tomorrow sound like it wouldn’t work? "Oh!" She clapped her hand to her mouth. "Tomorrow’s no good. I have to go to Professor Fleming’s—"