The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles 1)

Holly lurched forward and steadied Sam against her. "You do as Luisa says," she told him. "Take it easy. Rest. There’ll be time for walking on your crutches once you’re a little stronger. I’ll go say hi to your daddy."

"Okay."

She helped him to the couch in the front room, then whisked past Luisa and out the front door.

Jack stepped from his pickup, her painting in his hand.

Suddenly shy, she slowed to a snail’s pace. But when he lifted his lips in that gorgeous smile, she ran into his arms.

He placed the painting on the ground, leaning against a front tire, and embraced her with strong and muscular arms. She inhaled the crisp combination of sandalwood, spice, and man that was uniquely Jack, then sobbed against his shoulder.

"Shh," he whispered. "Don’t cry, sugar."

"When you didn’t answer my calls, I thought...."

He chuckled against her cheek. "Didn’t have a phone."

She sniffed. "Yeah, I heard. But you didn’t call me, either."

"No, I didn’t. I’m sorry."

She shook her head against his cotton shirt. "You don’t have to be sorry, Jack. All the ‘sorrys’ belong to me, I’m afraid. And I am sorry. About everything."

"I know." He pushed her away, just a bit, wiped a tear from her cheek, and then tipped her chin upward with his finger. "I missed you."

"Oh Jack, I’ve missed you, too."

"I had some thinkin’ to do, Holly."

She nodded. "I understand."

He brushed his lips against hers. "I’ve never come so close to losin’ someone I love so much."

"I was so worried about Sam, Jack. That’s why I came out here. I...I wanted to see you, of course. I figured you might not want to see me. Still, I needed to know Sam was all right."

"He’s gonna be just fine."

"I’m so relieved. He’s a wonderful little boy."

"Gotta agree with you there."

She smiled and he kissed her again. Just a light brush of lips, but energy sizzled through her veins.

"So," she cleared her throat, "about that thinking you did?"

"I can’t lose Sam, Holly."

"I know that."

"And I can’t lose you."

Her heart fluttered. "I don’t want to lose you, either."

"Your age never made a difference to me. But I have to tell you, I did always think I’d have more kids."

Another tear meandered down her hot cheek.

"I did a lot of thinkin’ about that, while Sam was laid up in the hospital. He slept a lot, and I had all this time to play over all the scenarios of how my life might be. All kinds of things went through my mind, but Sam was always there."