The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles 1)

They didn’t say much, just held hands and watched the horseplay.

After half an hour, Luisa came out to collect Sam for bed.

"Go ahead, partner," Jack said. "I’ll be up to read you a story once you’ve had your bath."

"Can Holly read me my story tonight?"

"Sam, Holly’s our guest."

Holly warmed, pleased that Sam felt close enough to her to ask her. "I’d be happy to read to him, Jack. I don’t mind."

Jack’s smile heated her. God, she’d miss him—his raw male beauty, his amazing sexual prowess. But mostly she’d miss his gentleness, his devotion to his son, and his big heart.

"If you’re sure you don’t mind."

"Not at all."

"Okay." He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "After you’re done with Sam’s story, I have a special surprise for you."

"Oh you do?" She arched her eyebrows, hoping she could pull off a seductive look.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, sugar. Though I have plans for that kind of surprise as well. This is something tangible. And you’re gonna love it."

Chapter Ten

"It’s me, sugar."

Holly inhaled, her skin tingling, as she gazed upon the beautiful painting of the boy on the horse she’d wanted to buy at Professor Fleming’s exhibit. She and Jack stood in his small den which was next to the kitchen. The canvas sat upright on a camel-colored leather sofa.

"That’s why it wasn’t for sale. It belongs to me. I loaned it to Mark for the showing. He painted it when I was six, just Sam’s age. I want you to have it."

She gasped as tiny tingles raced across her flesh. He was giving it to her? Something so precious? As much as she adored the painting, she couldn’t take it. It wouldn’t be fair, not when she wouldn’t be sticking around.

"Jack, I can’t accept it. It’s something special from your godfather to you."

"But I want you to have it. I saw the way you looked at it. You have an appreciation for it that I can never share. I mean, it means a lot to me because it’s from Mark, but you understand the art. What he was tryin’ to convey. To me it’s just a pretty painting."

"How can you say that? Okay, maybe you’re not that into art, but he painted it out of love for you. Can’t you see it? It’s all right there on the canvas. This is more to you than a work of art, Jack. Much more."

"I understand that. Honestly, I do. And I want to give it to you."

"But that means...."

"It means you mean a lot to me, too."

Holly’s heart dropped to her tummy. God, she loved this man. She was so head over heels in love she couldn’t tell up from down. But as much as she loved him and as much as she adored the painting, she couldn’t accept it. To do so would be to perpetuate a lie, a lie she’d already been perpetuating far longer than she should have. She knew better. She and Jack had no future and it was time to tell him why.

A tear trickled down her cheek. She’d lose him today.

Forever.

His long finger wiped the tear from her face. "What’s wrong?"

"It’s a beautiful painting, Jack. And even more beautiful is the sentiment behind it and the fact that you want me to have it."

"You’re beautiful, Holly. The most beautiful woman I know, inside and out."

But he didn’t know her inside. That was the problem.