Sassy Cowgirl Kisses by Kathy Fawcett

Chapter 26

“Ipushed too hard,” Sassy said in the dark, confiding her closest thoughts to her bedroom ceiling. “With absolutely nothing to show for it.”

Except that…

She smiled at the memory of Ash putting his arm around her and pulling her close, nearly kissing her in the gallery. Sassy wanted him to. He was so close she could feel his warm breath, and her lips were more than a little anxious and electrified, anticipating his mouth softly connecting with hers. But Rowdy and that woman, Daisy, came tumbling out of the hallway office like a couple of frisky puppies and ruined the moment.

Would there be another?

“Focus, girl,” she said before rolling over and closing her eyes. She was getting too caught up in Ash, and forgetting everything else—like, the one reason she came to West Gorge in the first place.

“Dern antelopes.”

Freda drove them to work on Monday, slowing down for the wildlife who were prancing happily without regard to the ranch road or oncoming cars.

In the passenger seat, Sassy was distracted. She could spot the ranch house in the morning light as Freda turned away from it, towards the business offices. Sassy almost got inside, but Ash said maybe next time—when they were dressed for hiking.

Of course there would be a next time. Ash nearly kissed her by the paintings.

Thinking back, Sassy was confused. The day she found out who he was, she decided she’d kiss him if it would get her closer to the house and the family. She wasn’t proud of that, but Ash could be a means to an end.

Now, things were getting complicated and confusing.

Now, the kiss had become the goal; it was front and center in her thoughts. Nothing else seemed to matter. Even that other thing. When he held her hand in the dark art gallery, and bent his tall frame towards her just a bit, she found herself anticipating Ash West’s kiss with her entire being.

Not just because it was part of her agenda.

Oops.

“You didn’t hear a word I said.”

Sassy turned her head as they pulled into the parking lot. Freda had been talking, and Sassy could not remember a single word.

“I’m so sorry, Freda,” Sassy said, reaching over to give her a little pat on the leg. “I’ve got a bad case of the Mondays, I guess.”

Freda smiled.

“I’m not mad, Sassy,” she said. “I know where you live. I’ll tell you all about my weekend with Jim Tim tonight over beans and franks, and thick slices of fresh tomatoes.”

“I want to hear every word,” Sassy assured her, getting out of the car. Her own car would be ready to pick up in another day or two, Tig had called to say.

“You did hear every word,” Freda replied with a bright white smile that Sassy could see in the early dawn, “you just weren’t listening.”

Walking into the large wood-paneled room with the concrete floor, Sassy and Freda saw a few cowboys filling plates with scrambled eggs, bacon and biscuits, as the camp cook brought out an industrial sized pot of aromatic, fresh-brewed coffee.

A subdued chorus of “mornings” made the rounds as Sassy pulled back her desk chair to find a white paper bag. In it sat a fresh bagel from Donut Den, and a small container of cream cheese.

To start your day right, a note on the bag said.

Sassy felt her cheeks get warm as she smiled and walked the treat over to the toaster.

“Bagel? Nobody in Wyoming eats bagels,” one of the cowboys teased. “This is biscuit country.”

“Oh, believe me I know,” Sassy teased back.