Page 40 of Jensen

He glances over his shoulder. “What’s the clock say over there, baby?”

He’s so calm, despite having sweat dripping down his face. I glance at the digital clock on the bedside table.

“About six in the evening,” I say.

He gets up, wiping his hand over his face, using the sweat to hold his hair back. “You still want to go out to the stockyards?”

My forehead creases. “You feel good enough to go?”

He shrugs, reaching for the pants on the chair. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”

Maybe because he’s sweating bullets. I shrug. He goes into the bathroom and shuts the door. After a minute, he comes out,and he’s in hispants, boots, and a t-shirt that fits him very well. My dress and panties from the other night are in his hand. He tosses them onto the bed.

“I don’t have anything else,” he says.

“It’s fine,” I say, getting up.

My bra and boots sit on the corner chair. His eyes follow me as I pull them on and wriggle into the fringed dress. My purse hangs on the door. He must have gathered everything up at some point. I grab it, taking my emergency makeup out, and slip past him into the bathroom.

He leans in the door, still watching me.

“What?” I ask, bending in to apply my mascara.

His eyes narrow. Then,he shakes his head.“You’re just real fucking pretty,” he says. “And I think you know it.”

He turns to go, but not before smacking me across the ass and grabbing the underside for a quick squeeze. His temporary bad mood is gone. I smile, and butterflies erupt in my stomach as he disappears downstairs.

My hand goes still, mascara hovering.

No, I can’t actually fall for him.

And yet, I tripped on his big dick cowboy attitude and rolled all the way down the hill to a place I don’t know how to climb out of. I’m not sure I want to get out.

Maybe this doesn’t have to end the way I planned. Maybe he would help me,and there could be a future here when we’re done. That thought has me smiling and blushing like a teenager as I apply my lip gloss.

I just need to figure out what he’s thinking.

Then, maybe,I can tell him the truth.

He’s waiting in the hall when I come downstairs. I go to him and turn my face up, even though it makes me nervous. I’m not used to interacting with men like I have free will. With Leland, I cowered and hoped to God he didn’t notice me. Jensen smirks, putting a finger under my chin and bending down to kiss my mouth.

He’s got something in his mouth. Dip? I wrinkle my nose. He flicks it with his tongue,and a hint of mint hits me.

“You didn’t offer me any gum?” I tease.

He reaches behind himselfto the brown cowboy hat on the coat rack. He takes it off in one hand, leaningover like he’s going to kiss me. I part my lips, and he spits the gum into my mouth and puts the hat on my head.

“Let’s hit the road, baby,” he says.

Oh my God.

He takes my hand, leading me down the hall and out the front door. I stand while he locks it, trying to get control of myself. His hat smells like him,and the gum between my back teeth tastes like mint and Jensen.

Normally, a man spitting his gum into my mouth would make me gag, but I like him too damn much to care. I liked being underneath him in bed, his sweat dripping on my chest. I like the natural way he smells, the way he tastes, all the imperfections on his body.

He makes me want new things for myself.

We get into his truck. He lifts me in, making sure to give my ass another squeeze as I climb into my seat. I roll my eyes, but Lord, do I love it. He gets in, spinning the wheel to turn the truck around. Then, he rests his hand across my bare thighs as we head down the road. Everything is dusky golden. It’s not dark yet, but it will be soon.