Page 71 of Owned By The Cowboy

“Same thing.”

“Try it.”

She swings, and the ball rolls smoothly toward the hole, curves around a small windmill, and drops in with a satisfying plunk.

“I did it!” She spins around in my arms, grinning like a kid, and, fuck me, she’s so fucking beautiful. Her eyes are bright, and that smile could power half the county.

“Nice shot, princess.”

“I’m obviously a natural.”

“Obviously.”

We’re standing close enough that I could kiss her, and for a second I forget we’re in public with the kids and about fifty other families. All I can think about is how good she feels pressed against me and how much I want to get her alone.

Then Annalise cheers, and the moment breaks. “Mama got a hole-in-one!” she announces to anyone within hearing distance.

“It wasn’t a hole-in-one, baby. I had help.”

“Still counts,” I tell her, and when she looks up at me with her gorgeous dark eyes, I know I’m fucking done for.

* * *

After mini golf, we make our way to the go-karts, where Jaylen shows he’s the speed demon of the family and Annalise driveslike she’s a ninety-year-old on the highway. Nia sits this one out because of her ankle, but she takes pictures and cheers us.

After a few rounds, I sit next to Reggie on a bench, watching the kids race around the track. I can’t stop looking at her. The way she tucks her hair behind her ear when the wind blows it over her face. How she unconsciously leans against my shoulder.

Regina gets back to the race while I sit with Nia.

“Jaylen’s going to get himself killed,” Nia observes as her brother takes another turn way too fast.

“He’s fine. He has good reflexes.” I grin watching them zoom by.

“And Mom’s about to get lapped by a six-year-old.” We both laugh.

I look over at the track, where Reggie is being passed by Annalise, who finally found her stride. But she doesn’t even care. She’s laughing and waving at everyone who passes her.

* * *

By the time we head to dinner, we have enough tickets to buy half of the prize counter, and everyone’s in a great mood. The hostess at the restaurant section seats us at a corner booth, and I end up next to Reggie with the kids across from us.

This close, I can see the little freckles across her nose, smell her perfume and feel the heat radiating off her perfect body. When she reaches for her water glass, her hand brushes mine, and thesimple contact sends electricity up my arm. Fuck, it’s been too long since I’ve had my girl to myself.

“This is nice,” the hostess says as she hands out menus. “Family night out?”

“Something like that,” Reggie responds, and I hear the slight hesitation in her voice.

“How long have you two been married?”

The question catches us both off guard. I see Reggie’s eyes go wide, and I know I should correct the assumption. Should explain that we’re not married, not even officially dating, just… whatever we’re doing.

Instead, I hear myself say, “Few years.”

“And these are all yours?”

“Yeh,” I confirm, and the words feel natural coming out of my mouth. Right.

“Beautiful family. You’re very lucky.”