Page 42 of All in with the Maverick Montana

“You’re sure?”

“Yes,” she said, and then Josh slid against her, making love to her as only a cowboy could. She arched and panted against his ear, and when she came undone, it was to the sound of her name on his lips.

Amy floated there for a long while, in the soft aftermath, content to be held.

“Did I tucker you out?” Josh asked eventually, his words a grumble as he pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder.

“I was almost asleep,” she hummed. “Unless you want me to leave?”

“Don’t you dare. You should message your sister though. Let her know you’re staying the night so she doesn’t think I kidnapped you.”

“Good idea.” Amy rallied enough to dig her phone out of her jeans, half hanging off the bed.

Josh’s hand wrapped around her hip, holding her in place. She smiled at that.

Won’t be home tonight. Don’t wait up, she texted.

Faith responded immediately. Amy! Oh my God, tell me everything!

Good night, Faith, she wrote, putting her phone away before her sister could start grilling her with questions. Questions she would be happy to answer tomorrow, when she wasn’t lying in Josh’s bed. She rolled back over into Josh’s waiting arms.

He tucked her against him, and for the first time in months, Amy felt safe and wanted. As far as a partner went, maybe for the first time in her life.

Chapter Ten

Josh woke before his alarm, the way he did most mornings, and lay in that blissful suspension between sleep and wakefulness, where he was both completely aware and fully capable of drifting off again. If not for the years of early wake-up calls to tend to the cattle and the horses, he might have been tempted by the thought of another hour. But he was used to rising with the sun, and today would be no different.

Except, it was different.

He stretched, suddenly aware of an unfamiliar ache in his bones. Josh was used to hard work. His muscles had long grown accustomed to the effort of labor on the ranch—trekking long distances around the property, lifting hay bales, maintaining the facilities. But this morning was different. He ached in a way that told him he’d perhaps had too much of a good thing, and then the previous night came crashing back. Dinner on the porch. Telling Amy how he felt. Kissing her. Taking her to his bed. Well then, that explained the odd exhaustion that clung to him, and Josh couldn’t be happier. He grinned to himself as he sleepily reached beneath the covers for her.

Only, his hand brushed nothing but empty space, and his eyes flew open.

Josh turned his head, finding Amy’s side of the bed vacant. He reached out again, feeling along the space she’d occupied. The sheets were rumpled but cold, and worry flared to life inside him. He already missed her presence, and his entire body ached with her absence. He waited for the sleep fog to clear, but confusion settled over him like a strangling weight and he frowned, sitting up on his elbows. With two fingers he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

What was going on?

When they’d fallen asleep last night, Amy had been tucked up against him, warm and content in his arms. She’d told her sister she was staying the night.

So what had happened between then and now?

Maybe she’d reconsidered staying with him, or regretted their night together, and snuck away. No, she wouldn’t have set off on her own. Someone must have come to pick her up. But wouldn’t he have heard someone come down the lane? Tires weren’t exactly quiet on the gravel. None of it made sense, and his heart sank.

Last night had been wonderful as far as he was concerned. Holding Amy in his arms, watching as she drifted off to sleep… He couldn’t have asked for a better end to the night. And after everything she’d said, why would she run off?

I like you an awful lot.

Her words played on repeat in his mind. He’d said that being with her felt right and she’d agreed. So when had it all gone wrong? Had he somehow failed to live up to her expectations? Did she finally realize that he was just some average cattle rancher? That to be with him would mean being stuck here too?

Josh flopped down on his back, staring at the ceiling, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole. He couldn’t believe this was to be his lot in life again. He couldn’t believe he’d lost Amy when he’d only just found her.

Then he heard the squeak of the pipes in the wall. Someone was running the water in the bathroom.

The bathroom! Of course. Josh almost burst out laughing. What a fool he was, panicking. There was no reason to panic. Amy had simply gotten up to use the bathroom. He pressed his hand to his face, massaging the worry lines from his forehead. He really had to let go of these fears. Amy wasn’t his ex. He wanted to be able to trust her with his heart.

Then Josh heard a different sound and he sat up.

Was that retching?