Kissed by a Rancher. Sara Orwig

make it now just as easily.”

      “That would be wonderful. I’ll come help.”

      “You don’t need to. I’ll announce it as soon as it’s ready. It doesn’t really take long.”

      “Thank you, Abby. We all look forward to your homemade hot cocoa,” the petite blonde said. “I’ll tell my family and the others.”

      Abby hurried to the kitchen, trying to focus on making hot cocoa for everyone and keeping Josh’s kiss out of her thoughts for now. She failed to stop thinking about him, but she had made cocoa so many times in her life, she could do what she needed to without much thought.

      Finally she escaped to her room for a moment to catch her breath. As soon as she shut her door, she leaned against it. Remembering Josh’s kiss, she closed her eyes. Why did she have this huge reaction to Josh, of all people, who would go out of her life as swiftly as he had come into it?

       Three

      Abby crossed the room to look into the mirror. She should look different, but she didn’t. She felt different, as if Josh’s kiss had somehow in some subtle manner changed her permanently.

      She knew she had lived a sheltered, quiet life, but she had no idea a man’s kiss could ignite a raging fire in her.

      It was just as well he would soon leave. Occasionally men would stay at the inn who were charming and single. They would flirt and ask her out, and she had always turned them down. There had never been anybody she had particularly wanted to go out with, and she had never had a reason to cause any ripples in her relationship with Lamont. She had always felt secure, comfortable and reasonably happy with him, but was she cutting deep joy and fun out of her life? There were other nice guys in Beckett and areas close around. Answering Josh’s questions about Lamont made her realize her romantic relationship with her old friend was almost nonexistent. Had she let the hurt caused by her father influence her too strongly? She went out with Lamont because it was convenient and easy.

      Josh had not asked her out, and she didn’t expect he would. Any day now he’d pack and go, and she would never see him again. How long would it take to forget his kiss?

      Was that going to dim her relationship with Lamont, whose kisses were bland and far from exciting? Was she missing out on life, as Josh had accused her?

      Was she settling for a dull, uneventful future with Lamont simply because it was safe and convenient? And was it even fair to Lamont?

      Should she and Lamont date other people? If Josh asked her out, would she feel free to accept if she and Lamont didn’t have an agreement to see others?

      For the first time, she wanted out of the arrangement she had simply drifted into with Lamont. With uncustomary impulsiveness, she called him on his cell.

      “Have you got a moment to talk, Lamont?”

      “I need a short break, so yes, I’ll take a minute. Why do taxes seem to have more rules each year?”

      “I don’t know much about that. Lamont, I’ve been thinking about us, that we should start going out with other people. We’ve sort of wandered into a relationship that I’m having some second thoughts about.”

      “Abby, we’re just alike, so we’re very compatible. And this is a terrible time for me to make major changes in my life. Maybe you should rethink this. I’m sorry if I’ve neglected you somewhat, but we don’t usually go out during tax season, at least not in late March.”

      “I want to be free to date others, and I think it would do you good to do so, too. We may be in a rut.” There was a long period of silence. She hated to upset him, but she still felt she should break it off with him, at least for a while.

      “If that’s what you want,” he said. “Let’s go to dinner and discuss it, but it will have to be in a few weeks.”

      “We can discuss it more when you’re finished with taxes, but I want to agree to see others.”

      “Fine,” he said and gave an audible sigh. “I better get back. We’ll talk about this again.”

      “Sure, Lamont,” she said, feeling better. She put away her phone, realizing she had just made what might be a life-changing decision. A decision based on a kiss from a man who was almost a stranger. Even so, she didn’t regret it.

      Taking a deep breath, she turned to go back and join the guests to see if anyone needed anything. Josh and Mr. Hickman had just finished their game as Abby joined them.

      “We’ve each won a game now,” Mr. Hickman said.

      “Actually, you’ve won two and I’ve won one.”

      “We’ll play again sometime, I hope.” Mr. Hickman stood. “I think I should turn in. I’ll see both of you at breakfast. I enjoyed the games, Josh. Thanks.”

      “You’re welcome,” Josh said. “I enjoyed them, too. We’ll see you in the morning.”

      “Good night,” Abby said. As soon as Mr. Hickman was gone, she turned to Josh. “There’s hot cocoa and hot cider in the kitchen.”

      “At this point in my life, I’d like a cold beer.”

      “I think we can fill that order,” she said as they walked to the kitchen. “Look in the fridge. If we’re out, there’s another fridge in the pantry.”

      “I’ll find it.” He got a beer, uncapped it and sipped, then set it on the counter. He picked up dishes people had left at the table, carrying them to the sink. “I’ll check the dining room for dishes that need to be washed.”