She was so deep in her own thoughts that at first she thought she was hearing things, then she realized that the voice was real. She tiptoed down the hallway to the kitchen to find Hooter and Blister following Raylen’s every move. “What are you doing here?”

“You talkin’ to me or the livestock?” Raylen asked.

“I’m talking to you,” she answered.

“You’ve been on the go so much this week that I haven’t got to see you except when there was a hundred people around us. I’m making coffee. I was going to bring it to you in bed,” he said.

“That’s so sweet. I missed you too.”

He turned around, dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and led her by the hand to the table where he sat down and pulled her into his lap. “So, what’s the agenda for tonight?”

“Have you heard a weather forecast?” she asked.

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“In the carnival business, everything,” she answered. “Nobody comes out in the rain to get on the rides or play the games.”

“Guess it’s more like ranchin’ than I thought. I was plannin’ on plowin’ up the last forty acres surrounding you today, but there is already a fine mist out there, and the weatherman says rain all day, and the temperature is supposed to be around fifty with a wind chill factor of forty degrees,” he said.

“It means business will be slow,” she said.

He poured a mug full of coffee and set it in front of her. “According to the weatherman the sun will come out at noon tomorrow, but this cold front won’t move out until Sunday.”

She took a sip of her coffee and sighed.

Liz turned around, wrapped her arms around him, and snuggled close enough that she could listen to his heartbeat. Forget the carnival, forget the café.

“You promised me a dance tonight. Is the rain going to prevent that?” Raylen buried his face in her dark hair.

“I’ve been looking forward to dancing for you for days,” she whispered into his ear, and then stood up. “As much as I’d like to go where this would lead us, darlin’, I’ve got to get ready for work.”

He nuzzled down into her hair. “Five more minutes.”

A quick glance over his shoulder at the clock said it wasn’t happening. “Can’t or I’ll be late.”

She bent down to plant a steaming hot kiss on his lips. When she stood up again, Hooter was staring at them, head cocked to one side. Blister had jumped up on the counter, not six inches from Raylen’s ear, and meowed loudly.

Liz giggled. “I think they’re tellin’ us that we’d best stop now or else I’ll get fired.”

“I am very fired up.” Raylen looked down.

“Stay that way until tonight, and I’ll dance for you after I tell fortunes at the carnival. Business might be slow, but there will be some that come out to see what the future holds,” she said.