Cowboy Up (Coming Home #3)

“Yeah,” I answer quietly, looking at my plate knowing he’s likely thinking the same thing I did when I found out that was the only place in town available for rent.

“Darlin’, that’s right next to your mama’s salon.”

“I know.”

“Not that I don’t think you could handle it, but Caroline, that woman bein’ that close to you makes me feel a whole lot of unease.”

I nod, looking away from the intensity in his gaze and pushing some of the chips left on my plate around with my fingertip.

“I love the idea of you bein’ closer, darlin’, especially if that means you’re goin’ to be doin’ it sooner than later, but I’d be lyin’ if I said I was okay with puttin’ you that near to her.”

“There’s nowhere else, Clayton. I’ve looked. I wanted to know all my options before I brought it up to you. I want to come home, not just because of us, but because I don’t feel safe in Wire Creek either. Being here, well, I don’t need to constantly worry.”

He frowns. “I thought they ruled the fire an accident.”

“According to the report, but I’m not sure.”

He steps around the island and pulls me into his arms. “Why do you think it wasn’t an accident, Caroline?” I can see the concern written all over his face and in the tense set of his shoulders.

“I think someone’s been tamperin’ with things. Materials are goin’ missin’ and yesterday Joe, the contractor, told me some of the electrical he had finished was pulled out. How would that even happen?”

“I’m not sure,” he says thickly.

“We only passed inspection because Joe worked through the night to fix the issue, but somethin’ in my gut is tellin’ me I shouldn’t go back there. I wanted to talk to you before I put a for-sale sign in the window and start lookin’ for somewhere else to open up again. Whether that’s here in Pine Oak or maybe in Law Bone, either way, I don’t want it to be in Wire Creek anymore.”

“Don’t buy the Jordans’ old place. It might look like the only option now, but havin’ you that close to your mama isn’t gonna happen.”

“I’m goin’ to have to look at Law Bone, then, and the only thing I found there was clear on the other side of town. Not that I’m lookin’ for a new space based on the distance to your place, but . . . uh.” I stop when he flashes me a wide, toothy smile. “What?”

“Linney, I think we need to start basin’ your search off how far it is from the ranch so don’t get embarrassed when you say it because, darlin’, I agree.”

“Now that I’m going to sell, Clayton, I need to find somewhere to live that isn’t a motel. I can’t use the ranch as my base when I might find somethin’ to rent that’s on the other side of you, but close to a potential space for the store.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “How many nights have you been at that shitty motel, darlin’?”

I shrug. “It’s been two months since the fire and I started stayin’ there not long after that. I don’t know exactly how long though.”

“Let me rephrase that. How many nights since we started explorin’ us have you actually stayed there?”

“That’s different, Clayton. We haven’t exactly had tons of time to get together between me bein’ busy durin’ the day either sleepin’ or monitorin’ the build, and you’ve got a busy schedule of your own here. By the time I get a few hours in at Hazel’s and get here, it’s been so late I either fall asleep or you insist I stay.”

He steps closer, smiling down at me with the most open expression of affection. “Darlin’, it might’ve started out that way, but I haven’t wanted you anywhere else for weeks than in my bed. You want to make up one of the guest rooms as yours, do it, but I think it’s time we both admit this is your home.”

“Clayton,” I breathe, not knowing how to respond to him.

“I’ve got an idea about the store, but I need to check some things out before I get your hopes up. Until then get the place in Wire Creek on the market, check out of that goddamn hotel for good, and get your sexy ass where it belongs.”

“It’s too soon,” I weakly argue.

“Then put your clothes in one of the guest rooms instead of mine!”

“But—” I start, only to stop speaking when his hand covers my mouth.

“I wouldn’t be sayin’ it if I wasn’t sure, Caroline. You don’t need to be in that motel. You didn’t want to stay with Luke and Lucy, and I think we both know that under this roof is where you belong.”

“I . . . okay,” I agree, not letting myself look for reasons to keep arguing against this.

“Okay,” he parrots with a grin that makes my heart pick up speed.

“If you change your mind though—”

“No way in hell that’s gonna happen, sweetness.”

“This is insane.”

His chest rumbles as he laughs low and deep. “I think we’re pretty good at doin’ things with a little insanity, darlin’. That’s half the run of our ride together. I never know what’s comin’ next and I’m not findin’ it a bad thing to give up control if I’ve got you with me doin’ so.”

There aren’t any more words after that as his mouth takes mine in a doozy of a kiss. By the time he has me passing out from exhaustion, there isn’t a single concern on my shoulders anymore, and I go to sleep with a smile on my face all because of the man who is slowly becoming my everything.





14


CAROLINE


“Happy People” by Little Big Town

- -

“Let me get this straight,” Quinn says, folding another baby blanket and placing it on Leighton’s coffee table. “Clay, my allergic-to-anything-resembling-commitment brother, is not only in a super-committed relationship, but also livin’ in sin with his girlfriend?”

Leighton snorts, throwing some tiny yellow baby socks at her best friend’s head. “You make it sound so scandalous, Q.”

“And you aren’t shocked?”

“Well, no, not really,” Leigh answers, looking down at her lap, but not before I see the smirk on her face.

“It’s only been two months!” she exclaims.

“So what?”

I stop petting Leighton’s giant cat, Earl, and chime in. “We’ve technically known each other our whole lives. I had a crush on him before I started datin’ John. I guess it’s just our time now.” At my words, they both look over at me with jaws wide open.

“You had a crush on him back in high school?” Leigh questions with a smile.

“You hussy!” Quinn laughs. “He’s six years older than you.”

“What?” I blush. “He’s the most handsome man I’ve ever known.”

“That’s so sweet.” Leigh sighs dreamily, wiping her eyes as they fill with tears.

I gape at her in shock when she starts crying harder. Hoping to find some sort of help from Quinn, I’m utterly flustered when I see her crying as well. “Uh,” I hedge.

“What the fuck is goin’ on?” a voice thunders behind me.

At the sound of her husband, Leighton waves him off and sniffles loudly. “Stop growlin’, cowboy.”

“Did you hear?” Quinn cries toward her brother.

“Hear what?”