Page 47 of Promised to the Cowboy

The corner of his mouth twitches. “Hi.”

Neither of us moves.

He studies my face. “Is everything okay?”

That’s the question, isn’t it?

I let out a breath. “I... don’t know.”

His whole expression softens. “Come in.”

He steps back without another word. No pressure. No assumptions.

I walk past him into the bedroom. It’s exactly what I expected. Neat. Quiet. The bed made. His boots lined up against the wall. A photograph of his mom on the dresser beside one of him and his brothers when they were kids.

I hear the door click shut behind me.

When I turn around, he’s still standing a few feet away, giving me space.

Waiting.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say.

He smiles faintly. “I figured.”

“I’ve done a lot of that lately. I’ve spent most of my life leaving before anybody had the chance to ask me to stay. I got good at it. Convinced myself it made me independent.”

His eyes never leave mine.

“But it just made me lonely.”

Pain flickers across his face. Not for himself. For me.

“I don’t really know how to”—I wave a hand helplessly between us—“do this.”

“Do what?”

“The baby. The ranch. You.” My voice catches on the last word. “I don’t know how to let someone matter this much.”

For the first time since I walked into the room, Gabriel moves. Just one step. Enough that I can reach him if I want to.

“I don’t either,” he says quietly. He gives the smallest shrug. “I’ve never done this before.”

A smile escapes me. “No?”

“No.”

“I would’ve thought...”

“What?”

“That someone like you...”

He shakes his head. “There hasn’t been anyone like you.”

I go very still. “I keep wondering if this is all happening because of the baby,” I whisper.

His answer comes before I’ve even finished. “No. I wanted you before I knew about our daughter.” He swallows. “I just never thought I’d get the chance.”