Page 51 of Risking it for the Cowboy

Heart: “He keeps himself busy. But what do we say in science? Look at the facts. Jason’s a class A prick. In his 30s without a pot 2 piss in and a record a mile long.”

Heart: “Frm what I can see, T. Rex. is rough around the edges, like whiskey that’s just been racked but hasn’t had time 2 age into something fine yet.”

Huh.

Heart: “But he’s a hard worker. Skilled. Ty thinks the world of him. A jokester, but actually, kind of keeps 2 himself up on the ridge.”

Heart: “I heard him having a good time a couple nights.”

Charlie bit her lip, and that unease swirled to the surface again.

Charlie: “Always got a girl on his arm, right lol. Reason number 1 to nip this in the bud.”

Heart: “Oooh, a boy’s finally gotten under Charlie’s skin. Someone’s fishing for deets…”

Charlie flashed her eyes heavenward and sighed. But Heart wasn’t wrong. He was under her skin and beneath her eyelids when she daydreamed. In her thoughts every time she wore his T-shirt.

Heart: “I meant he and his band were outside practicing around his firepit. I haven’t seen a single girl.”

Heart: “He likes his privacy. His home is like a sanctuary.”

He didn’t have a new girl du jour there every night? Look at the facts.

The house had fallen silent. Flipping the bacon, she peered back into the living room to see if they were still there, instead seeing Daisy’s head pop up from beside Thaddeus, a finger over her mouth as she whispered, “Shh.”

Thaddeus’s head was tipped back, hat cast aside. Charlie rounded the couch. Magic Treehouse Blizzard of the Blue Moon lay splayed open on his belly. His phone on his knee now dark. Out cold. With Artex on his feet like a foot warmer and the chick in its box beside them. His chest rose and fell peacefully.

“What should we do?” Daisy whisper-giggled.

Charlie took in Thaddeus’s profile. His strong nose. His stubbly jaw that hadn’t been shaved yet. His blond hair the color of barley and straw fringing around his head and neck. Trouble.

I should wake him up.

“We’ll let him sleep,” Charlie whispered, her mouth betraying her brain, and smiled at her daughter. “Go get dressed so we can eat and hit the farm market for dinner fixings.”

“Can we get Pumpkin some things, so he feels more comfortable?” Daisy whispered.

“Daisy May, if we start buying it things, it’ll get attached to us.” We’ll get attached.

Things people attached themselves to had a way of being ripped away from them. All her belongings when she’d walked away from Jason. All her dreams when he’d first cowed her into a corner. Her uncle’s cabin. Her scholarship. Her dignity.

And already she’d asked much of the university to allow a dog for her daughter and the exorbitant pet deposit she’d been required to pay.

Daisy frowned. God, her girl was already attached. Charlie gently picked up the chick. Pet a finger across its head and back.

Maybe a nearby farm would take her?

“I-I just mean, I know he can’t stay, but we should make him comfortable, right, Momma?”

Charlie smiled wistfully at her girl with the giant heart whose brain raced too fast to always match the words in her head with the words tumbling out of her mouth. “Of course, we can keep her comfy.” Nodded her head toward the stairs. “Go on.”

When Daisy, scampering away, whirled back around. “Maybe T. Rex will wanna stay for dinner!” she blurted out.

Charlie threw a finger across her lips.

“Oh,” Daisy whispered, throwing her palm over her lips. “You don’t wanna wake him neither.”

Charlie’s gaze flitted back down to him, so peaceful. No, she didn’t. She liked the way he looked, lying here among her things.