Page 22 of Auctioned to the Cowboys

Taylor stiffens and is silent when I don't elaborate, but I can almost hear the whirring of her brain. I can't leave that hanging without explaining. It isn't fair, after we've done something together that takes so much trust.

“He lives in Spain with his mom.”

“Do you see him?”

“No.”

I don't tell her that the loss of him is like a permanent fracture to my heart or that having a child to fill the gap in my life is the reason she's here. She doesn't need the burden of my grief right now.

What Taylor needs is three men to take care of her. She needs kindness and protection. She needs to be provided for better than her family has managed. She'll want for nothing, and in turn, she'll give me everything I need.

I pull her closer, kissing the top of her head, murmuring a silent prayer to the universe that I'll get everything right this time.

7

MAVERICK

WHAT SHE NEEDS

Jesse asked me to take Taylor into town. She desperately needs clothes and probably everything else a woman needs. The bag she arrived with was small.

He asked me to hang around the house in the morning so that Taylor’s not left alone. There’s plenty to tidy up in the yard, the porch to sweep, and a few repairs. At around ten, Taylor appears with a mug of coffee and a cookie on a plate. At twelve, she brings me a sandwich.

Afterward, I shower to wash off the dust and sweat and then head down to the kitchen. Taylor’s sitting at the table, staring into space while the radio plays upbeat country music in the background. She seems so distant.

I start to fix myself a takeaway cup of coffee, but Taylor takes over, finding me a blueberry muffin and dropping it into a bag.

“Ready to go?”

She nods but her expression is tight. I wonder if Jesse told her we’ll be buying everything she needs.

“I hope you’re ready to spend.” I pull a wad of money out of my jeans and wave it back and forth, raising my eyebrows.

“I don’t need much,” she stutters.

I shrug, knowing she’s lying. The girl needs everything. When we’re at the store, I’ll make sure she leaves with bags of new things. What she wears reflects on us and I want her to feel confident in whatever situation she finds herself in.

I wait while she shoves her feet into some ratty sneakers, and then we head out to my truck. The spring air is warm, and the breeze is soft. It rustles Taylor’s hair as she climbs into the seat. I wait for her to buckle up before I close her door and round the truck.

Before we set off, I take a big bite of the muffin that Taylor packed for me. It’s a slice of heaven. I catch Taylor smiling out of the corner of my eye at my moans of pleasure.

“Please tell me you’re going to make more of these,” I groan. “I don’t think I could deal with knowing there’s something so good in the world and never getting to taste it again.”

“Of course,” she says. “I’ll make them whenever you want.”

I reach out and squeeze her knee, happy with the smile in her voice.

“Before we get there, you need to understand that we’re shopping today. I want you to choose whatever you need. In fact, make it whatever you like. New everything, okay? I’m not saying our town is Rodeo Drive or anything, but you need new clothes and shoes, so we’re getting them. I don’t want to hear any objections when we’re in the stores.”

“I don’t want to impose.” She nibbles the edge of her nail.

“How is it an imposition for a man to treat his woman, a husband to treat his wife?”

She focuses out of the window. The view is spectacular, but that’s not why.

“We’re going to make your life better, Taylor.”

“You don’t know what my life was like before.”

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