Page 55 of Auctioned to the Cowboys

Sweet, sweet girl. She’s too used to putting her feelings aside for others, but I won’t let her anymore, even if her choices contradict what I want. “No, Taylor. That’s not going to cut it. Tell me what you want. If it’s to move out with your sister, be honest. If it’s to stay here but without a relationship with one or all of us, just tell me. Whatever it is, it’ll be fine.”

“Don’t you want me anymore?”

The pain in her question tears my heart even deeper. “Of course I want you. And Maverick and Clint feel the same. It’ll kill us if you decide you want to walk away. But we’d understand, Taylor. That day at the auction, I thought it was what you wanted. Marriage. A family. Maybe not with three men, but with one, at least. I hoped you’d come to feel something for all of us in time. But now we’ve discovered that it was for your dad’s benefit… we just want to make sure you’re with us because you want to be.”

“I do,” she says quickly. She reaches across the space between us, taking hold of both of my big, rough hands in her small, dainty palms. She laces our fingers and gazes up at me. “I never believed I’d find men like y’all. Men who’d fight for me. Who’d take on my problems and share them? Who’d make me feel worth something? But—” Her eyes drift to the window. “I’m not ready to be a momma, Jesse. I don’t want that. Not yet. And I’m scared you won’t want me if I can’t give you what you need.”

I bring her hands to my lips, kissing her palms softly. “I understand, sweet girl. I do. I want you to have your dreams. We’ll do everything we can to make Taylor-Made Bakes a reality. And one day, when you’re ready, I know my dreams will come true, too, as long as you stay with us.”

When I look into her eyes, tears are already welling. “I want that,” she says, “but what about your sister? I’m not going to be responsible for breaking your family apart.”

“I’ll work on my sister,” I say. “It might take some time, but she’ll see what we have is real, and everything will be fine.”

As I pull Taylor into my arms and kiss her deeply, relief steals the breath from my lungs.

But although I’ve tried to reassure Taylor about Beth, a part of me doubts that she’ll ever come around. And if she doesn’t forgive me for this relationship, will Taylor ever truly feel like her rightful place is with us?

19

TAYLOR

FAMILY FIRST

As dawn’s first light creeps in through the drapes, I watch my sister sleep. It’s hard for me to believe that she’s really beside me, tucked into bed in a safe place, away from the fury and abuse of our father. After my conversation with Jesse last night, I’m more settled, but there’s still the outstanding issue of Beth to deal with. Nothing can ever be right at the ranch unless the people who matter outside of the ranch understand what I’m doing here.

Molly’s breath is steady and even, and her pretty lips are parted as she dreams. Jesse has offered her Beth’s old bedroom, which is dated but girly, with Beth’s old decorations still in place.

Maverick suggested he could take us into town to get some things to update the space, and I’m going to gather some wildflowers to breathe new life into the room. I’m overcome with the urge to pull Molly into my arms, but she’s exhausted, and I want her to sleep for a little longer. She doesn’t stir as I lift back the covers and tiptoe out of the bedroom door.

I pad down the stairs to the kitchen and discover Maverick, shirtless, fixing himself a cup of coffee. Standing in the doorway for a moment, I relish the sound of him singing along as he potters. The richness of his voice is so soothing. The sunlight tickles my nose and I sneeze, interrupting him. He turns and smiles so broadly when he sees me, my heart melts. I love this man so much that my emotions threaten to spill over just at the sight of him looking back at me, his warm, hazel eyes searching mine for a connection. He’s so solid and powerful, but the vulnerability that peeks through every so often makes me want to fix him so badly.

“Morning, muffin.” The shadows under his eyes give away the night he had. A twinge of guilt plucks in the cavity of my chest for my role in the tiredness that’ll make an already grueling day even more challenging. As I shuffle towards him, he pulls me against his bare chest, wrapping his powerful arms around me and humming. The clean smell of his body and the rhythmic beat of his heart make me weak at the knees. “You can really sing, you know that?” He squeezes me tighter and kisses the top of my head.

“I can play the guitar as well. Having you here is making me want to make music again.”

“I’d love to hear you play.”

He smiles, but it’s kind of shy, and I get a rush of feeling deep in the marrow of my bones. Molly and I really are safe here. How could I have ever thought about leaving? We have found our way into the lives of three imperfectly perfect men who want to do all they can to provide us with care and stability. It seems almost unreal.

“Clint and Jesse have gone out to deal with the cattle and the new recruits. I drew the short straw.” He winks.

“So you’re stuck with us?” I say it like it’s a huge chore rather than the easiest job going.

He grins sheepishly. “How’s Molly today?”

“I left her to sleep. She’s been running on fear and adrenaline ever since I left. The guilt of leaving her to deal with Dad alone is still eating me up.”

“You gotta stop that, honey. You had no choice. We’ll spoil her rotten today. How about before we head out, you run Molly a nice hot bubble bath? She said she’s not happy that her sister has been living a life of luxury, and she wants a slice of the good life!” We both laugh out loud, knowing she said nothing of the sort.

“Do you think you could drive me over to Beth’s today?” His quizzical face portrays a flicker of concern.

“I guess, but why d’ya wanna go there? Craving drama?” He grimaces at the thought of Beth raging some more.

“I just need to talk to her.”

Maverick raises his eyebrows. “I can, muffin, but you know she works at Maplewalk Elementary. She won’t be home until this evening.”

“I heard her telling Barb that she’s only doing half days to spend time with the twins before they start school. She picks them up from daycare around twelve, I think. I don’t want to give her the option to refuse to talk to me. I just want to turn up if that’s okay? Please, Maverick. It’s important.”

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