Page 75 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

“I think I do.” She turned to look at the closed door. “Growing up, me and Danny never had anything in a cabinet or cupboard. Not a box of granola bars or an extra can of pork and beans, and certainly not any household supplies.” She took a deep breath and swallowed. “Okay, I’m ready this time. I think I was just so surprised that I let it get to me.”

“Ready?” Link reached for the divot in the door to open it.

Misty nodded. “Ready.”

He slid open the door, and the aisles of a grocery store looked back at her. Nothing had changed, but Misty simply reached out and picked up a women’s razor. “It’s smart to have extras of these around. I always run out at the worst time.”

“Take it,” Link said.

Misty looked up to him. “Are you serious? No, I don’t need to take one of your momma’s razors.”

Link reached past her with his long arm and picked up a package. “Really? This pack of twelve—plus a bonus one—will get her by, I think.”

Laughter started to bubble way down deep in her stomach, and she let it rise and soar through her until the giggles came out of her mouth. It was still a lot of supplies, and Misty had never seen anything like it.

“Link,” Sammy said. “Misty, we’ve got dessert on the back deck.”

“Okay, Momma,” Link said over his shoulder. He put the razors back on their shelf and pulled the door closed. “All right, love?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I just needed a second look to know that it’s just normal. I mean, for you guys, it’s normal.” She slipped her hand into his. “Now, what’s for dessert?”

A few days later, Misty went out into the kitchen to find Janie sitting at the dining room table, smiling at her phone. “Texting Brandon?” She moved over to the coffee pot to pour herself a cup. She’d talked to Janie about her date with Brandon, and her best friend swore up and down she’d told Misty.

Misty had been pretty preoccupied with Link and all they had going on, and she’d decided it was possible Janie had said something and she’d forgotten. They’d gone back to normal, but as Misty stirred sugar into her coffee while Janie giggled at her phone, she wondered how much longer they’d live in this reality.

“Look at his cat,” she said, twirling her phone toward Misty. She hadn’t gotten dressed yet, so she sat in her pajama shorts and top, her smile so genuine.

Misty sat down opposite her and picked up her phone. “Oh, it’s an orange tabby.”

“He says he’s a real diva. Was supposed to be a barn cat, but he won’t even walk on grass.”

Misty grinned at her friend and pushed the phone back toward her. “He’s cute.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Brandon is too. You and him…is it turning into anything?”

Janie shrugged one shoulder, her eyes on her phone. “I don’t really know. He’s…I actually think he’s not real serious about stuff like this. Too bad you didn’t meet him last summer.” Janie’s voice held a note of sadness, though, so Misty didn’t laugh or agree.

“If he’s not the one,” she said instead. “Maybe….”

Janie looked up. “I just don’t know if I’ll ever meet someone like Link.”

“Oh, sure you will.” Misty waved her comment away. “This town is full of cowboys like Link.”

Janie shook her head, her dark eyes serious. “No, Misty. He’s special.”

Misty didn’t want to argue with her, because Link had crossed the threshold to special a long time ago. “I don’t know if he’s special, or if he’s just—I don’t know. Something.”

“He’s just right for you,” Janie said with a sigh. “I don’t know if Brandon is just right for me. There were definitely sparks in the beginning, but it feels a little like they’ve fizzled out.”

“So are you going to go see his cat?”

Janie shook her head. “He’s never invited me up to his ranch.”

“It’s probably for the best,” Misty said. “It’s even further than Shiloh Ridge.”

“Yeah, but for the right cowboy…is any distance too far?” Janie sighed again as she got to her feet. “I’m going to get dressed.”

Misty watched her head for the hallway. “I’ll put together our parfaits.”

“Thanks.”

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