Page 11 of A Cowboy in the Streets

Call your dad

James

Why? Did he forget how phones work?

Mom

What do you mean?

James

He doesn’t have to wait for me to call him. He can literally call me whenever he wants. My number is programed into his phone.

Mom

He wants you to call him. He misses you so much, honey.

James

Then he can call me.

Mom

You know he won’t do that.

James

Because he's too stubborn.

Mom

Well, I guess that makes two of you.

I showed up at the main house Sunday evening promptly at 5:30, bearing cobbler, nervous as heck about seeing Adam again. Our first encounter had been a disaster. Our second went better, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that my new boss was less than pleased about the arrangement. He hadn’t said much, letting Blaine do most of the talking while he stood there, arms crossed, terse and unsmiling.

Third time’s the charm, I told myself as I rang the doorbell, hoping it was true.

Was it too much to ask that I charmed the pants off him? Figuratively, not literally, despite my mind choosing this exact second to relive the feeling of his mouth smashed against mine, the hard muscles of his shoulders under my hands.

I squeezed my eyes shut. “It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine,” I muttered.

Was it, though? Was it really.

Well, fake it ’til you make it, as Mom always said. Of course, Mom never had to fake anything except her hair color. So.

The door flung open, and I beamed a smile without knowing who the recipient would be. It landed on Ben.

“Hi,” he said. Then tilted his head, considering me, before slowly smiling back. I liked that. I got the feeling this kid didn’t say or do anything he didn’t mean.

“Hi,” I said back.

His eyes fell on the covered dish in my hands. “What’s that?”

“Cobbler. I stopped by the farmer’s market in town, so it’s got a mix of fresh local berries. Do you like cobbler?” I asked hopefully.

He lifted a shoulder. “Never had it. But I’ll eat it. Gramps says the only person who gets to complain about the food is the cook.”

I laughed. “That’s a good rule. But you’ll tell me if you like something better, right? So I’ll know what to bring next t—”

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