Page 47 of One Lucky Cowboy

Then she’d tell Maggie about the young woman who’d sparked a future internship program. She was trying to limit the stress she subjected her friend to, so until the colleges she’d reached out to returned her calls, she would keep the idea to herself.

Besides, she needed advice on the other person who wasn’t calling her back.

“You’re being too hard on yourself.” Then why did Maggie look so pleased?

“Hardly. Two weeks ago, I couldn’t stand the guy and now I’m sticking my tongue down his throat? Not exactly soundproof I’m operating on all four burners.”

“Will you sit down? I’m blissed out and more relaxed than I’ve been all week and you’re just making me stressed.”

“Sorry,” Jill grumbled. She slouched back into the overstuffed chair next to Maggie’s. “But if it was such a good idea, why didn’t he invite me over? Or call? I mean, things were hot enough that if that bear hadn’t interrupted us…”

She put her chilled glass against her cheeks.

“You’d have jumped his bones?”

Jill nodded, moved the glass down her chest. “Yes,” she lamented.

Maggie’s smile only deepened. “Ooooh, did you think about how we could be sisters? I mean, I already think of you that way, but it could be official. If I’d have thought getting knocked up would have forced you two together sooner, I’d have stopped taking birth control right after the wedding.”

“Hold your horses, Mags.” Maggie smirked. “And stop looking so smug. We kissed, it was hot, and I wanted more. But not that much more.”

“C’mon. You have to admit there’s something to those Marshall boys. They’re sweet and sexy and so darn cute in cowboy getup.”

“They are. But…” Jill traced the rim of her glass, so it made a gentle hum that matched the one buzzing in her heart since the kiss two days ago. Maggie held her gaze but didn’t rush her. “He doesn’t want kids. So even if—”

“Even if you fell head over heels for each other, you’d have to consider compromising the one dream you’ve had since you were a kid.”

“See? There’s a reason you’re my best friend. You get me.”

Maggie’s smile fell just enough to worry Jill. “Hmmm. I didn’t know that about him. Okay, brace yourself; I’m going to give you some tough love.”

Jill inhaled and tucked her legs underneath her.

“If you feel more for him than a good roll in the hay can fix, you need to keep him at arm’s length. At least until you have a chance to get to know each other more and can feel out if this was a petty reaction to Bennett’s weirdness lately or he genuinely doesn’t want to make that very serious life choice. Either way, he was vocal about it, knowing how you felt. Take that seriously until he proves otherwise.”

Pressure built behind Jill’s eyes, but she smiled it away. “Yeah, that love was Dwayne Johnson tough. And here I thought you were going to tell me to eat something so I’m not hungover tomorrow.”

Her veiled attempt at humor was weak at best.

“Well, that too, but also the first thing. You gave up so much with Liam and it almost broke you. I don’t want to see you get hurt again, even if it would mean we might be related by our handsome husbands.”

The pressure came back with a vengeance, and this time a few tears spilled on Jill’s white linen top.

“I know,” she whispered. “Again, you’re right. I can’t fault you for telling me the truth. But, man, it stings a little. For a split second between bear sightings, I actually wondered if it was possible for me to have it all.”

Maggie set down her glass and rested her hands on her stomach. The pose screamed pregnant lady coming through, and the glow on her cheeks, with the soft smile always within reach left nothing to interpretation. She was a peaceful pregnant momma with everything she’d ever wanted.

Jill swallowed back the unwarranted jealousy that rose in her throat. It tasted like bile and what she imagined being a bad friend would taste like if it were a tangible thing. She didn’t begrudge anything good happening to Maggie. But that didn’t mean Jill didn’t have pretty strong desires to have her own happily ever after.

“And you still might. But you’ve never been one to rush into things, and you’re right; you drove each other nuts two weeks ago. Take time and think through what you want and how his role in your life might add to that, because if he doesn’t make your life infinitely better, he doesn’t get to be a part of it. Period.”

Her own mother hadn’t ever come close to saying this much when Jill left Liam. Just a stern warning of how it would look for the prince and princess of the rodeo world to split. Family truly was who stood by you when you needed it.

“How’d you get to be so smart all of a sudden?”

Maggie fluffed her hair dramatically, laughing. “I’m pretty great, huh?”

“Seriously. I love you like a sister, and I always knew you were brilliant when it came to business, but you’re this level-headed about dating, too? I want your confidence.”

---