Page 22 of Westin

“My parents were divorced when I was six, but I never doubted how much my dad cared about me. Even with the poison my mother poured into my ears, I always knew how much my dad loved me. Because he showed up.”

He lowered his head slightly. “I do do that. As often as I can.”

“Good.” Lea smiled, lying down across the bed with a heavy sigh. “Can I ask you something else?”

“Why not? I’ve already dumped my life story on you.”

She smiled as she stared up at the ceiling. “Why did you bring me here?”

“Because you were in trouble,” he said in a tone that suggested she should already know that. “Because you asked me to.”

“Do you always do what strangers ask you to do?”

He grunted. “Maybe.”

Lea laughed, sitting up again so she could see his face. He was smiling again, which made her feel a little better about everything. She liked this guy. She didn’t want to be the cause of any more trouble for him.

“If I can get a ride into town on Monday, I’ll be out of your hair as quickly as I can arrange it.”

“There’s no rush.”

“You aren’t responsible for me—despite the fact that I asked you to be.” She cocked her head to one side, smiling as charming a smile as she could conjure. “And Miss Dulcie is probably the sweetest woman I’ve ever met, and I doubly don’t want to be a burden to her. So… Monday.”

“We’ll see what we can do.”

“Thank you.”

Clint tipped his head in her direction and turned for the door again. Lea knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help herself, the words spilling out before she could stop them.

“You aren’t the only one of the group of you who’s married, are you?”

Clint rested his hand on the doorknob, but didn’t turn it. He just stood there a moment, like he was trying to decide what to do: pretend he didn’t hear her, or indulge her curiosity and possibly cause an issue for one of his guys, or himself.

“I am, actually. Landry is very single.”

“Landry?” Lea frowned. “No, I was actually thinking in terms of Westin.”

“Westin?” Clint glanced over his shoulder at her, his brow knitted slightly. “He was only alone with you for a few hours.”

She rolled her shoulders. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a cowboy.”

He chuckled lightly. “Well, you’d certainly have your hands full with Westin. That boy isn’t exactly the most charming cowboy around here. You might be better off with Landry. Or even Bowie.”

“I kinda got my heart stuck on Westin.” She tilted her head. “Is he single?”

“Yes, ma’am. He is single.”

“Good. Makes the long weekend something a little more interesting to look forward to.”

Clint chuckled again. “You’re a hell of a lot braver than me.” He slipped through the door then, disappearing before she could ask another question.

Lea dragged herself up from the bed and stepped into the bathroom to prepare herself for bed. In his thoughtfulness, Clint had brought her a toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, and more toiletries. She quickly brushed her teeth and stripped down to the panties he’d provided fresh in a store package, a size too large for her curvy hips, but comfortable just the same.

She was already looking forward to seeing Westin again tomorrow. She hoped he would be her bodyguard in the morning. She’d always been a girl who could take care of herself, but as long as Westin was playing personal security, she was happy to play the target.

***

Westin walked into the bunkhouse, the weight of the world on his shoulders. Bowie and Landry were watching some reality show on the television, one sprawled in a chair with his feet up on their dining table, the other stretched out on the couch. Remington was in his bunk reading a book, so interested in whatever story was weaving itself in his mind’s eye that he didn’t even look up when Westin came through the door.

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