Page 67 of Cowboy and the Convict

“How long do you think it will be before they get her in trouble with the PD?” Another stab of sadness cut into her gut, but she’d done it to herself. Bringing up the Moss Creek PD sent her brain jumping straight to the officer who was almost hers.

To be fair, just about everything sent her brain jumping to the officer who was almost hers.

Cinnamon rolls. Aprons. Horses. Henleys. Period cramps. The list was never-ending.

And inescapable.

“I give her two weeks before she ends up in one of the cruisers.” Mariah’s eyes squinted as she considered. “Front seat though. They’ll feel too bad to put her in the back.” Her face split into a grin. “That’s where they’ll put Gertrude and the rest of the girls.”

Right on time, her brain settled onto the day Devon was waiting for her behind The Baking Rack. Not to lecture her on tire wear or brake lights, but—thanks to Aiden the asshole—to take her in.

Her throat got tight and tears bit at her eyes. She couldn’t start crying. If she did, she’d never stop. “I’m going to carry this out to the truck.”

Leaving Mariah in the bedroom she’d never sleep in again, Janie cut through the trailer, stepping into her boots but leaving them unlaced, the large box balanced in her hands as she stepped out into the frigid air. Closing her eyes and tipping her head toward the sky, she pulled in a deep breath, willing the surge of emotion to get its shit together. There was no time for breakdowns. No time for broken hearts. No time for—

“You shouldn’t leave that door open. Your heating bill will be astronomical.”

Her head snapped down, eyes flying open to fix on where Devon stood at the base of the stairs leading to her porch. “What are you doing here?”

“Right now?” He took the first step. “Lecturing you on the importance of proper home care and the effects it can have on your energy usage.” He took another step. “Later, I’m thinking I’ll drive that truck to my place and unload everything inside it into my house. Where it belongs.”

She swallowed hard, struggling to keep herself upright. A moment like this had been both her dream and her nightmare. “I don’t belong there, Devon.” She said it with as much conviction as she could muster up, hoping it was enough to send him away before she lost the last bit of self-sacrifice she was clinging to.

“I know you think that.” He kept coming closer, taking the box in her arms and setting it onto the wood planks before stealing the last bit of distance between them. “But you’re wrong, J. You absolutely belong there.”

Sucking in a breath, she blinked hard, fighting the tears that had been trying to break free for weeks. “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to be with you.” The lie was just as sour today as it was the last time she said it. Hurt just as much coming out.

But this time, Devon didn’t flinch when she said it. He actually smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he stared down at her. “That’s why you belong there, J. With me. With my girls.” He smoothed his hands down her arms, rubbing away the cold sinking into her cotton shirt. “I know what happened. I know why you left.”

She swallowed hard, keeping her mouth shut because she didn’t trust herself to keep saying what she needed to say.

“And I want to ask you something?” His hands rested on her shoulders, eyes pinning her in place. “Do you really think I would ever want one of my daughters to keep doing something that made them miserable?”

It was easy to see where he was going with this and she had to shut it down before he talked her into believing him. “I’m not the kind of person your daughters should be listening to. I’m—”

“You are exactly the type of person I want my daughters to listen to.” His hands slid up her neck to curve around her face. “You are hardworking and independent and determined and you fight for what you want.” His lips quirked. “Usually.”

“But Riley—”

“But Riley pumped the brakes on something she knew was wrong because someone she respected and cared for gave her the courage to do it.” His eyes fixed on hers as he leaned down. “And now she’s in hair school and if she hates that, I’ll tell her to quit that too. Life’s too short to be somewhere you don’t want to be, J.” His thumbs moved over her cheeks. “No one knows that better than me.” He tipped his head toward the small moving truck she’d rented. “That’s why that truck is coming to my house instead of wherever you thought you were taking it. Because the only place you should be is with me.”

“I’m a mess, Devon. Your girls—”

“My girls will be lucky to have someone who is willing to sacrifice so much for them.” His eyes moved over her face. “And I don’t give a shit if they go through five hundred different careers and a million different jobs. As long as they’re happy.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “And I want the same thing for you, J. So if you can tell me, honestly, that you won’t be happy with me, then I’ll leave and you can go on whatever little adventure you had planned.” He lifted his head, gaze intense. “It’s up to you.” His hands dropped from her face and she nearly stumbled at the loss. He backed toward the steps. “If I don’t see you again, good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

She watched as he turned and went to his truck, backing away, leaving her to face everything he dropped at her feet.

“What’s taking so lo—” Mariah came out the still open front door as Devon drove out of sight, her eyes widening. “Was that…”

Janie nodded because she couldn’t do much else. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t blink. She could barely breathe.

“Did he come here to ask you to stay?” Mariah asked the question carefully.

Janie nodded again.

“Wow.” Mariah blew out a breath. “I did not have ‘Devon shows up at the eleventh hour’ on my BINGO card.” She looked from the moving truck to the trailer to where Janie still stood frozen in place. “What are you going to do?”

That was a very good question. One she was not prepared to answer. “I’m going to finish packing.” Crouching down, she hefted up the box Devon took, carrying it down the steps he was just on, flinching a little when his scent hung in the air.

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