Page 20 of Cowhand Crush

Eventually, Avery would hunt me down and demand to know why I wasn’t answering her calls. She would insist we could make this work, but I wasn’t so sure. Not after seeing the gaping divide between Avery and Grady this morning.

Rory emerged from the cabin with a sleeping Beau Jr. bundled in her arms, and a large tote bag slung over one shoulder. Beau made a noise of frustration and hurried over to her before she’d even reached the porch steps.

“Rory, darlin’, you’re supposed to be resting, remember?”

He scooped the baby up and slid the tote bag off her shoulder.

“I can’t stand staying cooped up here for another minute,” Rory replied. “I’m going to the bakery.”

Beau took a breath to protest, but she placed a hand on his chest with a reassuring pat.

“I’m not working, I promise. I’m dropping off a few loaves of bread I baked, and looking around. That’s all. Won’t take more than an hour.”

“I can drive you,” I offered. “I have a few errands to run anyway.”

Beau glanced at me.

“Are you using this as an excuse to dodge my question that you still haven’t answered?”

“Absolutely.”

Rory spoke up.

“What question?”

“It’s nothing,” I replied.

“The boss cussed him out this morning,” Beau put in. “Before the crack of dawn, I heard him laying into Bowen like there’s no tomorrow.”

Rory blinked in surprise.

“About what?”

“It’s really nothing,” I repeated, more firmly this time. Abandoning the ax by the chopping block, I retrieved my shirt from the tree branch. “Can I take you into town or not?”

Rory and Beau exchanged a quick glance. This wouldn’t be the end of our conversation. They would team up and hound me until I finally broke and told them everything.

“Take a quick shower first,” Beau said, tilting his chin toward the cabin. “Don’t make my wife share a ride with you smelling like that.”

“I don’t mind sweaty cowboys,” Rory said. “I live with one, after all.”

He sidled closer and hooked a finger into the back pocket of her overalls with a tug.

“Maybe I’m looking for an excuse to stall and keep you here a little longer.”

A fond smile spread across Rory’s face, accompanied by a pleased blush.

“I’m still going into town, Beau.”

“Give me a minute to work my magic,” he countered, cupping her cheek in his palm. “I’ve managed to seduce my wife into changing her mind more than once, you know.”

She sputtered a laugh against his mouth as she kissed him.

I looked away, feeling like an intruder on Beau and Rory’s private life. Even though I knew they would welcome me to stay as long as I needed to, seeing them share a family moment like this was a stark reminder that I had to move on.

***

Thankfully, Rory didn’t press me for information during the drive into Ash Ridge. When I dropped her off at the Bread & Butter Bakery, she swatted my hand when I tried to help her with the tote bag full of bread.

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