Page 48 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

“Is your valley like this?”

He laughed. “Nope. It’s long and narrow, the mountains are high on either side, and the river flows through the middle. It’s about fifty miles long and … you see all those miles and miles of housing developments? We don’t have enough people to fill even one of them. All we have is miles and miles of fields and cattle. Although, they reckon that the human population is about 1500 these days.”

“Wow! That’s hardly anyone.”

He chuckled. “It’s a lot more than it used to be.”

She leaned back against him, and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head.

“You might not like it up there, it’s kind of remote compared to most places.”

“And I was just thinking that I love the sound of it.”

“You think you could stand to live in a place where it’s a thirty-mile run to the grocery store?”

He felt her tense and wished he hadn’t asked – he was getting ahead of himself.

“Never mind. Forget I asked. We’ll get you up there for a visit – one step at a time, like you said.”

As they walked back to the truck hand in hand, she looked up at him. “You’d never move away from there, would you?”

He met her gaze and held it. “I never thought I would.”

Her eyes widened, and he tugged on her hand. “Come on, Shayna Rose. Let’s get you back to the hotel. You have a big day tomorrow.”

~ ~ ~

When they got back to the hotel, Ty came up to her floor with her and walked her to her room. She could feel her cheeks burning as she looked up at him.

“Do you want to come in for a while – I don’t mean …”

His smile was so gentle, it made her heart feel like it melted in her chest. “I’d love to, but I want to be straight with you about something first …”

They both turned when two guys came out of the elevators and stumbled down the hallway toward them, obviously drunk.

“Evening!” one of them said with a grin.

Ty moved in front of her.

The other guy met Ty’s gaze and nodded. “Lucky bastard, I hope you’re going to nail that hard – I will if you’re not.”

“Open the door and go inside, sweetheart.”

There was a hard edge to his voice, he didn’t sound like himself, and Shayna’s hands shook as she swiped the key against the lock.

“Go inside.”

“Come with me.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Better hurry up about it before I beat you to it. Or do you want all three of us,sweetheart?”

“Get the fuck out of here,” Ty said as he took a step forward. “Go! Now, before …”

“Come on inside.” She tugged at his sleeve.

“Leave ‘em alone, Marty. You wouldn’t be able to get it up even if she wanted you. You’re shit-faced.”

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