Page 75 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

Shay: Are you going straight to bed?

Ty: I’m going to hang with Tanner and Ford for a while first. Can I text you again before I turn in?

Shay: Please. It’s going to be weird enough sleeping without you there, I don’t think I’d be able to if I can’t at least say goodnight to you.

Ty: I want to call you instead of text. But would that be awkward since you’re in the house with them?

Shay: I think so. I don’t know if they’ll be able to hear me or what time they go to bed or anything. Maybe we just text for tonight and then we can talk tomorrow?

Ty: Whenever you want to, I’ll make it work.

Shay: Okay – as long as you understand that I do want to talk to you tonight it’s just awkward.

Ty: I get it. You go do your schoolwork and I’ll text you before I go to bed.

Shay: Okay. I miss you.

Ty: Miss you more.

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Shayna was up early and found herself pacing the kitchen while she waited for Booker. She hadn’t slept well. That was partly due to being in an unfamiliar bed, partly due to being under the same roof as Davin, Alexis, and Booker. Not that she had a problem with them, it was just that it had hit her some time in the night that she hadn’t spent the night under the same roof as another living being since her mom died. Not unless you counted hotels – and she only counted the one she’d spent the last few nights in – with Tyler.

She blew out a big sigh. He was mostly the reason that she hadn’t slept. They might not have had sex in the three nights that they’d spent together, but they’d slept wrapped around each other. They’d made out until they couldn’t stay awake any longer, and then he’d spooned her, holding her close all night – and she’d never felt so cared for.

She looked up when Booker came into the kitchen.

“Shoot. Sorry, Shay. Am I late?”

“You’re good. It’s me, I was up early. Get yourself some breakfast; there’s no big rush.”

“I can grab one of those protein bars and eat it on the way if you like.”

“It’s up to you – just don’t feel like you need to hurry.”

They both turned when Davin appeared in the doorway. “Are we ready?”

Shayna frowned. “Almost, Booker needs something to eat first then we’ll be on our way.” She reached for her keys from the counter.

“I’ll drive,” said Davin.

“Do you really think you need to do that? I’m not going to be by myself – Booker’s with me.”

Davin smiled. “I’m off this morning, and I haven’t seen Mac and Beau in a while. I might as well ride over there with you. I can do some of the stalls if you want – I haven’t done that in years, but I reckon with a bit of supervision, I’ll do a decent job.”

“You don’t need to do that. We’ll be fine – honestly. It’s bad enough that you’re planning on riding all over town with me – you don’t need to be mucking out stalls too.”

Davin just shrugged. “I’m coming with you, so I might as well make myself useful.”

Booker grinned at him. “I’ll show you what to do if you want to help, but let’s go. Otherwise, instead of making yourself useful, you’ll be making us late.”

~ ~ ~

By the time breakfast service was finished at the lodge, Ty was getting antsy. He’d texted with Shayna for a little while before he went to bed last night, but it had been brief, since she was working on her assignment. She’d said that she’d message him this morning, but she hadn’t yet.

Wade came into the kitchen and greeted him with a smile.

“So, how did it go?”

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