Page 77 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

Chapter Seventeen

By the time she finished her shift at the grocery store on Thursday afternoon, Shayna was convinced that this had been the longest week in history. She checked her phone – Alexis had said that she’d text when she arrived to pick her up, but she might be a few minutes late.

There was nothing from her yet. Shayna smiled as she pulled up her messages with Ty. They hadn’t spoken since Salt Lake, but they texted in every spare minute. She decided to take a chance and dialed his number.

“Shay! Is everything okay?”

His deep, sexy voice sent a shiver down her spine. “It is now. I won’t keep you if you’re busy, I just wanted to say hi.”

She could hear his smile when he spoke. “Damn, girl, I miss you so bad!”

“Aww, I miss you, too. I needed to hear your voice.”

“I’m glad you called. I needed to hear your voice, too. Are you all right? Where are you?”

“I just finished my shift at the store. Alexis will be here any minute to pick me up, but I couldn’t resist the chance to call you.”

“I’ve had my phone in my hand ready to call you at least eleventy-three times every day, but I know you’re busy and I know you never get a minute to yourself.”

“I don’t. I hate this, Ty. I mean, I love that they’re all looking out for me, and I’m so grateful to them but I just want to be able to sit in my apartment by myself – and talk to you.”

“We’ll be able to do that tomorrow night, sweetheart – and we won’t have to talk over the phone. I’ll be right there with you – and they’re really okay with that?”

“Yes! Alexis has reassured me a couple of times now that they’re happy for you to stay.” She let out a short laugh. “And that they don’t expect us to stay in the house with them.”

He chuckled. “Because they think they know what we’ll be up to?”

“Err, yeah! And I intend to make sure that they’re right! I told you – this time, I’m not taking any excuses. You’re mine.”

“Damn, I love the way that sounds. And you’re mine, Shay. All mine.”

“I am. Do you know what time you’ll get here?”

“Not yet. Cash is going to let me know what time they expect to land here. I’ll be waiting at the airport and as soon as the plane’s refueled, I’ll be taking off and heading your way.”

She bit down on her bottom lip.

“Talk to me? Why’d you go quiet?”

“Just … I can’t get over your brother having his own plane and you being able to just fly down here like that.”

“I figured you might be thinking that. It’s not a big deal, Shay. It’s not like I have my own plane.”

She laughed. “See, I love that about you – you get me! I think most guys would be trying to make out that it was their plane – you know, trying to impress a girl that way. To me that just makes me feel …”

“What?”

She blew out a sigh. “You know what. It makes me feel … inadequate.”

“Well, you’re not. You’re freaking awesome, okay? It doesn’t matter what a person has in terms of money and shit, and it doesn’t matter how the world sees them. All that matters is who you are on the inside, and you, Shayna Rose, are a special, beautiful lady – inside and out.”

“Thanks, Ty. Shoot, Alexis just pulled up outside. I’d better go. She wanted me to wait inside until she texts to say that she’s here.”

“Okay. You’re teaching at the gym tonight, right?”

“I am. I’ll text you when I get home. I want to call you, too. I feel like I should make a tent under my duvet so that we can talk. Or maybe I should just get over myself; it’s not like they’d mind if I call you – I just feel a bit self-conscious about it, you know?”

He chuckled. “I do. I’d love it if you call, but no worries if we just text tonight. Tomorrow night, I’ll be there with you, and we can make a tent under your duvet and … talk.”

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