Page 43 of Overdue for a Cowboy

“You’ll be back tonight, right?” Chevy asked him as he pulled on his cowboy boots. “Or do you have one more night of concussion-monitoring-duty?”

Maisie looked confused as she turned toward his brother. “I didn’t realize Dodge was on concussion-monitoring-duty?”

“Yeah, that’s why he’s been staying with you the last few days,” Chevy said. “To make sure you didn’t have a concussion.”

A hurt expression crossed Maisie’s face, just for a second, then it disappeared as she forced a smile. “I didn’t mean to put anyone out. You’ve all been so kind. I can’t thank you enough,” she told them before heading out the door.

“You idiot.” Dodge shoved Chevy’s shoulder as he went after Maisie.

“Sorry brother,” Chevy said, following him down the porch steps. “I thought she knew. I wasn’t trying to cause trouble.”

Maisie had already let herself and Moose into the truck, so Dodge turned back to his brother with a sigh. “I know you didn’t mean to. I think it was just the way it came out.”

“You know I would never try to hurt Maisie’s feelings. I love that girl.” He motioned to the truck. “Should I go tell her I’m sorry?”

Dodge shook his head. “Nah. I think that would only make things worse. She doesn’t like people to make a fuss over her. Which is why I hadn’t told her I was keeping an eye on her for a concussion. But I’ll tell her you didn’t mean to upset her.”

Chevy arched an eyebrow. “It seems like you two have gotten pretty close this weekend.”

Dodge shrugged. “We’re friends.”

“Seems like it could be more. And she sure fit in seamlessly with the Lassiter clan tonight. It’s like she already belongs here.”

Even though he had been thinking the same thing a few minutes before, hearing his brother say it triggered something inside him. Maisiedidfit in with his family. It seemed like it should be so easy to let her into his life.

They’d had an amazing time together the last few days—even with her being hurt. They got along great, and not just in bed—although she had rocked his world there too—but they had fun just making grilled cheese sandwiches together. She made him laugh. She made him feel good.

And that was maybe the biggest problem. For the first time in a long time, someone had made himfeelagain. And feelings were how he got hurt.

Maisie was quiet on the way back to her house. Moose was sound asleep with his head on her lap again, and the sound of his snores filled the silence of the truck’s cab.

“Chevy didn’t mean anything by that last crack,” Dodge told her after they’d arrived, and he’d followed her up the steps to the front porch of her house. “He wouldn’t ever try to hurt your feelings.”

“I know,” she said, pushing open her front door but then turning to face him before she stepped inside. “He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. I just wish I had known that the only reason you’ve been staying with me was because you were watching me for signs of a concussion.”

“That’s not the only reason,” he tried to say. “You were hurt. I couldn’t just leave you alone.”

“Well, I’m fine now. So, I guess you’re relieved of your ‘duty’.”

He sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “You’re making it seem like I did something wrong by wanting to take care of you.”

She took his hand as she peered up at him. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You did everything right. Thanks for being here this weekend. I will never forget it.”

Neither would he.

She was still holding his hand, but her gaze dropped to his chest, as if she couldn’t look at him, as she whispered, “So, do you want to come inside?”

He knew what she was really asking. She didn’t just want him to come into the house, she was asking him if he was planning to spend another night with her. And not just with her, butwithher.

And dammit to hell, he wanted to—wanted to with everything in him. But he knew he couldn’t. He’d already crossed a boundary he’d sworn he wouldn’t by spending the night, and that morning, in her bed. She’d said that she didn’t care about tomorrow, or the next day, but it was clear that she did.

And so did he.

Which was why he needed to stop this now. Before either of them got any more involved.

He shook his head. “I don’t think I’d better. Chevy’s been covering my chores all weekend. I should probably take care of them tonight.”

His chores were just an excuse. His brother would cover them for him for as long as he needed him too. But it was a good enough reason for him not to stay that didn’t involve him havingto tell her the real reason he was tuckin’ tail and running away from her.

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