Page 18 of Second Chance With a Cowboy

The next morning, something stirred Leni awake, and she found herself staring into a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

Notthe eyes she’d been dreaming about though. Those belonged to a man.

The ones she was staring into did belong to alittleman though. One who was standing next to her bed and scratching a bug bite on the side of his arm.

“Hey Max,” she said, stifling a yawn as she pushed up onto her elbow. Sunlight streamed through her window, and her bedside clock read close to eight. She was surprised he’d let her sleep for so long. He was normally up before seven. Although the night before had been anything but normal. “You okay?”

He nodded. He’d already changed out of his pajamas and into a pair of shorts and a yellow T-shirt with a one-eyed minion on the front.

“How long have you been standing there?” she asked, suddenly remembering that she wasn’t alone in her bed.

He lifted his shoulders then let them drop again. “I don’t know. I can’t tell time yet. Maybe for about twenty snores though.”

She laughed. “I donotsnore.” But maybe the cowboy in the bed behind her did. “Is there something I can do for you?”

He shifted from one small foot to the other. “I checked on Mommy and Izzy, and they’re both asleep. Last night was scary, and I wanted to do something nice for Mommy so I thought I could make her some breakfast. But I don’t really know how to make anything. Except frozen waffles. And Mommy doesn’t like me to use the toaster by myself.”

Her heart melted.

“That’s really nice of you, buddy. She would love that. And I’m happy to help you. Just give me a few minutes to get up and dressed.” And have what she was sure would be a super awkward moment when Chevy woke up next to her. “Can you go down to the kitchen and wait for me?”

His little face broke into a grin, and he bobbed his head up and down in an excited nod. “Thanks Aunt Leni.”

As Max left her room, she rolled over to nudge Chevy awake.

But the other side of her bed was empty.

Chapter Ten

Her heart in her throat, Leni sat up and looked around her bedroom. Chevy’s blue and white flannel shirt was still draped across the arm of her chair, but his cowboy boots and hat were gone.

Flinging the sheets aside, she pushed out of bed and hurried to the window. His truck was gone too.

Wow.

Last night, he’d been so caring and attentive. Andthat kiss.

She’d fallen asleep with her back spooned against his chest and his warm breath caressing her neck.

But now he’d left without even saying goodbye? She glanced around the room, hoping maybe he’d left a note.

Nope. No note. No goodbye.

No cowboy.

What a jerk. An ache tightened her chest as she tried to tell herself that it didn’t matter. She’d been good without him for the last decade—well, maybe not good, but just fine—so she sure as hell didn’t need him now.

But dang, it sure had been nice to step into the past and feel like she was his again. Just for a little while.

It took her longer than she’d meant to get dressed and brush her teeth and hair. Mainly because she kept getting distracted by thoughts of a certain cowboy who had apparently snuck out sometime in the night or early morning. She must have been really zonked out since she hadn’t heard him leave.

She peeked in on her sister and winced at the matted rust-colored blood dried in Lorna’s blond hair, but glad that Izzy was letting her sleep. The door creaked as she started to pull it closed.

Lorna stirred and lifted her hand in a small wave as she whispered, “It’s okay. I’m awake. Barely.” She lifted her head off the pillow. “Is Max up?”

“Yes. He wants to make you breakfast,” Leni whispered back. “So, get some more rest before Izzy wakes up. I’ve got it covered.”

She gently pulled the door closed, hoping her sister could sleep for a bit longer and then tiptoed down the stairs. She stepped into the living room to see Max kneeling against the back of the sofa and staring intently at something out the window.

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