Page 47 of My Billionaire Cowboy Protector

“I’m going to have to wait by myself at the airport for a plane,” she said.

“That sounds like a your problem,” Lane said, out of patience with the woman.

The two men were nice enough to carry in her luggage for her, setting it down just inside the front doors and left.

“Do you think we should have at least helped her find a cart?” Colton asked.

“Nope. She is not a nice person, and she was not invited here,” Lane said.

“True enough.” Colton was quiet for a second and said, “You know that Taylor saw Rachel put her arms around you and kiss you. She took off when you put your hands on Rachel’s shoulders.”

Lane groaned. “Great. Hopefully, she realizes that I had nothing to do with Rachel coming.”

“Maybe, but maybe not. You high-hatted her at the barn-raising. On top of that, according to Willow, people in town have said a few things about her that were very ugly. She’s struggling right now.”

They stopped atThe Bullhornfor a drink.

Lane noticed that people stared at him until he looked back at them. Then, they would quickly glance away.

“What are you going to do about the situation?” Colton asked.

“I guess there is only one thing to do. I’m going to ask her to marry me for real,” Lane said.

“Why?”

“Because I managed to fall in love with her,” Lane said. “After Catherine, I never thought that I would love another woman but then Taylor popped into my life. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but it’s been long enough.”

“It’s like that cliched saying, the heart knows what the heart wants,” Colton said. “I’m not surprised that you love her – just a little surprised to hear you say it.”

Lane headed for the cabin as soon as they got back to the ranch. He could tell it was empty as soon as he opened the door. The silence screamed at him. His heart shattered as he read the note. A lump formed in his throat and his stomach twisted into a knot.

He tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. Either she had her phone turned off or she didn’t want to talk to him. He can’t say that he blamed her. It was Lane’s suggestion that had gotten her into the mess to begin with.

It was late and the diner was likely closed, so he spent a restless night tossing and turning, thinking about Taylor. He was angry with himself for hurting her and hoped that he could talk to her before she decided that she hated him.

Lane was at the diner as Alice was opening the diner. “You have to help me. I need to talk to Taylor.”

“You’ve hurt her enough,” Alice said coldly, glaring at him as though he was wearing horns.

“Please listen. You don’t understand. I love her. I want to ask her to marry me – for real,” Lane said.

Alice studied him, trying to figure out whether he was being honest.

“I swear that the last thing I want to do is to cause Taylor any more pain. She won’t answer my call or my text that we need to talk. I have to find her.”

“Fine,” Alice said. She scribbled down an address for him and told him, “If you hurt her, I swear that they will never find your body.”

“Understood,” Lane said.

He quickly drove to the address Alice gave him. Lane had never been so nervous as he was standing at the door.

The door opened and a tall woman, beautiful enough to make most men take a second and third look, stood in the doorway holding a cup of coffee. Her face was perfectly made up and her blond hair framed her face.

“I know who you are. You aren’t welcome here,” she said.

“I need to talk to Taylor,” he said.

“You’ve done enough,” the woman said, blocking his way.

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