Page 66 of A Rogue Cowboy's Kiss

“I was fragile too,” Sofia chimed in. “I didn’t want to get together with Keegan. But we healed each other.”

Meg was leaning against a nearby rock. “Do you want him, Bella? For real? Do you really not want to get married and have kids?”

Bella rolled onto her back and stared at the sky, thinking about the question. “When I think of having kids, I think of all of us living under the bridge, carrying all this baggage. I have no idea how to be a good mom. I never saw it. I don’t want to cause that damage to anyone. Ever.”

Phoebe dipped a strawberry in the remnants of the chocolate. “I had a lot of trauma, and I’m figuring out how to be the mom my daughter needs. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to love them, and be who you are. You’re amazing. It will be enough.”

Sudden, surprising tears filled Bella’s eyes. Was it really possible she could be enough? Deserving of a family? Capable of having a family? The notion that she might be enough was overwhelming, and suddenly she wanted to roll into a ball and cry. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “So scared to believe in the fairytale.”

“It’s no fairytale,” Tatum said. “It’s real life. It’s hard work. But it’s worth it.”

Bella turned her head to look at Tatum. “Are you happy with Brody?”

Her sister-in-law beamed at her. “Deliriously happy.”

“What about your career?”

Tatum grinned. “Brody fully supports me and does everything he can to help me shine my brightest. He’d never hold me back. His support makes it easier for me to be successful, which means I work less. The Vegas residency allows me more time with him and at the ranch. He comes with me sometimes, and I come here. Between the two of us, we’re together a lot, but we both have space to be ourselves. It works. It can work, Bella, if both sides are committed.”

“Heck,” Meg said. “Lucas moved to Boston to be with Maddie. I know they’re back and forth from the ranch a lot, but he’s having the best time out there. Our brothers raised us to be strong women, and they appreciate strong women. Falcon is the same. He’ll support you in your career.”

He would. Bella knew that.

“What do you want to do?” Phoebe asked. “Buy that catering business?”

Diana had called six times since they’d been talking, but Bella hadn’t answered. “I don’t want to,” she admitted. “I just don’t know what else to do.”

“Invest in their ice cream business, like you said,” Sofia said.

Bella sighed. “I’m not interested in ice cream.”

Meg raised her brows. “But are you interested in empowering women? Seeing them support each other?”

Bella glanced at her. “Well, yeah?—”

“Do you know that some horrifyingly small percentage of venture capital money goes to women?” Tatum said. “Record companies are mostly owned by men. I started my own label last year, and I’ve taken on several artists.”

Bella had heard the same speeches from Kitty, who had also opened her own label and invested regularly in women’s businesses. “I don’t know anything about business.”

“Oh, well, that’s a deal-breaker,” Phoebe said sarcastically. “If only you could learn about it.”

Bella grinned, recalling how she’d given Falcon that same speech about his healing. She thought about how happy Diana had been, calling her daughter to give her the news about the money so they could build her business.

At the very least, she could invest in their ice cream truck business, to make up for the fact she wasn’t going to buy the catering company.

The minute she thought it, relief rushed through her. “I’m not buying it.” The words felt amazing and free. “I’m not going to cook for the dude ranch either.” She looked around. “I don’t know if I want to be an investor, but I’ll help with the ice cream trucks. Just to see?—”

She paused when everyone looked past her, suddenly grinning.

Bella spun around, and her heart took a little leap when she saw Falcon astride their big, bay gelding, Moonstruck, reiningthe horse to a halt. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots, and he looked every bit the rancher he wanted to be.

His shirt was open at the collar, and he looked so insanely sexy and at home.

God, she loved him.

“Hi,” he said, his voice low and rough, his gaze only on her.

She lifted her chin. “I told you not to follow me.”

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