Page 14 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

“No? How so? Oh, shit! Are you married?”

She laughed out loud at that. “No! I’m not. Never have been.”

“So, this ex of yours…”

“He isn’t my ex.”

“But you said…”

“You asked if he was an ex, and I said that he wassomething like that.”

Tanner brought the truck to a stop before turning out onto the highway. He rested his forearm on top of the steering wheel as he turned to face her. His confused expression made her feel bad.

“I’m sorry. All I can say in my defense is that I didn’t feel like spilling my troubles to the bartender. I mean, come on, I thought I was doing you a favor. I didn’t want to take up your time by telling you my tale of woe when you obviously had a couple of girls vying for your time and attention.”

“Well, I hope by now you can see thatyouhave all my attention.”

A shiver ran down her spine. She could see it. She didn’t understand it, but there was no denying that she liked it. “Yeah, so that’s why I want to explain. The guy I was supposed to meet tonight?”

Tanner cringed. “Is it maybe better if we just don’t talk about him?”

“Probably, but we don’t need to talk about him, I just want to explain who he is. He’s my dad.”

It was almost comical to watch Tanner’s expression morph from confusion to understanding to something that looked like … excitement maybe?

When the meaning of her words sank in, he grinned. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

His smile faded. “Shit, sorry. I don’t mean to be an asshole. For my sake, I’m relieved – over the moon – that he’s not some boyfriend. But damn, I’m sorry. That has to suck. You said that he’s the love of your life, but also that you should be used to him letting you down. Are you really going to give up on him this time?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. When he didn’t show, and your family was so kind to let me hang out with them like that, I decided that I might as well put him out of my mind until tomorrow. I’ll see if he gets in touch. If he does – or if he doesn’t – I’ll deal with it then.”

Tanner nodded, and they rode in silence for a little while. She had to wonder what he was thinking. She didn’t think he was mad at her for giving him the wrong idea, but she didn’t want him feeling sorry for her either.

“Did you come to Montana to see him?” he asked eventually. “And where are you from? I didn’t even ask you that yet.”

“I live in Napa.” She answered the easier question first. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to explain the real reason she was in Montana.

He glanced over at her and opened his mouth to speak but laughed instead when the other truck blew past them, horn honking as it went.

Everly waved to Shayna and Laney, and Tanner slowed the truck before turning into the driveway at Remington Ranch.

“Are you staying in the lodge or one of the cabins?”

“The lodge.”

He took the left fork in the driveway. “What made you pick this place instead of MacFarland Ranch?”

She chuckled. “The MacFarland one was fully booked. I didn’t have any choice.”

He brought the truck to a stop in front of the lodge and turned in his seat to face her.

“That’s a shame.”

“Yeah.”

She felt nervous all of a sudden. She should probably thank him for the ride – for the evening – and get out, but she didn’t want to.

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