Page 5 of Stranded with a Very-Kissable Cowboy

I cut him off. “You’re not an electrician, Miller.”

He just smiles. “I had an electrician come out to double-check my work. It saved you three hundred dollars.”

Shit. “Right, well, good job. Thanks for all you’re doing around here, man. I really do appreciate it. I owe you one, for sure.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Introduce me to your houseguest.”

I would laugh if I wasn’t starting to panic. Why does the thought of Miller talking to Gianna make me crazy? I’m not going to try and figure it out now, but I’m sure as hell not going to stand by and let him try to hook up with her either. “Gianna is off limits.”

I stare at him to make sure he gets what I’m saying.

He laughs. “It’s like that, is it?”

I give him a nod. “Yeah, it’s like that.”

CHAPTER 5

GIANNA

Besides a small stintof babysitting when I was in high school, I’ve never really been around kids, but even so, I know that these two are special. I’m not sure how to explain it or anything, but it’s a fact. Evan and Ethan are special.

“So what do you two want to do?” I ask them. So far, they’ve been content just walking me around the house and showing off their rooms and toys. Ethan doesn’t say anything, but he makes sure that he’s included.

“I want to play basketball. Can we go to the park?”

“Uh, well, we probably shouldn’t leave the house because your dad would worry. How about if we read a book?”

Ethan snarls his nose up, and Evan shakes his head. “Oooh, yuck.”

I put my hand to my chest and gasp. “Yuck? Oh no, don’t say that, you’ll break my heart.”

Ethan is the first to come to me and hug me, and then Evan does the same. I welcome each hug and try not to get emotional about it. “Okay, can we try something?”

Evan says, “Yes,” and Ethan nods his head.

I grab my phone out of my back pocket and open the reading app. I go to the top one hundred for children’s books and search the boys’ age group. As soon as I see the dragon book, I hit download. What little boy doesn’t love dragons?

“All right, sit down.”

We all sit down, and I don’t complain that they’re both sitting right on top of me. I read the first few sentences. I chose something really easy. “Drago the Dragon loves to play basketball.”

I hold the phone out to Evan. “Okay, you’re next.”

“Drago the Dragon loves to play baseball.”

He reads it slowly, and when he’s finished, I clap my hands. “Great job, Evan.” I hold it out to Ethan. “What about you? You want a turn?”

He opens his mouth. I hold my breath, but then he closes it, shaking his head back and forth. I try not to let my disappointment show and read the next line. “Drago likes any sport with a ball.”

I hold it out to Evan, and he reads the next line. “Does Drago like to play checkers?”

I am about to read the next line when Ethan jumps in my lap. “No, there’s no ball in checkers.”

I’m not sure who is more shocked—Ethan, Evan, or me. The phone gets tossed a few feet away as we all stand up in shock. The boys jump up and down, and first the twins hug each other and then they hug me. They’re laughing, and I’m crying, and I’m sure I’m handling all of it the wrong way. I’m probably not supposed to call attention to him talking or not make a big deal about it, but how can I not?

I pull back and put my hands on Ethan’s shoulders. “Are you okay?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

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