Page 9 of Hometown Cowboy

Regardless that she herself would’ve loved the chance, Ryan was, well, Ryan. He’d proven far too many times he was a heartbreaker, and she had no intention of being number whatever it was who fell apart over him.

And Gabe. Darby grimaced as she came to the bitumen road at the edge of the property.

Gabe wouldnotbe impressed if he found out what they’d done. He’d never said anything to her, not specifically, but it had been an unspoken rule between them that Ryan was out of bounds.

Not a soul was on the road into town as she headed toward home. She had to open the bakery this morning. Bread was the only thing they were offering today, Seth having agreed to come in early and bake it. They were opening late today, and all she had to do was open the shop and hang around for a few hours until it all sold.

She couldn’t help the grin that kept wanting to erupt on her mouth each time she thought of Ryan and the night they’d had.

It had been everything she’d wanted, and more.

She’d made sure she hadn’t woken him before she left, she hadn’t wanted to deal with the morning-after awkwardness that would inevitably be there, and him wishing she’d just leave.

So, she’d left, with some amazing memories to keep her warm. She’d get his shirt back to him somehow, either drop it into his car one day or leave it on his porch.

She pulled into her driveway and buzzed the garage door. No one would see her scampering around in a stolen, super-short T-shirt with no knickers.

No one would know, and that’s just the way she wanted it.

Chapter Five

Ryan cupped hismug of coffee between his hands and stared at the steam rising from the contents. He sat on the edge of his verandah floor, his booted feet planted in the dirt.

Well, shit.

Darby was gone. He scraped one hand over his face and shook his head at the lump that had settled inside his gut like week-old sourdough.

His red kelpie, Bill, perked his ears up and turned his head from where he sat on the ground in front of him. His tail swished a fan in the mixture of dust and melting frost in recognition of the person headed up his driveway.

Zed bounded toward them in front of Ryan’s mother, the younger dog excited to see Bill, as if he hadn’t spent most of the previous day in his company anyway. He looked up as his mother neared, ignoring the bouncing of the dogs.

“Lovely morning isn’t it?” she asked.

Ryan nodded and sipped his coffee, pretending a calmness that he didn’t feel.

Darby had been in his bed.All. Night.

“Yep. Gonna be a nice one. That frost this morning was pretty thick.”

Julie nodded and looked out to where the cattle grazed what little fodder there was in the distance. “I don’t feel like going out today, what with the party last night and all. Would you mind grabbing me a loaf of bread in town?”

Ryan’s gut tumbled and he nearly choked on his mouthful of coffee. He swallowed with difficulty, trying to act nonchalant.

“Sure. I have to go feed Gabe’s animals anyway.”

Julie’s smile of thanks had him smiling back. His mother had had a difficult life, but she was always smiling, always happy. He’d been so lucky to have her as his mum.

“Thanks, honey. The wedding was lovely, don’t you think? All the dresses, and you handsome young men in your suits.” She glanced at him. “Darby looked particularly lovely.”

Ryan held onto his smile for grim death. Did she suspect something? He tried to gauge her tone, her inference.

Nup. Nothing.

“Darby always looks good. That’s nothin’ new.”

“I suppose,” Julie said vaguely. She motioned off behind his house at her usual morning walking route. “I’m off then. Don’t forget my bread.”

Ryan nodded and watched as she wandered off down the narrow track through the scrubby tea-tree, toward the thick stand of gum trees.

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