Page 31 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“You can’t compare this to that Hollywood display at the airport.” The words were muffled against her skin as he sought his way back to her lips.

In an instant, he felt her body stiffen, and then her arms dropped. It was as if the fire had been doused with a bucket of water. She was slipping away from him, and he scrambled to wrap his brain around what he’d done and what he could do to stop and bring her back.

“This shouldn’t have happened. Not now. We’ve both made promises to others—I have Sean and you have Arabella. It’s complicated. This setting didn’t help either, so chalk it up to just getting carried away with the moment. How soon can we get back to the ranch? We both have reality waiting on us.” She stepped away toward the door.

And that was that. Jaxson felt anger at himself. They had the beginnings of something between them that felt like it was the start of a bridge—and he had to overread, overstep, take it too far. And it had exploded in his face. If she could walk away and turn off any feeling from their kiss, that was a reminder to him that their past was just that. He wouldn’t make another such mistake.

“Whatever the roads still are, we’ll find a way to get through to the ranch. You’re right—we wasted too much time here.”

*

Wasted too muchtime.Was that how her remarks came across? So they had. But she had made promises to people, and they needed to be kept so close to the end of the bargain. Laurel had given her word and she always kept it. But this time, it had cost her more than she could possibly know, and she couldn’t turn back that clock and take back the words and make it right. Jaxson had done his Jaxson thing and closed himself off with an invisible wall between himself and anyone else around him. She wouldn’t get past those defenses again. The Great Wall was firmly in place between them as they sat on their respective sides of the front seat.

The road was rough going, with the new ruts and washed-out rocks tossing them about the cab of the truck as its springs were not the best. A few times, Laurel had to catch a good grip on the door and dashboard to keep from hitting the ceiling. But Jaxson never said a word. His jawline was set in that “don’t you dare” status, and his eyes were shielded behind those dark glasses. His hat was pulled low on his forehead, and he focused straight ahead.

Laurel wanted to scream by the time the truck pulled into the driveway, and he parked under the Porte cochere. Jaxson could easily have made her walk from the stable to the house, as the rain had turned into a light misting. But he hadn’t. She hesitated for a moment, thinking he might say something. But the moments only lengthened. Then she slid out and doubted her mumbled thanks was even heard as he simply pulled the truck through and headed down the road to the stable office.

That’s that.

The hall was empty, and the door to the study closed. Laurel made it up the stairs without running into anyone. Once the door to her sitting room was shut behind her, and only then, did she allow the dam of tears she had been pushing down with the lump in her throat finally bubble free and release the pain. She was the one who kept her cool, who never shed a tear in front of anyone, the one who had the thick skin. All the things people thought of her over the years were a bunch of fake bravado. Because she had a heart, and it had just broken into a thousand pieces. Love came for the first time, and she had just kicked it to the side of the road. Because she had made a promise, and the only thing she had left was that word. It had cost her everything.

*

“This is nice,”Sammi Jo said as they settled into the back booth at Coffee and a Chat. “I can’t remember the last time we were all able to do this together.”

“I can’t believe you were able to get this one away from her worksite,” Tally added. “You are the perfect example of a workaholic.”

“Okay, you both do not need to gang up on me,” Laurel responded, stirring the glass of tea in front of her. “I am a determined business owner.”

“That’syourfancy way of saying workaholic,” her sister said with a grin.

“Well, I’m just glad to have you ladies here today. So, tell me all the latest news about the baby and the ranch and when I get to cater food for an eligible sexy star,” Tally chimed in.

“You go first with baby news,” Laurel said, nodding at her sister. She reached for the basket that had been placed in front of her. “And I’ll just move this out of your way. We wouldn’t want you tempted away from the diet the doctor has you on.”

“Gee, thanks. I need to thank my husband for being busy today and not coming to my appointment with me. So now I have my sister being food police and eating all the homemade rolls.”

“I consider it a hardship, but I’ll take on the extra calories for you.” Laurel popped the buttered piece of warm roll into her mouth to make her point. She pushed the small plate with the carrots and celery stalks toward Sammi Jo with a somewhat apologetic smile.

“I’m sure Beaudry hates to miss the appointments. I’d say he could have let Jaxson handle the work for a little while, but I do remember that, with Jaxson being gone and all, it probably makes it harder for him to get away.”

“Where is Jaxson?” Laurel tried to make it sound as innocent as possible.

“I thought I mentioned it, but he’s gone to Canada to visit a breeding program that he and Beaudry have been interested in for some time. Beaudry was supposed to go, but Jaxson stepped up and traded places with him. Jaxson said I’d feel better if Beaudry stayed close to home.”

“You can always count on Jaxson,” Tally said. “Question is which one of you will make it down the aisle first? You or Jaxson? I know Arabella was seen over at Deidra’s, shopping in the bridal gown section. That girl is ready, willing, and able to run down that aisle.”

“Three days. The wedding will be in three days.” A shocked silence followed. And Laurel’s silence was the most shocked. Where had that come from? One moment she’s surprised to know that Jaxson was gone—she’d thought he was trying to stay out of her way when she hadn’t seen him for the better part of the week. And then the comment about Arabella shopping for a wedding gown... that triggered it. A strange panic had erupted in her stomach. She needed to get things moving so she could get on with her own life. And, hopefully, apologize to Jaxson and explain why she couldn’t say the things to him that she had wanted to say that stormy day at the farmhouse.

“Three days? Are you crazy?” Sammi Jo sat up straighter with a look of panic on her face. “How am I just now hearing about this? Do you know how much is involved in a wedding? What are your colors? How many guests? What are you wearing? We’ve got to make lists.”

Laurel let her run out of air, and then she supplied the answers. “That is what CeeCee has been doing. She is a great wedding planner, and she has everything in hand, from food to clothing. You’ll find out more about it later today. And your invites will be hand-delivered in the next day also,” she said to Tally. “It’s all a part of keeping things low-key and under the press radar. It is what we wanted the most—no Hollywood circus.” Tally followed the pair as they headed toward the front door.

“You best slow your sister down or we’ll be headed to the hospital instead of the caterer.”

Laurel shook her head. One complication after another. And she didn’t have time to wallow in how she felt to know that Jaxson had put a few thousand miles between them and hadn’t even said goodbye. But one thing at a time. She would have to begin letting others in on the plan and hope they would all be on board.

Chapter Fourteen

---