Page 9 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

There’d been no one since then. I mean, I’d shied away from men, choosing to focus on my daughter.

It’d obviously been the right choice since the one man I’d been attracted to since Nicky had turned me down flat.

I’d seen Dante several times since Jezebel’s wedding. He’d tried talking to me, but honestly, I didn’t want to hear it. I usually raised my hand and said no before he even opened his mouth.

I was being rude, but whatever.

Clearly, my man radar was broken.

I’d only just considered trying to date again when Mr. Dryden appeared at school. Two conversations in the lounge and the creep thought he could parent my daughter.

Hell. No.

The idea of him anywhere near her made my blood run cold. Dryden’s involvement just felt wrong.

And I was through feeling charitable. With him. With everyone.

My hands tightened around the clipboard I picked up as I went to watch the students in the hall.

I forced myself to loosen my grip before I snapped it in half.

Two more hours till I could take my sweet girl home and leave this place behind for the weekend.

I could do this. I’d been through worse.

Still, the weight of everything felt like it was pressing down on me.

Here I took care of cuts and bruises. I doled out Band-aids and sugar free lollipops, making the boo-boos go away.

Usually, I took pride in my work. In my ability to offer sympathy and compassion to these kids when they were away from their parents.

But today, it felt like I was losing ground.

Self-doubt crept in and I wondered if I wasn’t a terrible mother, after all. It was my biggest fear. Every parent’s biggest fear. That something lacking in me was causing Rosie’s upset.

That I was to blame for it.

I sighed and offered a wan smile to the passing kindergartners who waved as they walked to the cafeteria.

I had enough on my mind without that unfortunate kiss taking up residency like it was paying rent.

It was best not to think about big dumb men who made me crazy.

Chapter Three-Dante

“Goddamnit, Jed! Will you get Dolly Lou Who outta here!” Kian screeched, grabbing his ass where the goat head butted him a second time.

My Bear snarled as the sound of the Bull Shifter’s wails reverberated in the closed dairy barn. We were repairing some leaks we’d found on the roof, using a special sealant on the ceiling inside to finish up the job.

“Sorry, Kian. Doll Lou is just a curious little thing, ain’t cha girl?” the old Prairie Dog Shifter replied, tossing a rope around the little goat’s neck, and tugging her outside.

This barn was for the dairy cows. The new one for the goats was located in the enclosed pasture next door. Cows and goats got along fine, but Jed spoiled his little girls, giving them free rein.

Personally, I was a fan of Dolly Lou, and any other goat who took issue with Kian. That obnoxious bovine was on my last nerve.

Ever since Emmet got hitched, the asshole couldn’t stop yapping about finding his mate. After which he always seemed to bring up Avery. Almost hinting the woman was his mate.

Fuck. No. Grrrr.

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