Page 20 of A Family With the Cowboy

Next to her, Hayden stiffened.

“I was going to text you…” Cooper smiled.

“Winter Ball?” she repeated, stalling, trying to think what to say. She liked Cooper. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was sitting right next to her—he was also going to be there.

“Yes.” Arlene nodded. “Everyone dresses up. There is a live band…”

“Mom.” Becket laughed. “Maybe you should explain the ‘band’ are people with other jobs who just like to make music together every now and again.”

“The last time I’ve been to a dance was as a student. I don’t—” Laura said.

“Everyone will be there,” Arlene interrupted.

“I don’t have anything to wear…” Laura tried again.

“Great,” said Arlene. “That means we can go shopping. Willow, what do you say? If we leave for Bozeman on Saturday morning early, we can be back before lunch.”

“Ooh, that sounds fabulous.” Willow grinned.

Cooper smiled. “If you don’t wanna go…”

“I’d love to go, thanks,” she heard herself saying. “What time Saturday morning?” she asked Arlene.

*

By the timeHayden got home, he was ready to punch his brother. The fact that Luke had been talking nonstop about his teacher during the drive home didn’t help, either.

Normally Cooper was the quiet one, the one who listened rather than talked. That hadn’t happened today. No, today he’d talked and flirted with Laura and made jokes, so unlike his usual self even Luke had asked him at some point if he was feeling okay.

As he and Luke walked toward the house, Cooper’s truck stopped behind them. Luke was racing toward an ecstatic Jessie.

“Is there a problem?” Hayden asked, irritated by his siblings’ grinning faces.

“If you have a thing for Laura, do something about it.” Coop grinned. “Don’t keep glaring at me.”

“I’m amazed he hadn’t slugged you.” Becket laughed. “There were several moments when he looked ready to put his fist in your face.”

“I don’t have a damn ‘thing’ for anyone,” Hayden growled.

Of course, Willow also had to chip in. “Oh, really? You can’t take your eyes off of her, yet you kept staring daggers at poor Cooper here, who only tried to keep the conversation going, seeing that you weren’t saying anything.”

“I’m happy to take Luke to the dance if you wanna swap dates,” Cooper teased.

With a short expletive, Hayden stomped away. He’d had it with his siblings, with this day, with all these crazy, unwanted feelings swirling inside of him, making him aware that he was a man, that he had needs.

Inside the house, he leaned against the first wall, trying to control his breathing. Yes, Laura was gorgeous. He noticed, but he couldn’t do anything about it, could he? Just for a moment, the possibility that he could phone Laura, that he could make a date with her, find out whether this craziness was something real, had his heart racing.

Damn it. He pushed away from the wall. How could he even think about a second chance at happiness? He didn’t deserve it, damn it. Walker hadn’t even had one chance to be happy, to fall in love, to raise a family. He’d died way too young. And he, Hayden, was to blame.

So it didn’t matter that he wanted Laura with every breath he took—he was ready to admit that to himself, at least—he could never do anything about it. Besides, it was probably lust, pure and simple. This craziness would disappear at some point. It had to.

“Dad?” Luke asked behind him and a small hand slipped into his.

Crouching down to look his son in the eye, the way he’d seen Laura do, he smiled. “Would you like some ice cream? And then I’d like it if you read something to me from one of your books.”

Luke’s eyes widened. “Do you have time for that?” he whispered.

Hayden swallowed. He hadn’t realized it before now, but he was always telling Luke he was busy, he didn’t have time. It was easier to avoid spending time with his son, who looked so much like his mom, than think about the pain of losing Madeline. “I’m making time.” Hayden grinned and, in one move, he got up and, swooping Luke up in his arms, he put him on his shoulders.

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