Page 21 of Marrying the Billboard Cowboy

Stetson chattered on about horses and cowboys, filling the room with an innocent joy that smoothed the wrinkles of worry from Kaitlyn’s forehead. For a moment, as they shared this meal, the shadow of her past receded, and she allowed herself to bask in the warmth of the present.

As dinner wound down, Kaitlyn stood, gathering her plate and Zeke’s. “I can wash up,” she said.

Zeke rose, his chair scraping gently against the floor. “No, you sit down and relax. This place looks great, and dinner was delicious.” He reached out, his work-worn hand gentle as it brushed against hers, taking the dishes from her grasp. “I promised to provide for you, and that means giving you a break when you need it.”

She hesitated, her instincts warring with the gratitude swelling in her chest. “I’m not used to sitting back,” she admitted, her voice threaded with a vulnerability she rarely showed.

“Consider it practice,” Zeke replied, flashing her a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Besides, this gives me time to think on my lesson plan for your cooking classes.”

Kaitlyn let out a soft laugh, the sound surprising her.

“All right, Chef Zeke,” she said with a playful tilt of her head. “I’ll take you up on that offer, but only if you promise to be patient with me.”

“Patience is a virtue,” he quipped back, already turning toward the sink with a roll of his sleeves. “And I’ve got plenty of it.”

With a contented sigh, Kaitlyn sank back into her seat, watching Zeke tackle the dishes with the same care he put into everything else.

A few hours later, laughter echoed through the modest living room as Stetson’s small hand smacked down on the pile of cards. “Gotcha!” he exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

“Looks like you’re the slapjack champion,” Zeke said, ruffling the boy’s hair affectionately. Kaitlyn watched the exchange, her heart squeezing at the sight of her son basking in the glow of male attention—something he’d had so little of in his young life.

“Time for bed, Stet,” she said, though her voice was gentle, not wanting to break the magic of the moment for him.

“Aw, Mom...” Stetson’s shoulders slumped, but he dutifully began gathering the cards, his eyelids heavy with impending sleep.

“Hey, buddy,” Zeke chimed in, “I promise we’ll play again tomorrow. And soon, you’ll have your own room to put all your toys in. How does that sound?”

Kaitlyn hid her surprise at the declaration. His own room? Even before they’d been evicted, they’d shared a studio apartment. Stetson had never had his own room.

“Really?” Stetson’s eyes lit up before he yawned widely.

“Really,” Zeke assured, and Kaitlyn felt a warmth in her chest at the promise.

With Stetson settled on the couch, tucked under a blanket that Zeke had provided, Kaitlyn retreated to the privacy of the bedroom. Was this the right choice? Her mind spiraled with the question, uncertain and yet clinging to the flickers of hope that had ignited throughout the day. Marrying Zeke was a leap of faith—one she prayed fervently would land her and Stetson in a place of love and stability.

A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts, and she called out a soft, “Come in.”

Zeke’s head peeked around the door, his presence filling the space even before he fully entered. “Okay if I come in?”

“Of course,” she answered. “It’s your room.”

Zeke busied himself in the closet. “Our room,” he grumbled, the words so quiet she almost didn’t hear them.

Her gaze met his when he came out, and she searched for the right words. “Today has been... overwhelming, but in a good way.”

“Understandable,” Zeke replied, running a hand through his dark hair—a gesture she was coming to recognize as one of his tells for discomfort. “And, uh, if there’s ever anything on your mind, you know, I’m here.”

“Thank you, Zeke.” She offered a tentative smile, imbued with more gratitude than she could express. “That means a lot.”

Kaitlyn grabbed her pajamas and stepped inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click, the sound seeming to echo louder in the quiet of Zeke’s—no, their house. The mirror held her reflection. She was tired, but already the dark circles under her eyes seemed lighter. She quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face, then slipped into her ragged sweatpants and T-shirt.

A wry smile greeted her in the mirror when she took one last look. It wasn’t exactly the wedding night sleepwear most men would expect. But it wasn’t as though she was looking to seduce her husband.

She tiptoed down the hallway, trying to avoid Stetson’s attention as he tried to fall asleep. She pushed the bedroom door open. Zeke stood with his back to her, pulling a dark shirt over his head. Muscles shifted under his skin, a brief glimpse of his skin causing a shiver to run down her spine. She averted her eyes hurriedly, heat creeping into her cheeks.

She busied herself fluffing the pillows as she tried to ignore the overwhelming awareness of Zeke’s presence. He moved around to the other side of the bed. It creaked softly as Zeke settled under the covers, and Kaitlyn followed suit, slipping between the cool sheets with a silent breath.

The ceiling offered no answers to her racing thoughts. The kiss at the courthouse had been tender, with gentle pressure and lingering warmth. Now, lying beside the man who was her husband in name and yet a mystery in so many ways, Kaitlyn felt adrift amidst her own emotions.

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