Page 87 of Wrangled Love

I nudge it closer. “Only one way to find out.”

“Yeah, Dad,” Caleb chimes in with a toothy grin.

Jensen smiles the instant Caleb speaks. In the past couple of weeks, Caleb’s confidence has blossomed, and he’s even made a new friend from summer camp, a boy named Jake. They’ve had afew playdates, and we have another one scheduled for this weekend. He occasionally clams up around strangers, but at home, he’s chatty and curious and it’s more than Jensen or I could’ve hoped for.

“Alright, alright.” Jensen chuckles as he reaches for the box. “But if this thing has teeth, I’m blaming both of you if it bites.”

Caleb giggles. “No peeking till I say.”

“Cross my heart,” Jensen replies, tracing an invisible X over his chest and averting his gaze as he lifts the lid with exaggerated suspense.

Caleb scoots to the edge of his seat, practically buzzing with excitement. He helped me pick out the gift and has been counting down the minutes until he could give it to Jensen.

“Okay, look now, Dad!”

Jensen sets the lid aside and blinks in disbelief as he lifts a honey-brown cowboy hat from the box. He traces the stitching along the brim, handling it like a prized possession.

He glances at me. “Did Walker or Heath put you up to this?” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice.

I grin, shaking my head. “Nope. I’ve been wanting to get you one for a while, and Caleb and I figured it was high time you had one of your own.”

Caleb leans over to tug on my sleeve.

“What is it, little man?”

“Can I show Dad the second surprise?”

I smile warmly. “You sure can.”

“Awesome!”

He races from the kitchen, his footsteps echoing as he bounds up the stairs toward his room.

Jensen raises a brow. “There’s more?”

“Trust me, you’ll be happy there is.”

A minute later, Caleb comes back into the room with a miniature version of Jensen’s hat perched on his head. Jensen grins, picking up his own from the table and putting it on.

“We match.” Caleb beams.

Jensen scoops him into his arms. “Sure do, partner.” He looks over at me with a cheeky grin. “We make a pretty great pair, don’t we?”

“The most handsome cowboys around.” When Jensen first got here, he might have scoffed at me using that term, but now he accepts the compliment without a second thought.

“You’ve got to wear them to the ranch house. Mama Julie’s going to want a picture with you in yours, Caleb,” I say.

“Can we leave now!?” he exclaims.

Mama Julie and Pops invited us over for another barbecue tonight. They’ve asked Caleb to come over several times in the past few days, and I’m pretty sure they’ve picked up on whatever is happening between me and Jensen. They haven’t asked us outright; although, I’m certain Mama Julie will bring it up sooner rather than later.

I glance at the stove clock to see that it’s almost six.

“Yeah, we should head out, or we’ll be late,” I say, pushing my chair back as I stand. “I’ll get the macaroni salad from the fridge after I put my shoes on.”

“Sounds good,” Jensen says. “Caleb’s boots are in his room. We’ll get those so we can head out.”

On my way to the hallway, I notice I have an unread text waiting.

---