Page 72 of Wounded Cowboy
Kelsey glanced over at Jenna, feeling beyond grateful for this cozy girls’ night after her long drive back to Montana.
“Can you believe these guys?” Jenna asked, pointing at the TV screen, where Derek, who was Lone Star Lady Savannah’s husband, had just gotten completely wasted at a high-end party. Derek was currently making an obnoxious fool of himself despite his wife’s desperate attempts to moderate the situation.
As Jenna spoke, Derek staggered across the party host’s patio and fell into the swimming pool, fully clothed.
“I mean, we may be single,” Jenna continued,“but at least we’re not saddled with a loser like Derek!”
Kelsey chuckled.“Tell me about it! I’ll take being single in Snowberry Springs any day overthathot mess.”
As she sipped at her white wine, she took in the familiar surroundings of the spacious apartment above Jenna’s Java. Jenna’s home was comfortably furnished, with warm wooden floors, a spacious open-plan living room/dining room area, and a recently renovated kitchen that any home chef would envy.
Unbelievably, the apartment also had three bedrooms—a primary bedroom with ensuite for Jenna, and two smaller bedrooms for her six-year-old twins, Manny and Esperanza. The living room sofa folded out into a queen-sized bed, which was where Kelsey was sleeping until she could find a job and a place of her own.
Looking around, Kelsey couldn’t help but compare Jenna’s roomy yet affordable place to her own cramped three hundred square foot studio apartment in Sherman Oaks. She was so very glad to be out of there and back in Snowberry Springs.
The past week had been an exhausting scramble. She’d quit the nanny agency, sublet her apartment to another nanny, and packed up everything for the long drive back to Montana. With each mile increasing the distance between her and L.A., Kelsey’s spirits had lightened.
Now, sitting here with Jenna, drinking wine and laughing together, Kelsey knew without a doubt that she had made the right decision.
“I never appreciated how amazing your place is, Jenna,” Kelsey said sincerely.“It’s so much better than my shoebox-sized studio in L.A.”
“Thanks, Kels,” Jenna replied, her eyes shining with pride.“Did you know that Abigail’s late husband, Frank, loaned me the money to buy this building and open Jenna’s Java?”
Kelsey shook her head. It seemed like Spring’s grandparents had had their fingers in every pie in town.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re back here with us,” Jenna continued.“When you left, I was sure you weren’t ever coming back. Snowberry Springs just wasn’t the same without you.”
Kelsey grinned and raised her glass in a toast.“Here’s to realizing that there’s no place like home, and to many more girls’ nights like this one.”
“Cheers!” Jenna chimed in, clinking her glass against Kelsey’s. Then she picked up her remote.“Ready for another episode ofLone Star Ladies?”
As the next episode began, Kelsey’s thoughts drifted to Spring and his daughters.
She hadn’t contacted him yet, because she wanted to give herself a day or two to unpack and settle in at Jenna’s—and gather her courage—before contacting Spring.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.Did Spring think about me as much as I thought about him while I was in L.A.?
What if he’d already moved on after ending their relationship?
Kelsey took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. April had texted her that Spring was sad without her. Kelsey had to continue believing that was a hopeful sign.
Besides, Jenna would’ve told me if Spring was dating someone else.
Then Kelsey wondered how things were going with the new nanny. Claudia Harwood’s resume had been impressive, and she had a lot of experience.
Jenna snorted at something happening on the screen. Kelsey tried to force her attention back to the misadventures of hapless oil heiress Madison Clark and her scummy cheater husband, Trent.
The doorbell rang. Jenna frowned up at the clock.“Who’s dropping by atthishour?” she muttered.
She rose from the couch and headed to the door, leaving Kelsey sitting there.
In L.A., you only opened your door if you were expecting someone. But this was Snowberry Springs, and stranger danger wasn’t a thing.
Jenna opened the door.
“Oh, hey,” she said, sounding surprised and pleased.“I was wondering when you’d drop by.”
Then a deep, beloved voice said,“Hey, Jenna. Is Kelsey here?”
