Page 151 of My Cowboy Freedom
“So it’s not true?”
“You and Rocky were spying on us the other night. What did you think was going on? I’m crazy about that man.”
“Well... don’t tell me. Tell Foz.”
“I will.” She gave my arm a weak little punch. “Shouldn’t have to. But I will.”
“Man’s heart is broken. You don’t want to be responsible for that.”
“Shut up.”
“Tell him soon.”
“I will. What about you?”
“What about me?” I asked.
Her expression turned serious. “Have you given any thought to what dating someone like Rocky will be like?”
“I don’t think—”
“You’ve been in prison since high school.” She leaned her elbows on the table. “You guys are like little babies, emotionally.”
“Say what?”
“I understand Rock,” She said. “He wants what everyone wants, companionship and sex and someone to have fun with.”
The motion she made with her hands was so obscene. I shouldn’t have laughed.
“So what do I want?” If she knew so much, she could tell me that.
She took my face between her hands.
“Oh, honey. You just want to survive.” Her expression was so warm and tender, so loving, I almost drowned in her soft brown eyes. “You’re just keeping your head above water, aren’t you? I respect that. Ihonorthat.”
My eyes stung.
“And I am not about to let you give away everything you have because you figure anyone else deserves it more than you do.”
Hot tears splashed my jeans. Hers or mine, it didn’t matter.
“You’re no badass. You’re a good boy, Skyler Brody. You’refamily. And unless and until I am forced to let you go, you are goingnowhere.”
Her words broke me.
Shattered me.
Rock had said I’d win her over, but I never believed it, and now that she was looking at me with the kind of maternal affection I was never going to get from my own mother, I began to understand Rock’s loyalty.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome—”
The mudroom door opened and we both glanced up, expecting Foz to walk in.
Instead,Maisyskittered across the slick kitchen floor and Rock sauntered in right behind her, wearing that gentle cowboy smile of his.
“Honey, I’m home.”
