Page 61 of Parading the Cowboy Billionaire (Bluegrass Ranch 4)

“Please,” she said, hurrying after him. “Don’t do this. If you walk out that door, I will lose everything I want. Absolutely everything.”

Couldn’t he see that? Couldn’t he see that he was who she wanted? If he couldn’t she didn’t know how to make it more plain.

She’d saidI love you. She’d just told him he was everything she wanted.

He held her gaze for a few seconds, then twisted the doorknob. “I’ll come help you with the cakes tomorrow night. You said eight?”

She nodded, her fingers curled into fists. Her fingernails pressed into her palms, and that pain kept her sobs at bay.

“See you then,” he said, and in the next blink, he was gone. The door clicked closed.

Ginny collapsed onto the couch and curled into herself, hugging a pillow as her anguish and agony rolled through her and spilled out of her mouth and eyes.

The worst part was she didn’t know if he’d broken up with her or not.

* * *

“More citrus blossoms,”Olli said, putting another basket inside the empty one. “Spur’s bringing the lavender and pansies.”

“Thank you,” Ginny said without looking up. She’d been working for about thirty minutes, and she’d beautified about two-thirds of the miniature bundt cakes.

“Can I help?” Olli asked, and Ginny knew that tone.

“Of course,” she said anyway. She couldn’t deny her best friend, and she found she didn’t even want to. She’d always made people work really hard to be her friend, and no one had tried harder than Olli. Once Ginny had let her inside the inner circle, they’d been closer than ever.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Olli said. “I can simply feel your misery.”

Ginny just nodded, carefully placing a pretty white citrus blossom on a chocolate cake.

“Do you want to tell me?”

“Can I come over tonight and do it?” She lifted her head and met Olli’s eyes. They swam with concern, and Ginny grabbed her in a hug before she could burst into tears.

“Yes,” Olli said. “Of course you can come over tonight.” She held Ginny tightly and refused to let go. “I’ll kick Spur out, and we’ll make whatever kind of cookies you want. I’ll burn all my good juju candles, and everything will be fine.”

Ginny nodded against her best friend’s shoulder. “I want the triple chocolate chunk.”

“I’ll send Spur to get the ingredients after the renewal.”

Ginny calmed, finally realizing what she could feel against her stomach. She yanked herself away from Olli, her mind racing as her eyes widened. “Olli.” She sucked in a breath as she looked at her midsection. It was definitely swollen, and Ginny had felt the hard bump of it. “You’re pregnant.”

Olli’s whole face lit up. She nodded, her eyes turning glassy. “I wanted to tell you Ginny. I did. We haven’t told anyone but my parents and Spur’s. Well, he told his brothers at the wedding a month or so ago. It’s just…I’m high-risk because of my age, and I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t lose the baby.”

Ginny exhaled, the sound soft and full of awe. “Can I?” She reached out toward Olli, hesitating before she touched her.

“Yes. Of course.”

Ginny put her hand against Olli’s baby bump, so many things in her life aligning. At the same time, the harsh reminder of what she’d never have sliced through her like a hot, sharp knife. Her smile wobbled, and she wasn’t sure if it had come from joy or pain.

“I’m sorry,” Olli said. “I also didn’t want to tell you, because I thought it might upset you.”

Ginny shook her head, her tears falling softly. “I’m not upset.” She pulled her hand back and looked Olli in the eyes. “You’re my best friend. I love you, and I want you to be happy. I’m thrilled for you and Spur.” She gathered her into a hug again. “Just thrilled.”

“Thank you, Ginny,” Olli whispered. “What happened with Cayden?”

Ginny pressed her eyes closed, wondering how she had the strength to even be where she was. Surrounded by Chappells, another happily-ever-after that wasn’t hers right in front of her face.

“He wants to break up with me,” she said, stepping back and returning her gaze to the bundt cakes. She’d promised Beth they’d be perfect, and they were going to be. Ginny didn’t deliver anything but perfection.

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