Page 9 of Mad About Her Cowboys

And her ex…yes, he’d cheated on her and given her a good excuse to break off the engagement, but she’d gotten pregnant one night when he’d drunkenly accosted her. That was a different and wholly confusing story, one that both humiliated and frightened her.

Maybe, it explained her reluctance to “have dinner” with the Quists. Sometimes, no wasn’t enough.

“Do you mind if I take my lunch?” She could head over to her room at the B&B and hide out until they guys had finished the appointment and gone back to wherever they lived. Since she was moving upstairs once Riv left tonight, she could get herself packed up and ready for the move.

River nodded. “Sure. Just know that hiding out won’t solve your problem—not that I think it’s really a problem. They’re good men. Yeah, they’ve set their sights on you. Unless you give them a clear no, they won’t stop courting. So…take a moment and get your head together. Decide what you really want.”

“What do you think?” she asked, unable to help herself.

“Like I said, they’re good guys. I’ve never seen any of them throw their hat into the proverbial ring, just so you know. They’re heads down, running their business. Hard workers. Respectful whenever I see them.”

They’re good guys. Everyone thought Martin was a good guy, too. Looking back, Madison saw the signs that maybe that wasn’t true. And she knew River had never really liked him.

She closed her eyes and took a shuddery inhale, pushing her asshole ex from her thoughts. You can’t paint everyone with that brush, Mads. Not every guy is a douchebag abuser.

With that thought, she headed out, going toward the O’Keefes’ to find a few moments of peace and gather her thoughts as River had suggested.

They’re good guys.

I’ve never seen any of them throw their hat into the proverbial ring.

Decide what you want…

Problem was, she knew what she wanted. She just knew she couldn’t say yes to it. Her hand flatten over her stomach, there was more at stake than just her, and after what she’d been through with Martin, she wasn’t so sure she was ready to throw her own hat back in the ring. Ever.

Chapter Five

She was a coward.

Madison doodled a circle on the steno pad beside her on the desk, thinking of the past two hours and waiting for five o’clock so the office could lock up for the weekend. River had gone home with her guys right after Madison had returned from lunch—not a big deal since the office didn’t have anything on the books and Mads was perfectly capable of running the desk on her own, as well as doing any nursing duties that might come up. Certainly, as slow as it was, she almost wondered why Doc needed anyone beside himself. River assured her it was much busier in the spring and summer months.

Good thing or Mads might lose her mind—the part that wasn’t fully consumed with what-ifs after the brief encounter with the Quists earlier today, anyway. When she’d gone home for lunch, Rayna had been puttering around the kitchen. She’d told Madison the same things as River: Daly had a practice called the Daly Way because there was a lack of women. The men stayed in line because of mob justice. The Quists were model citizens, overall nice guys and real catches as far as Rayna was concerned.

When Madison returned to the Daly Medical Center, a mere few minutes’ walk from where she was staying, the paragons of virtue were gone, finished with Franklin’s appointment and on their way back to wherever they lived or whatever they needed to do this afternoon. She couldn’t help but be a little disappointed, though it was her own darn fault she hadn’t been here when they were finished with Franklin’s exam.

So she’d been thinking since then. About her fears. About what ifs. About what would have happened if she’d said yes.

“You make up your mind?”

She looked up, wide-eyed, at the deep voice that caressed over her like soft velvet. He stood just inside the doorway to the waiting room. The glass door was to his back, the setting sun haloing him with light and blurring his face to her vision.

“Connor,” she breathed in surprise.

“I like my name on your lips, darlin’. So…did you decide?”

She hadn’t. Not completely. After they’d gone, she’d concluded it was too late, anyway, that she’d missed her chance. But now, one of them was here. Anticipation rebuilt in her middle, and she tried to rein it in.

“Just dinner?” she asked. Why did she sound breathless? Way to play it cool, Mads.

“Unless you want more.” He shrugged. “We’re okay with just dinner. We’ll go as slow or fast as you’re comfortable.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “As long as we’re the only ones you’re getting familiar with.”

“I don’t run around,” she said. “When I’m with someone, I’m with them.” That could be why the idea of being with more than one man, even if they were all in on it, seemed so foreign.

“Didn’t think you were a player, sweet thing. No worries there. You seem kind of…pure.”

“I’m not a virgin,” she snapped. Was that why they wanted her? They wanted to dirty up someone untouched. Jerks.

“Even better,” Connor replied calmly, derailing her mental tirade before it went too far. Okay, she was jumping to conclusions and obviously oversensitive. “Dinner?” he repeated. “At our place?”

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