Page 143 of Perfect Cowboy

I carefully set the boxes down and rise to my feet, walking over to Savanna so I can hug her tightly.

“I would love to be your bridesmaid. Thank you so much for asking me and for the thoughtful gifts.”

She squeezes me back and whispers, “It’s my pleasure. And I’m so, so glad that Gavin found his way back to you. I’m telling you, girl, you look so good on him.”

“That means the world to me.”

I return to Gavin, who slides his arm around my shoulders and

pulls me close. The wedding will be a few months after we have the baby, and Gavin already told me that Bobby and Savanna are keeping it low-key.

Hopefully, they won’t mind their newborn niece or nephew joining the party.

Bobby gifts a trip to his parents, which he got cleared with Mr. Henderson’s doctor. He wants them to choose anywhere in the world and take some time out to enjoy each other.

Savanna has a watch for Gavin, and he surprises her with a first edition of her favorite book. I adore this family and how close they are, and I can’t believe I get to be part of it.

But then Bobby says he has something for me.

“Well, I don’t actually have something tangible for you to open,” Bobby says. “I only have a speech.”

“I got your fiancée an amazingly thoughtful gift, and you’re giving my girlfriend a speech?” Gavin jokes.

“Just let me make the damn speech before you decide who the better brother is,” Bobby suggests.

“I don’t know,” Savanna replies. “This is myfavoritebook, quarterback. You better have something even better.”

“I won the Super Bowl you know,” Bobby grumbles. “I also broke both of my arms. I was too busy to go shopping.”

“That’s why we have to listen to your speech,” Gavin remarks.

“Anyway,” Bobby says, rolling his eyes. “Ashley, my speech is for you, not the peanut gallery full of ingrates.”

His eyes are kind, but his next words freeze my blood.

“I met with a lawyer, and we calculated how much was owing to the people in town.”

My heart drops because he can only be referring to one thing – my dad and what he did. And I can’t imagine where he’s going with it.

The money that my dad didn’t use on Brady was seized, but there wasn’t much of the fortune remaining. A lot of people were left without their money, and apparently Bobby calculated the dollar amount, which I’m not prepared to hear.

“What is this about, man?” Gavin asks, picking up on the tension in my body.

He’ll rise to my defense against anyone, even his twin. He has so many people in his life who mean so much to him, but I’ll always be his number one.

“I want you to be comfortable in town,” Bobby says to me. “And even more importantly, I want you to be safe. So, the lawyer is going to work with you and Gavin to set up meetings with the townsfolk where you can present them with checks to pay them back.”

“I…” My throat is dry as sandpaper, but the words need to be said. “I’ve always wanted to pay everyone back, Bobby. I just… I can’t afford it right now.”

He smiles and his eyes are so gentle that he can’t be intending to hurt me by digging into old wounds in front of an audience.

“But I can,” he says. “It’s all taken care of for you. I’m going to cover repaying the debt so you two can just put all the bullshit behind you and start your lives together.”

“What?” I demand, heat rising to my cheeks. “No… Bobby, that has to be… Jesus. It’s alotof money. You can’t… I mean, I can’t accept something like that. Thank you, but–”

Bobby waves a hand. “It’s already done. It’s just money. You guys being happy and holding your heads high in town, knowing that you don’t owe anyone anything, means way more to me than the dollar figure.”

And I’m crying again.

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