Page 52 of My Cowboy Temptation

Chapter 17

Callie

Dark,rumbling clouds that cover the sky are the first thing I see and hear when I wake up the next morning, and I can’t help but feel there’s something ominous in the air. I know without calling out that Brody isn’t here, as I can sense his absence and the emptiness of my apartment.

I roll over and run into a piece of paper that, as I hold it above me, I see is a note Brody left me.

Cal,

Last night was incredible. YOU were incredible.

Once Zeke Palmer is taken care of, we have a lot to talk about. Until then, stay home, stay safe, and try not to worry.

Brody

P.S. Childs is outside your building keeping watch. Let him or me know if you need anything.

Throwingon an oversized tee shirt that I’ve taken to sleeping in, I tiptoe across the apartment until I’m at the front window. Sure enough, I see Childs down there—or at least his truck. And although he’s nothing close to the calming presence that Brody is, his presence is enough to ease some of my worry as I head to the bathroom to shower.

As the water washes over me, Brody’s words return.

I only have one dream these days, Cal. And it begins and ends with you.

I smile, my hand cradling my belly. “Who knew that beneath that cowboy’s thick, brawny chest was the heart of a poet?”

And for the first time in months, I’m growing excited again for the future. A future with Brody and this little one.

I hope he’ll understand why I haven’t told him about the baby before, that he’ll understand how I didn’t want it to seem like I entrapped him, forced him to do the right thing.

When I get out of the shower, I grab my phone and type one message to him.

Stay safe, Brody Dalton.

Don’t try to be a big hero. And when you’ve done what you need to do, come and find me, as there’s so much more I still need to say.

Love, Cal

I tamp down a moment of anxiety that he might be putting himself in harm’s way. Brody is a smart guy. Between him and my dad, I’m sure they’ll find the best way to neutralize this threat.

Then he’ll be back here, and I can finally tell him the truth.

That he’s going to be a daddy.

* * *

Brody

It’s nearly midnight and,according to our source, the designated time for Palmer’s latest shipment to arrive at his ranch. Lucas and I are sitting in his truck just off the highway, out of the way of law enforcement’s operation but close enough for us to confirm the takedown.

Since the crack of dawn, I’ve been doing what I had to do to get this operation off the ground, starting with tracking down one of Palmer’s drivers who, for the right price, was willing to share the schedule for tonight’s delivery. Then, after spending time with Chief McCall, convincing him the information was valid, we met with his friend in the DEA to go over the same information until we finally had the plan and the manpower to pull this off.

And now we wait.

“McCall may be a better asset to this town than I gave him credit for,” Lucas says to me as we both keep our gazes ahead where the activity is going on, even if we couldn’t see it.

I nod and glance down to my phone to make sure there aren’t any messages alerting me to any problems. With our own security amped up at the ranch and around Callie’s building, I don’t expect to see anything, but it still is a relief to see nothing out of the ordinary.

Callie sent me a brief text this morning, telling me to be safe and asking that as soon as we get this resolved, we still need to talk. A lot has already been said, some of it in anger, but the most important thing is that we’ve been honest with each other. There will be time to hash out the meaning of it all later, and I’m optimistic that we can work out all the kinks and find a way to be together. Permanently.

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