Page 70 of Trusting a Cowgirl

“I’m not dating Shane, Dad. I’m dating Riley.”

His expression hardened. “Based on the way you two were talking, are you sure about that?”

She dragged her attention back to the road where Riley had left. Her father was right. At this point, she wasn’t sure if they were. He hadn’t outright said that they were breaking up. For all she knew, his rant was just a long venting session about issues that still needed to be resolved.

Grace forced herself to the present and charged after her father. “You’re not going to talk to Shane.”

He chuckled. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

She grabbed his arm and swung him around. “And you need to learn that you can’t tell me or any of us what to do.”

Zeke stared at her hard. He’d been doing so well with relaxing the rules; she probably shouldn’t have poked the bear. He was still her father and someone she needed to respect. His opinion mattered.

But that didn’t mean he could control her life. She needed to make her mistakes and learn from them just like anyone else. Grace shook her head. “You’re not. Because this has nothing to do with you, I made my choices and I get to deal with them. I wanted to date him.”

His features softened slightly.

“And for the record, Shane wasn’t all that pleased that we developed feelings for each other either. The age thing for sure bothered him.”

“What age thing?”

Her eyes widened and she released him. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that Riley needs me. He needs someone who knows how to listen and get him through the rough spots. Didn’t Mom ever do that for you?”

At that moment she saw it in his eyes. His resolve faltered.

“Riley is just a man like any other. He has things he’s working through, but at least he’s doing that. I don’t know many who would actually stick it out when they’ve been told to get therapy. That takes a different kind of strength, and he should be respected for it too.”

Her father rubbed the back of his neck and he looked away. “Sometimes I forget that you’re not my little girl anymore. You’ve grown up and matured into a lovely young woman. Your mother would be so proud.”

Grace’s heart tightened, making it more difficult to breathe. “Thanks, Dad,” she murmured.

Zeke shook his head and tossed his gun slightly to get a better grip on it. “Fine. I won’t go talk to Shane. But if anything happens to you, I’m holding him liable.”

“Dad! Nothing is going to happen to me. Riley—”

“Loves you, I know.”

She snapped her mouth shut. That’s not what she’d planned on saying. She wasn’t there yet. Love was a big commitment—bigger than agreeing to date someone. She wasn’t ready to admit something like that. When she finally said those words, she wanted to know without a single doubt in her mind that she meant them. She wanted to ensure that the person she said those words to would know just how much weight a proclamation of love meant.

Her father placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “I can tell he cares about you. But I don’t think he’s ready for you yet.”

Brows pulling together, Grace frowned with confusion. “You don’t think he loves me?”

“Oh, I’m sure he does. But there’s a difference between the first breath of love and the kind of love a man has when he knows he will sacrifice everything for her.”

Grace’s stomach dropped. Was her father suggesting that Riley was merely infatuated with her? Was she right to withhold saying those three special words?

“From the looks of it, Riley is still working through some things. His heart is juggling those feelings and the feelings he has for you. At some point he’s going to miss, and a ball will fall to the floor.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t want that to be you.”

She bit down on her lower lip, emotion filling her throat. She didn’t want it to be her either. Her father might not be suggesting that she break up with Riley, but it sure felt like he was telling her she needed to take a break and let him sort things out for himself first.

Zeke released her and headed toward the house without another word, leaving her cold and alone with her tumultuous thoughts.

25

Riley

Riley pulled sharply into the country club’s parking lot. Gravel spewed angrily from beneath his tires, reminding him he needed to tread carefully or end up with those tiny stones tearing into his flesh. He turned down the small road that led to the cabins, barely keeping his emotions intact.

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