Page 58 of The Rough Rider

“How much spaghetti did you buy?” he asked.

“Enough for a few different meals.”

“Think you could cook it tonight?”

“Why?”

“I figured it would be a family thing.”

The words stuck in his throat. A family thing. Like she was family. Like they were family.

Well, they were in a way. She was...she was his. He was protecting her. Distance notwithstanding.

“Yeah,” she said. “Sure.” She grimaced. “I’m going to need to leave here pretty early.”

“That’s okay. You know you don’t have to do any of this.”

“I want to,” she said. “I like working on the ranch, Gus.”

“Do you like cooking?”

“Yeah. I mean, in that I don’t mind it. I like doing it for you.” She smiled at him. So winningly that he thought maybe she was teasing.

“You seem a lot less feral than normal.”

She scowled, and it was cute. And he really needed to get a grip. “I’m never feral.”

“Liar.”

“Well, I’m not feral now.”

“Why?”

“Well,” she said. “The thing is that I am renewed in my appreciation for what we are.”

Oh great. He was always happy to hear Alaina make proclamations.

Except, no.

“We’refriends, Gus,” she said, gesturing broadly. “We are. I mean... Look, I like Elsie, but she never offered to marry me.”

“Well, she is previously engaged.”

“Yeah, true. But the way that you stepped up. The way that you always have. I was right. You’re just sweet, Gus.”

Right in the testicles. Really. Just right in ’em.

Didn’t that silly girl know that the only sweetness he had in his entire body was reserved for her?

Only her.

No. She doesn’t. And what difference would it make?

None. Absolutely none.

He needed to get out of town. He needed to go screw someone else. Because he was...he didn’t even know.

Maybe after her doctor appointment. Maybe then he would go out of town, spend a few days away, find himself a couple of women.

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