Page 8 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

With a tired sigh, she stepped back so he could enter. “Mind? Thank God you’re here. I’ve been scared all day about what would happen when I left this evening. Did my aunt call you?”

He nodded. “I’m happy to help.” Then he patted the gun in the holster clipped to his belt. “I came prepared for the worst.”

Her eyes widened. “Let me just put my cart away, then I’m ready to go.”

Not wanting to let her out of his sight, he followed her to the closet, where she stashed the cart and the vacuum. He said, “I’ll follow you home, if that sounds all right.”

She met his gaze with a lopsided smile. “That’s perfect.” She held up her purse. “I’m licensed to carry, too, but I’m worried that this guy may run me off the road to get to me.” She looked toward the office. “I parked up front this morning. I guess my aunt told you the story.”

He nodded. “That was smart—honking your horn and calling attention to yourself.” He paused. “Taylor, I’m so glad you’re safe.”

She looked up at him, peering into his eyes.

He let her see how he felt—tense and worried, and a little bit of something else.

She dropped her gaze and said softly, “Thank you, Colt.”

“Let me give you a ride. I don’t want you walking over there alone.”

At the office, she poked her head in and called, “Teddy, I’m heading home.”

A thirtyish man with long curly brown hair approached the door. “You be safe now, Taylor.” Then he noticed Colt standing behind her. “Oh, hey, Colt, you taking her home?”

“Following her. I’ll make sure she gets there safe.”

Teddy nodded. “That’s good, then. That guy this morning was intense, and I don’t mean that in a good way.”

Taylor drove a Honda Civic that looked to be at least ten years old. She had the seat set way back to make room for her enlarged belly, and Colt wondered if it was uncomfortable for her to reach that far to the steering wheel. He couldn’t imagine being a woman and having his body change in such a significant way. He truly admired women who went through pregnancy and childbirth. He considered it the most exquisite miracle in the world.

Taylor pulled out of her parking space and headed for Main Street. Eyes searching both left and right, Colt saw no hint of a brown pickup truck in either direction as he turned onto Main. Taylor drove slowly, and it was easy to keep pace with her. He gave her some room but stayed close. They left town without incident, and during the twenty-minute drive to the Ardent ranch, he saw nothing in his rearview mirror.

Only Shannon’s Toyota was parked at the house. Colt relaxed as he pulled up in front of the porch and got out.

Taylor parked and met him at the steps.

Shannon opened the screen door, wiping her hands on her apron. “Colt, thanks for bringing her home. I’ve been worried sick all day.”

“Would you come in for a glass of iced tea?” Taylor asked.

He smiled. “I’d like that.”

“Can you stay and eat?” Shannon asked as she held the screen door open.

The corner of his mouth drew down. “Normally, I’d jump at the chance, Shannon, but my mom’s cooking a special dinner tonight for my dad’s birthday.”

She patted his shoulder as he walked inside. “Well, you sure can’t miss that, can you?”

“No, ma’am.”

“You all sit down while I get your tea,” Shannon said as she headed to the kitchen.

Taylor kicked off her tennis shoes and moaned. “God, it feels good to get those off.”

He chuckled. “How much longer are you going to work? I mean, are you going to take time off before your due date?”

“I figure I’ll work right up until I go into labor. After all, I’d just be hanging out here at the house—and besides, I need the money.”

He watched her waddle over to the recliner across from him and lower herself into the seat. She had to be so uncomfortable. “Do you have the baby’s room all set up?”

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