Page 29 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

No, no, no. Just what had her grandmother revealed? But she couldn’t ask here. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to ask at all. Did Mrs. Lawrence tell the others?

As if reading Skylar’s mind, Mrs. Lawrence kept her close. She even smelled like home, of yummy foods and warmth. “Don’t worry. I didn’t tell anyone. Even Dallas.”

That must’ve been difficult. Skylar didn’t think she could do the same if she were in Mrs. Lawrence’s place. Relief whooshed out of Skylar’s lungs in a sigh. “That means a lot to me. Everything.”

“We were just finishing lunch. The others already left. Care to join us?” Mrs. Lawrence gestured to the table.

It felt painfully familiar. Skylar had stayed a lot of times for meals there. There was always a place for one more person at their place—especially without Mr. Lawrence. But there was no return to old times, and her insides ached for that. She didn’t deserve to be at their table any longer.

“Thanks, but it’s okay,” she said.

“Oh, and thank you for the pie,” Mrs. Lawrence said, but with much less enthusiasm.

Kai’s smile became a frown. Skylar didn’t know what Dallas’s reaction was because she still refused to look his way.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Just because the boys had gotten indigestion from her dishes a few times didn’t mean she hadn’t learned to cook. Even if she, well, hadn’t. “Oh, come on. My cooking isn’t that bad. Anyway, mygrandmothermade this pie.”

“Oh, good.” Mrs. Lawrence exhaled in a whoosh. Grandma’s baking was legendary.

“I did help make it, so there’s that.” Wait? Did Dallas just chuckle? She couldn’t say for sure because, once again, she didn’t look in his direction.

Mrs. Lawrence took her rightful place at the table. “Please thank your grandmother on our behalf.” Her brows pinched together before she raised her chin. She styled her chocolate-brown, wavy hair shorter now, and her wrinkles were a bit more pronounced. But she was the same woman who’d welcomed Skylar into her house with no questions asked. She still wore the seashell earrings Skylar had made for her, and it warmed Skylar’s heart.

“I’d love to visit her sometime soon,” Mrs. Lawrence said. “Would that be okay with you?”

“Of course!” Skylar nodded once and then another time for good measure. “You don’t have to ask.”

When Grandma had lost her only son and her daughter-in-law, the latter’s friends, including Mrs. Lawrence, had formed an unspoken agreement to visit her and help with chores if needed, but most of all, simply to be there in her grief. Skylar had never forgotten that. Guilt stabbed her again.

Mrs. Lawrence gestured at the vacated chair again. “Please join us.”

Skylar swallowed hard. Talk about awkward.

Thanks again, Grandma.

“Um, I was just leaving. And your lunch is over.”

“But you brought the dessert.” Kai winked. “Come on. We won’t bite—well, other than the pie—and you promised it won’t bite back.”

He didn’t flirt with her. It was just his nature, though he’d been rumored to have left a lot of broken hearts.

How could Mrs. Lawrence and Kai forgive her so easily? Some of Dallas’s brothers hadn’t forgiven her, and neither had he, not fully. Spending time with him yesterday had caused her to toss and turn for hours, thinking about him, remembering all the things they’d shared. And even when she’d fallen asleep, he’d invaded her dreams. Until Breeze’s growl had awakened her.

Having lunch with Dallas yesterday was a bad idea. It would be a mistake to have dessert with his family today. Spendinganytime with him was a mistake.

But when he got up and pulled out a sturdy oak chair for her without saying a word, her legs carried her to the chair. Her heartbeat increased just from breathing his intoxicating cologne with woodsy notes of cedar and juniper. She’d given him the first bottle after she’d sold one of her paintings. He’d never changed his cologne. Yes, he’d matured, his broad shoulders filled out, and his arms were more muscular now. But he hadn’t changed much, while she had.

She sat.

“Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you.” She cringed. How many times was she going to say that? She was worse than Kai’s parrot.

“We’re glad to have you back.” Mrs. Lawrence cut the pie. She paused, then shrugged. “Well, some of us are.”

Did that include Dallas? Skylar cringed again, too desperate for the answer for her liking.

She attempted a smile and tried to infuse some of her former humor into her words. “Are you sure you don’t need me to try the first piece of the pie? To make sure it’s edible because, you know, I did help make it?”

Kai chuckled as he helped himself to a slice. “Nah. They have me for that.”

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