Page 24 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

As a child, he’d dreamed of sailing on one as far from his father’s screams and slaps as he could go. He hadn’t made it far in a geographical sense, but very far in the sense of achievements. But as he turned to her, those achievements didn’t make his chest swell with pride like they used to.

“You were sort of a beach cowboy.” She followed his gaze until the sailboat disappeared.

“Not anymore.”

She pushed her empty plate away. “I’m ready for that walk if you are.”

He asked the waitress for the check.

Cinderella leaned forward, her expression unreadable, but her bright hazel gaze got under his skin.Shewas getting under his skin. “Do you miss it? The carefree time at the beach? The camaraderie with your brothers?”

“I didn’t until now.” She made him ask himself uncomfortable questions, and he didn’t think he liked the answers.

You aren’t going to amount to anything!

His father’s screams and slaps had partially propelled Tex to work hard, but there was more. “Years ago, we nearly lost the ranch after one of my father’s bad decisions.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” The fiery glow in her eyes softened.

He paid the check, but neither of them got up. His fingers tapped on the aquamarine tabletop, landing just below the beak of the pelican painted there. He’d never shared this with anyone. Was afraid to appear vulnerable, to reveal his soft spot. It was a no-no in business.

Why was he telling it to her? It wasn’t that he wanted to appear as a hero—maybe a little bit. He just wanted her to know there was more to him than the outside success. He wanted her to know the real him. Not just the overconfident image he portrayed to the public. “I wanted to ensure my mother and brothers never had to worry about something like that again. They love that land and those animals.”

“And you love them.” She didn’t say it as a question but as a statement.

“Yes.” His family was his weak spot and how competitors could get to him. So he hadn’t revealed those things before. The next reason was easier to share. “I love seeing the inventions of... of my friend come to life. They help people. Serve a purpose, and therefore, so do I.”

“That’s admirable. Very much so.”

Since she sounded like she meant it, he preened. But a thought bothered him. He kept proving himself to a man who hadn’t existed for decades. Why was that? And when would be the time to stop?

She got up, and they walked through the restaurant to the parking lot. Her hand stayed in her purse during the short walk, so she must be keeping her fingers on her gun.

Once in the parking lot, she lingered. “It might not be such a great idea for you to be outside in the open. You risked it already by going to the restaurant.”

His heart fell to the asphalt. “Nothing’s happened these last few days. Maybe that was a random incident and the person wasn’t aiming at me. I should be fine.” This was when he should suggest he’d wear a Kevlar vest if that was what it took to get her to walk with him.

The wind sent blonde hair into her face, and she brushed it aside with an impatient gesture. “I hope I’m not going to regret it.”

“I promise you won’t.” He hoped he could keep that promise, even if he wasn’t sure whether she meant the walk on the beach or seeing him again. Maybe both.

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