Page 54 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

How could he be this dense? Wasn’t it enough that she’d been shot because of him? She had a point. Someone could’ve entered the stable while he’d kissed her and fired at them.

Everything inside him froze as they hurried back to the house. Then his gut twisted.

What was he doing? He’d put her in danger because he wanted to be with her so badly, and he was putting her in danger again by his mere presence. Then to add to it, he was distracting her with the signs of affection.

If he wanted to keep her safe, he had to stay away from her until they found the culprit. His heart protested the idea, and his stomach rolled into the grass. It was as if he’d gotten so attached that he needed to breathe the same air she did. But apparently, he could make that air poisonous for her. He couldn’t even tell her why he needed to stay away from her because she’d only decide to march to his rescue. She was that courageous and selfless.

They hurried up the porch and entered his childhood house, thankfully without any adventures. It greeted him with the cooling blast of air-conditioning and the lingering aroma of brisket and biscuits.

His mother met them with a broad smile. “Rachel, would you like to spend a few days at our ranch? You’re welcome to bring your mice as long as they don’t run around or burrow up in my socks. Fresh air might do you good.”

Rachel blinked. “I don’t want to impose.”

Mom waved off the concern. “No imposement—no imposition! Oh, whatever the word is. We’ll be happy to have you here. Right, Tex?”

“Absolutely.” His heart broke already at having to spend some time apart, but it needed to be done. “I won’t be able to stay, though.” He used the same excuse as always. “Work, you know.”

His mother sent him a glare.

Rachel’s eyes dimmed. “Oh. I understand. But–but you need someone to watch out for you.”

“No problem.” He shrugged with as much nonchalance as he could muster. “I can hire a bodyguard. Or two.”

Mom shook her head at him but thankfully didn’t try to steamroll him into staying. “Are you sure? I’d love for you to stay here.”

“Yes.” By staying at the ranch, he’d put everyone dear to him in peril. Outrageously, he’d considered it before, but loving Rachel made him less self-centered. “I–I’ll miss you.”

“I understand—or I’m trying to.” The hurt in Rachel’s eyes cut through him.

But she mattered too much to him to risk her life.

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“Ican’t believe this. First, he tells me how much I mean to him and kisses me. Then, he just—poof—disappears.” Her heart heavy, Rachel waved in the air. Then with that same uninjured hand, she placed the last chocolate chip cookie on a tray in the ranch house’s spacious kitchen.

Tears blurred her vision, so she blinked them away. She wasn’t going to cry about him again. “I admit, he calls me all the time. And he sent me flowers three times already. Three dozen roses each time. I bet he’s fast becoming the florist’s favorite person in the world.” She could smell roses from the living room. “The baker’s, as well, considering all the cookie baskets he sent here. He even sent me fancy cheese baskets—a large one for me and five small ones. Seriously. A cheese basket for each mouse.”

“That’s amazing.” Kennedy slid the tray into the oven. Then she paused. “The mice are enjoying their cheeseinsidetheir cage, right?”

“Right. But I don’t want enough flowers to open a florist shop. I need, you know, thehuman beingback.” Her heart longed for him.

“He’ll be back soon. I saw the way he looked at you.”

Rachel found she didn’t resent baking if it was for people who appreciated it. And Kennedy was still learning how to cook and bake. Together, they could make one decent baker. Especially if the dough was premade.

“I don’t know if I’ll be sitting and waiting for him until that happens. I spent too many years feeling tiny and insignificant. I decided I never wanted to feel that way again.” As she arranged store-bought cookies on a colorful plate, disappointment still gnawed at her with sharp teeth like Button gnawed at cheese.

The preparations were for a party celebrating Kennedy and Tex’s sister-in-law’s baby-to-be, and the rest of the expectant mother’s friends were decorating the ranch house. Too early for a baby shower, but just right for a “Squeee, she’s expecting! Let’s all make a fuss of her” party.

Rachel had donated all the flowers Tex had sent to the cause, as well as two of the cookie baskets. It wasn’t just generosity. As much as she and her mice loved sweets, they couldn’t possibly consume all those cookies.

Kennedy sliced the chocolate cheesecake. “I’m sure Tex never meant to make you feel that way. I’m a workaholic myself. Sometimes so many things call for my attention with my hotels that I look up from the computer, and it’s late evening already.”

“Maybe.” So, why did Rachel have the impression he avoided seeing her? She sighed as she opened the cupcake box and started arranging them on a tray. “I get he’s a busy man. I offered to get lunch or dinner and drive to his office. He said no.”

Her heart still hurt from rejection. Every particle of her being missed him, while he didn’t miss her at all. “He couldn’t even spare half an hour. I want to be with someone for whom I matter. He told me I did. But his actions prove otherwise.”

Kennedy’s eyes narrowed. “Have you considered that maybe he—”

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