Page 61 of Heart Like a Cowboy

“Any other relatives who could take over?” Joyner pressed.

Again, Egan shook his head. His dad had some nephews, but they weren’t close. In fact, they hadn’t visited the ranch since they were kids.

Joyner nodded and then stayed quiet a few more moments. “All right, then let’s hope your dad makes a full recovery. It sounds as if that’d be the best-case scenario for everyone involved. Just in case that doesn’t happen though, let’s brainstorm some possibilities.”

Egan had already done the brainstorming and mulled over the possibilities. None of which were ideal.

“You’ll be the squadron commander here for another two years,” Joyner spelled out, “and you can apply for a one-year extension, which I believe you’d get. That’d close the gap for retirement. Then, you could finish out your career at headquarters here on the base.”

That would keep Egan both in uniform and on the ranch. Mainly on the ranch, though, since he’d be living there. Part of him wanted to mentally groan at being in the fishbowl of Emerald Creek, but he also didn’t want to go the high and dry route by leaving his dad.

Or Alana.

That brought on some more mental groaning and cursing. A fling, that was all she wanted from him. But if he was worried about leaving her, then Egan had to accept that this particular fling clearly had some feelings attached to it. And that was probably the last thing Alana wanted. He could take out theprobablywhen he applied that to himself. No way did he want to fall for Alana when part of him would likely always consider her to be Jack’s.

“A final option,” Joyner threw out there, “you could always try to finish up your time in the reserves.”

Egan was sure his mouth tightened. His gut, too. It was a good choice for plenty of military members, but the notion of being on duty only one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer had never appealed to him. Mainly because he’d always thought of himself as a full-time career officer.

But he was a son, too.

“Lots to consider,” Joyner added. “But for now, let’s see if the leave alone is enough time for you to get some things resolved.” He leaned back in his chair and studied Egan’s expression. “Audrey mentioned something about a memorial for your CRO friend who was killed a few years back. How’s that going?”

Once again, Egan went with the mental groaning and cursing. He’d already dumped enough of his personal life on the colonel, and he had no intention of adding more.

“It’s going fine,” Egan lied.

Joyner stared at him as if waiting for more, but when Egan didn’t offer up any details, he stood. “Good. Go ahead and do the request for additional leave so I can get that approved. And tell your dad that I wish him a speedy recovery.”

“I will,” Egan assured him, standing as well. He ended the meeting with a salute and walked out of the office.

Egan was grateful that Audrey wasn’t there since he definitely didn’t want any more questions about why he’d asked for this meeting with Joyner. He didn’t want questions about Jack’s life celebration, either. Or Alana. The bottom line was he was just glad that he didn’t have to sort through any more details about the civilian, private part of his life.

“I’m ready to go,” Egan immediately told his brother and didn’t even bring up the subject of how Cal’s meeting had gone with Audrey.

Cal smiled, and for a moment Egan thought the particular facial expression was connected to their stepmother.

It wasn’t.

Cal lifted his phone and held it face out for Egan to see. That’s when Egan realized it wasn’t Cal’s phone. But his. That’s when he also realized what Cal had wanted him to see.

The photo that had been texted.

“Sorry,” Cal muttered. “But I automatically looked when your phone dinged and I saw it.”

The text was from Alana, though there was no written message, only the picture. Of a pack of condoms.

“Anything you want to tell me?” Cal asked.

Egan snatched his phone and shoved it into his pocket. “No,” Egan couldn’t say fast enough. “There’s absolutely nothing I want to tell you.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ALANAKNEWSHEwas being watched. Not in a “creepy stalker” kind of way. Well, not totally. But the other shoppers in the town’s Fresh Pickin’s grocery store always “observed” whatever she put in her cart.

Normally, those observers were enough to prompt her to at least try to buy the stuff that was good for her, but she was feeling a little mutinous and added a bag of sour gummy bears to her healthy stash. An addition that caused Marilu Dennison to audibly gasp. Since Marilu was one of the town’s biggest gossips, word of the indulgence would soon get around and might diffuse the other talk.

Especially diffuse the buzz about Egan and her.

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