“I’m glad you’re here,” Madelyn said.“Cash is, too, but he’s dealing with it in the way he deals—working, letting time sift through so he can find the answers.”
She was perceptive.By her explanation, she and Cash hadn’t been together more than a month, and yet they were marrying soon.Why?So he’d have a mother for the baby he’d seen the viral video of?He looked at the man who just might be a brother and didn’t know what he felt—too many things to describe.They were so different.Cash was all cowboy—all he’d ever dreamed of being at one point.He’d loved riding—first up with his mom, and then a pony and then a bigger horse.And then his life, his dreams, his family had been stolen.
“You can go closer,” Madelyn said.
“I’d be in the way.”
“Maybe you’d be where you belong,” she said cryptically.
*
Telford looked likehe smelled something bad.Well, he did literally.They were in a barn or an arena.And even though it was clean, it still was primarily for animals.The buckin’ bulls had been something.Weirdly cute but scary and impressive—the power.And the bucks and twists all seemed to have names.She’d need to learn the vocabulary and rhythm of the life and the people in it, if Telford was going to stay.
Unless he doesn’t need me anymore.
She swallowed down the pain that thought brought.She’d known this was temporary.And if he’d paid her a staggering amount for two weeks of work, she could hardly complain.But her time with Telford had become more than a job.She wanted him.His strength, smarts, and vulnerability sucked her in.And she who had avoided connections with people, first due to fear and betrayal, now craved this glimmer of a possibility—family, belonging, building a home.
She looked over at Telford, who returned with a glass of red wine and a slice of veggie pizza—peppers, olives, and artichoke hearts.He’d even brought napkins.
He was so dang solicitous.She wasn’t used to being served or consulted.But she was getting used to it.
He was a lovely person even after the adversity of his childhood, a survivor like she was.Maybe that was why they clicked.But if he knew the truth…
Her instinct was always to shut down.Her past didn’t define her.She didn’t let it.But she was deceiving herself on that.Maybe if she told Telford what she was running from, she’d be able to stand still if she wanted.
But discussing the Family made her skin crawl.
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” he said lightly.“I’m the antisocial one, but even I know that during a pizza dinner with family, friends, and staff you are supposed to have nothing heavier on your mind than toppings, the weather, and what bull shows the most promise.”
“I was more focused on the cowboys,” she said lightly, and smiled when he paused before taking a sip of his beer.“That’s what the women were rating.Not the bulls or broncs.”
“They are married,” he protested, his expression a little shocked.“Mothers.”
“Good to know checking out the opposite sex eye candy is not high on your to-do list.”
“Of course not.”He looked affronted.“I indicated that throughout our contract I would not seek other women whether we”—he looked around then back at her—“engaged in a sexual relationship or not.”
He spoke formally but didn’t seem embarrassed or prudish.Good to know.Telford had indicated she’d need to make the first move.And she definitely wanted to, but it was the after that concerned her.Her emotions were already all over the place.Sex might pull her over on one side of the equation—his side.And then what?He was building a legacy for another man.Cam’s ashes still sat on a box on a shelf in their room.And he had a family.She had him for an agreed-upon time.
Could they renegotiate?Would she want to?Could she keep messy feelings locked down?
Sneaking a look at him as he took a bite of pizza and placed it neatly back on his plate and dabbed at nonexistent residual sauce on his lip, she definitely wanted to kick his bedroom door wide open.She had a vibe that when he loosened his leash, he’d be powerfully primal.Making a man like Telford lose control for a night or longer was a challenge that heated her blood.She wanted to lose herself in him, become something different.But she was no experienced siren.And she’d never had a relationship so the next day and beyond that could pose a problem.
Or a possibility.
Ayana inwardly sighed.Feelings were already part of the equation.
*
It was strangefeeling comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time.Telford tried to be analytical about it.
Ayana stood close to him, her body brushing against his like they belonged.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten pizza by the slice on a paper plate while standing around with a local microbrew in his hand.
“Thanks for coming.”Cash approached him, Madelyn by his side.“What’d you think?”
“I’m not sure,” he said, searching for the right words, wanting to fit in when he knew he didn’t.“When I was young, I was around horses, figured I’d always be, but…” He shrugged, took another sip of beer though it had turned bitter.“I’m a fan of the rodeo.”
He felt a little grim admitting the next part.“A fan of yours, though I never once was tempted to drop down on a bull, but I follow the pro rodeo and have taken some business partners to the AEBR when it was in Denver.I never thought about training that goes into the bulls and broncs.More involved than I realized.”
