Page 56 of Stud Ranch

“When do you plan to bring this up to Sloane?”

Shaw pushed out a heavy sigh. “I’m not sure how she’ll react to the possibility of me coaching.”

“At least you’ll know where you stand with her. I’m concerned that she doesn’t have feelings for me. I haven’t known her very long.”

“She already cares about you—a lot.”

Shaw’s words caused Dylan’s heart to give a violent beat out of rhythm with the rest.

Almost choking on the sensation and the emotions Shaw’s statement raised inside him, Dylan gulped. “What makes you think so?”

“I see it on her face when you’re making love to her.”

Making love.

Fuck. Just fuck.

This was a job. It was only physical.

His eyes slid shut. Goddammit, he cared about both of them far too much for his own sanity. He should leave The Boot Knockers Ranch now. Save his heart before they ripped it out of his chest and put it on display for everyone to see.

“I think we should tell her now.”

At the same time, Dylan’s words overlapped Shaw’s. “We need to hold back.”

Shaw tugged off his cowboy hat and sliced his fingers through his hair.

Dylan’s heart gave a painful lurch. “You’re right. I’m just wimping out. She deserves to hear what it is we’ve been discussing. It’s not fair to her to make choices that will affect her so much—and Marigold too.”

Shaw’s lips tightened. “I’ve been a terrible father.”

“Well, you’ve got one up on me, man. I’ve never been one at all.”

When Shaw’s grunt turned into a laugh, Dylan couldn’t stop his own laughter from bursting out. It eased a bit of the tension humming between them, but for Dylan, this was the beginning of what he expected to be a hell of a lot of pain.

He couldn’t butt into their little family. Even if by some crazy chance Sloane was on board with the idea of becoming a trio…Dylan would never truly belong.

* * * * *

Sloane selected the pineapple-scented bodywash from the selection in the shower nook. Everything about The Boot Knockers Ranch had lived up to its reputation. Hot cowboys and amazing sex, guaranteed to help a woman through her troubles.

She’d had quite a few spa treatments, and the facial was one of the best she ever experienced. Her skin glowed. Now she planned to use the exfoliating scrub and make the rest of her body glow too, so when her lovers took her to bed, they got the very best of her.

The best of her. What a strange thought that a simple vacation and time away from her everyday life challenges could make such a difference.

A chiming sound stopped her mid-scrub. That ringtone was her mother’s. Since she had insisted on only updating Sloane about Marigold if she missed some new development, Sloane had to reach for her phone.

She quicky rinsed her hands and opened the shower door to dive for her phone she’d left on the vanity.

When she stared at the screen, she sucked in a gasp. The photo of Marigold sucking strawberry milk from a straw was the cutest thing she’d ever seen. Underneath the photo her mother had texted: She finally got it!

For months Marigold had tried to sip any drink with a straw, but she hadn’t caught on to the skill. Now, her cheeks were puffed with strawberry milk, her eyes wide with glee.

Sloane studied her daughter’s face with a new set of eyes. Being with Shaw again reminded her of so many small things about him—looks he gave her, and mannerisms that she’d forgotten about. Marigold shared so many things with her daddy.

She has your eyes.

Searching the photo, she could see herself reflected in the precious little face as much as she resembled Shaw. They might have been broken, but they created the most perfect child in the world.

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