Page 98 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“I’m sorry to bother you so late.” Oscar motioned. “May I come in?”

Lucas glanced down at his t-shirt and boxers before raking a hand through his hair. “Sure.”Oscar stepped in, closing the door behind him. He shuffled his feet, his hands going into his pockets like he was suddenly unsure of himself. This couldn’t be good. Lucas motioned to the sitting area, which was larger than the living room in his apartment. “Do you wanna have a seat?”

“No thanks. This won’t take long.” Oscar blew out a long breath. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just gonna come out with it.”

“Okay,” Lucas said carefully, bracing himself.

“I spoke to Magnolia. She’s determined to marry you.”

A semi-amused smile stole over Lucas’s lips. “That’s good because I intend to marry her too.”

“It won’t work.”

Lucas flinched. “Why?” A hard edge slipped into his voice. “Because I’m not Roman Abbott?”

“This has nothing to do with Roman Abbott,” Oscar countered.

“Okay, if it’s not about Roman, then what is it?” He ground his teeth, eyeing Oscar.

“The money. Magnolia believes my father will come around, but he won’t.” Several emotions flickered in Oscar’s eyes—pain, regret, sorrow? Lucas wasn’t sure exactly what Oscar was feeling or why he was here.

“Magnolia’s willing to forgo the money if necessary.” Lucas didn’t want that for Magnolia, but if that’s how it had to be, then they’d deal with it.

Another emotion darted across Oscar’s features. This time, Lucas had no trouble getting a clear read. It was pride. “Magnolia reminds me so much of me at that age. She’s so optimistic about the future, so certain that she won’t regret giving up the money.” His eyes hazed with sorrow. “I was like that once.”

“You’re talking about your ex-wife.”

Oscar’s voice grew recollective. “Janet was this big ball of energy and fire. She swept into my life like a tornado. I was so madly in love that I would have gone to the end of the earth and back for her.” He compressed his lips into tight lines. “When my parents threatened to disinherit me, I told them to take a flying flip. I believed that nothing could ever come between me and Janet, especially not the money.”

Foreboding gripped Lucas’s heart in an icy grip. “But it did.”

“Yes, it did,” Oscar said dully. “Janet felt guilty because she knocked me out of getting my inheritance.”

“And you started resenting her,” Lucas inserted.

“I did,” Oscar admitted quietly, a sorrowful look in his eyes. “Over time, it drove a wedge between us that we couldn’t get past.”

Lucas’s throat constricted to the size of a toothpick. He coughed to clear it. “You think the same thing will happen to me and Magnolia.”

“Yes.”

Anger bubbled in Lucas’s chest. “You’re asking me to step down.”

A quiver rattled Oscar’s voice. “If you love Magnolia like I think you do, then you will look past your own feelings and consider her wellbeing.” He gave Lucas a pleading look. “Magnolia is fanciful, naïve.” He pushed out a dry chuckle. “She thinks love can conquer all. But one thing you have to consider is that Magnolia has never been without money. She doesn’t know what it’s like to have to scrimp.” His eyes hardened. “Don’t think for one minute that I condone what my parents have done because I don’t,” he clipped. “Magnolia should be free to marry whom she pleases.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Even if that someone is a small-town cowboy who mucks out stalls for a living?”

A dart of respect flicked through Oscar’s eyes. “As you so aptly pointed out over dinner, this country was built by hardworking men and women who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. I respect you for the man you are.” He sighed. “Under a different set of circumstances, I would be honored to have you as a son-in-law.” He paused, his eyes meeting Lucas’s. “I hope you realize that.”

Time stood still as they locked eyes. Lucas could tell that Oscar was a good man who was genuinely worried about his daughter. “I do,” Lucas said tersely, his mind reeling.

“My daughter’s future is in your hands.” Oscar gave Lucas a long look. “Please do the right thing.”

Lucas pushed out a short laugh as his hand went to his neck. His words came out in bitter chunks like rocks hitting a cement floor. “Is it right to just desert Magnolia and leave her to marry a man she doesn’t love?”

Oscar gave him a perceptive look. “Magnolia’s feelings are skewed right now. There’s so much riding on this, I doubt she hardly knows what she feels. She cared deeply for Roman once. They were happy together for a long period of time. Magnolia can develop that love for him again over time. Relationships are built on mutual understanding, with two people who share similar backgrounds.” He took in a heavy breath as he eyed Lucas. “You’re a good man. I’m just sorry that you got caught in the crossfire of all this,” he said solemnly as he strode out of the room, closing the door behind him.

For several minutes, Lucas felt numb. Then, when the gravity of the situation began to sink in, he went over and collapsed onto the couch. He buried his head in his hands. Was Oscar right? Would Magnolia end up resenting him because she’d given up her inheritance? The answer came in the hard punch that stole his breath. She would. His heart began to pound, sweat beads breaking over his nose. He was hot and cold at the same time. What he and Magnolia had was incredible, but it was fragile and new. They’d only been together a short period of time. If he left now and walked out of her life, she’d have a chance to start fresh with Roman. His insides shriveled. He couldn’t stand the thought of Magnolia with anyone else, least of all that frat-boy suck-up.

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