Page 60 of No Place for Single Cowboys

He wasn’t, though. He wasn’t at all, and it tore her up inside.

“I’m sorry about last night,” she said quietly. “I won’t do that again. It wasn’t fair of me.”

The tension that stole through him was very different now. “Uh, let’s not be too hasty.” His tone went gravelly. “I, uh, I shouldn’t have shut you down like that. Maybe we could try again.”

Her blood went up in a whoosh of flame. Cordy had to step away from him because that was too much, and they were in full sight of the goats. There were some things livestock just shouldn’t see.

She wet her lips, realizing she’d never let go of his hand. “Um, okay. If you’re sure. If you’d be okay with it.”

His eyes were as hot as her face felt. “I told you last night I’d be more than okay with it. But I still need to keep you clear of my mess.”

“Don’t worry.” She gestured to her belly with their joined hands. “I’ve got my own mess going on.”

“You’re not a mess,” he growled. “And you’re not alone in this.”

“I know that now.” She swung their hands between them, just because. Holding hands like this was one of her favorite things; she hadn’t done it in so long. And she was doing it with Chance Kessal, of all people… if her emotions weren’t still churned up, she might have giggled.

They watched the goats for a bit longer, their hands still linked. Cordy sensed it soothed Chance as much as it did her.

“Can you take me to Lovers’ Cavern someday?” she asked.

“Sure. Probably better to go after the baby is born. The trail’s not bad, but if you slip and hurt yourself…” His mouth flattened. “I’m not letting that happen.” He sighed. “Come on, I’ll drive you back. I need to get back to this irrigation—I left Quint in the middle of the field.”

“Sounds good,” she said. “Iggy needs a nap.”

“That dog sleeps too much.” Chance turned and started for his truck, pulling her along with him. “He slept through me making bacon this morning. It’s unnatural.”

“You made bacon and didn’t leave me any?”

“Of course I did!” He glared at Iggy. “But it looked like someone was only pretending to be asleep and stole the damn bacon.”

“Ignatius,” Cordy chided. The dog cocked his head at her. “You’re not supposed to eat people food.”

“His full name is Ignatius?”

Cordy flushed. “No, I call him that when I’m upset with him. Or Ignatius Loyola when I’m really upset. Or even Ignatius Loyola Marymount when I’m really, really upset with him.”

“I’ll have to remember that the next time he steals the bacon.” Chance handed her up into the truck, then put Iggy in the back seat. “I’ll be home as soon as I can. And I’ll make dinner; you don’t have to worry about that.”

“We’ve got class tonight,” she reminded him. “Two more, and then we’re done.”

Chance tucked her hair behind her ear. “I remember.” He leaned in and brushed his mouth across hers, faster and lighter than the blink of an eye. “Let’s get you safely home.”

thirteen

The firm nodMs. Reston gave Chance when he walked into their third class warmed him more than any smile ever could.

“I’m winning her over,” he whispered to Cordy. “She respects me now.”

He scribbled Cordy’s name on the tag and handed it to her. Chance didn’t trust himself to put it on her. After he’d told her the entire family history and she’d hugged him, they’d become… closer. Like,closercloser.

She touched him; he touched her. Little glancing brushes as he made dinner and then as she helped clean up. A pat of her hand on his as they drove over. Nothing sexy—although Cordy was always sexy—but just plain nice.

Touches like that had never happened to Chance before. His time with women always had a focus. Each move of his was meant to make her happy, satisfied, sated. He was always expected to perform, to live up to his reputation, not to give random cuddles.

With Cordy things were different. She didn’t expect any kind of performance from him. Telling her about his father hadbeen… well, initially, it had been tough; he wouldn’t lie. Nothing about that story was easy to tell. It had damn near killed him.

Chance had never laid the entire thing out like that all at once. His brothers already knew everything, and there was no one else he’d needed to explain it to—not that anyone else would want to hear it.

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