Page 45 of Wild and Wrangled

“Are you saying I was scrawny, angel?” I felt her laugh against my chest—the vibrations made my entire body relax. I thought she hugged me tighter for a second, too.

Right then, we heard little footsteps scurrying down the hall. “Momma!” Riley’s voice carried to us, and Cam immediately pushed away from me.

I thought her sudden absence would make me feel empty, but I just felt normal. Maybe empty was my normal. It wasn’t the first time I’d wondered this.

I think that’s why I came home. When you’re constantly on the move, it’s hard to stay full. There’s not enough time to let everything settle. I liked that when I was younger—gathering people, places, and experiences—enjoying them while I was there and then moving on. I didn’t really offer anything a sense of permanence.

Over the past few years, though, it started to get to me. Everything—even the most wonderful things—felt kind of…hollow. But until last year, I just kept moving. It was like inertia or whatever. I had been in motion, so I was going to stay in motion. But when Gus called, I finally saw an opportunity to stay still, to come home.

I expected to start to feel restless at some point—to feel the desire to start moving again. And even though I felt it a few times, it was fleeting. Especially right now, when Cam was within reach—physically, at least.

“I can’t find Dusty,” Riley said as she appeared in the entry to the alcove. When she saw me, she grinned. “Oh. Never mind.”

“What’s up, Sunshine?” Cam asked, and Riley bounded toward us. When she jumped onto the couch, she situated herself right between Cam and me. Cam lovingly ran a hand over Riley’s hair.

“I want to give Dusty his present,” she whispered to Cam—not very quietly, though.

Cam smiled. “Good idea,” she whispered back.

Riley turned to me and held out a small, balled fist. I held my hand out, and she dropped a small loop of fabric into it.

“It’s a friendship bracelet,” Riley said. “I made it.” I looked down at the bracelet. It was different shades of blue all wrapped around each other. “My mom said blue is your favorite color.”

“Your mom is right,” I said, glancing at Cam, who looked embarrassed. “This is badass,” I said. Riley blushed. “Thank you so much for making it for me. Will you put it on?”

Riley nodded excitedly, like that was the best thing I could’ve possibly said. I gave the bracelet back to her and held out one of my hands.

“You have pretty drawings,” she said as she looked down my arm and hand.

“Thank you,” I said. “I like them, too.” Riley looped the bracelet around my wrist, but when it was time to tie the knot, she started having a little trouble.

She turned to Cam, who was watching the two of us intently. “Can you help me, Mom?” Cam nodded and took the two ends of the bracelet from Riley. Goosebumps rose on my skin when her fingers grazed it. I hoped she couldn’t see.

Cam tied the two ends of the bracelet into a tight, neat knot. This bracelet wasn’t going anywhere.

“You know,” I said to Riley, “you and I think alike.” I reached into my pocket.

“Why?” she asked, tilting her head—just like Cam had done earlier.

“Because I made you a bracelet, too.” I pulled the small leather bracelet out. It was the same base color as Cam’s gifts, but had lighter flowers carved into it to create a two-toned effect.

Riley’s eyes lit up, and her joy was contagious. She went tograb the bracelet out of my hand, but Cam stopped her with a “Riley,” and a quintessential mom look. “What do you say?”

Riley looked up at me. “Thank you,” she said excitedly. I could’ve sworn she was almost vibrating. It was cute as hell.

“You’re welcome,” I said. “Can I?” I gestured to her arm, and Riley held it out. The bracelet closure was a small ruby, Riley’s—and my—birthstone, that went through a loop.

“It’s beautiful, Dusty,” Cam said. When I looked up at her, she was looking at me the way I had been dreaming she would since I came home.

So are you,I thought.

Chapter 21

Cam

I grabbed another blanket and snuggled deeper into the couch in my living room. The house was quiet. Riley was at Gus’s for New Year’s Eve. They invited me, of course, but honestly, a nice, quiet evening at home felt like the perfect way to ring in the new year—especially after the year I’d had.

I’d gotten a lot done today—cleaned the house, organized the library, and even finished a few case briefings that I sent to the junior partner at my firm. Now, I was waiting for my dinner—a one-pan chicken and veggies recipe that I made at least once a week—to finish up in the oven.

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