Page 25 of A Cowboy's Heart

“I hope he does too. I didn’t know you were twins.”

He grinned. “How did you find out?”

“I asked Jaxon which of you was older.” She laughed.

In response, he groaned. “I bet he said he was… by four minutes.”

“Exactly.”

“He loves telling people that. But then, Jax thinks he has a limp too.”

“Because of his hip? I’ve never noticed a limp,but we all have things we dwell on that only we seem to see.”

“I agree. You seem to dwell on our age difference a lot.”

“I can’t help it. I wonder why I even let you in.”

“I don’t know what to say to that comment, Willa. Your insecurities about our age difference boggles my mind. If it was the other way around, it wouldn’t bother you, would it?”

“What do you think of Judy?”

Devin scooted up against the headboard. “Why the hell would you ask me that?”

“I’m just curious.”

“She’s very immature. She told me she was twenty-two. I honestly thought she was younger than that by the way she acted.”

“Nine years younger than you. The same difference we are,” Willa murmured.

“Yes, but I’m not immature. I’m a grown man, and I act like it. Except when I’m around you then I act like a horny teenager.”

“Devin, I just don’t know why we should even get involved with each other. I’m going to be leaving.”

Pushing away from the headboard, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, stood then found his jeans and pulled them on. He was fighting a losing battle here.

“All right. If that’s how you really feel about it, we won’t see each other anymore. No matter what excuse you use, like you’re leaving in three weeks, I know it’s because of the age difference. If it doesn’t bother me, why the hell should it bother you? I’ve never wanted any woman theway I want you, but I’ll get over it. Get dressed, and I’ll walk you home.”

After pulling the zipper up on his jeans, Devin yanked the door open so hard, it slammed into the wall and then he walked out clenching his fists. She just didn’t get it.

****

Willa blinked tears from her eyes as she crawled from the bed to find her clothes. This wasn’t how she had wanted this to go. She’d just wanted to clarify that sex was all this could be.Liar!In three weeks she’d be gone and it made her heart ache, but she had a job to return to in California. She’d been attracted to Devin from the start. When he flashed those beautiful white teeth and those dimples appeared, she was a goner.

Now she’d made him angry, and he was practically kicking her out of his home. He had certainly just kicked her out of his bed.

After dressing, she walked down the stairs not seeing him anywhere. She entered the kitchen, and when she didn’t see him there, she stepped out onto the porch to see him leaning against a post with his arms folded. Devin glanced over at her then started down the steps.

Moving past him, she ran down the steps. “Don’t bother. I know the way.”

Stopping on the steps, Devin stared at her. “I don’t like the idea of you walking in the dark alone.”

“I’m a big girl. I don’t need you,” she said then took off in a run down the road and out through the gate.

Chapter Six

Wiping the tears from her cheeks as she walked along the road toward her cabin, Willa suddenly changed her mind and instead headed toward the barn. There were lights on inside, and she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to go in or not, but she just needed some time to breathe. Entering the barn, she walked down the center aisle. Horses stuck their heads over the gates vying for her attention. As she moved through the barn, she stopped when she saw Devin’s horse in his stall. The big Paint was pinto in colors of black, brown, and white. He stuck his head over the gate and nibbled on the sleeve of her T-shirt.

“You’re a beautiful horse,” she said softly as she rubbed his nose.

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