Page 26 of A Cowboy's Heart

“Picasso is spoiled rotten,” Jaxon said from where he stood leaning against a stall.

He was as handsome as his brother, but he wasn’t Devin. Her heart ached though, just thinking of what Jaxon had gone through losing his wife.

“I’m sorry I probably shouldn’t be in here.”

“It is off limits this time of the night, but you look like you have something on your mind. I usually end up here when I do too.” He smiled at her, and she saw the resemblance between him and Devin.

“I do, but I should get back to my cabin. It’s late.”

“Very late. Most people are asleep at midnight.”

“You’re not.” She smiled.

Jaxon chuckled. “I can’t remember the last time I was asleep before midnight.”

“Do you having trouble sleeping?” She wondered if he still lay awake at night thinking of his wife.

“No, ma’am. I just don’t go to bed before twelve-thirty or one.”

Nodding, she continued to rub the horse’s nose. Keeping the tears at bay was proving harder to do by the minute, but she couldn’t break down in front of Jaxon. That would just devastate her. She couldn’t let him see how hung up on his brother she was.

“I’d better go.” Turning, she started to walk away.

“Willa?”

“Yes?” she asked without turning around.

“No one knows Devin better than I do so if you need to talk, come find me.”

Giving a nod, she then walked briskly out of the barn. How had he known she’d been upset about Devin?

She snorted. She supposed it wasn’t hard for anyone to figure out watching them when they talked to each other. Devin would stand a little closer and lean in close to say something quietly to her. She knew he watched her and she supposed others probably noticed her watching him. If Judy noticed the heat between them at the pool, others had to have noticed also.

As she approached her cabin, she spotted a figure sitting on the swing. Her heart skipped a beat, but then realized it was only Rocky.Blowing out a breath, she tried to stem the disappointment as she took a seat beside him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as he moved the swing.

“I was out walking and stopped here to see you.”

“This late?”

“Well, actually I had stopped by earlier but I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You’re not making sense, Rock.”

“It was a little after seven,” he said raising an eyebrow in suggestion.

“Seven? Oh. My. God.” She put her hands over her face.

Rocky chuckled. “No need to be embarrassed about it. I figure it was Devin?”

“Yes, but—” Her voice caught.

“What the fuck did he do? I’ll kick his ass.”

Willa couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. In a one on one combat, Rocky didn’t stand a chance against Devin since he had much more muscle mass and weight than the actor. Rocky had more of an athletic build but he in no way had the muscles Devin did. Especially those hard pecs and rippled abs. She laughed so hard she had tears rolling down her face and knew hysteria was setting in when she felt Rocky’s arms slip around her.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.

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