Page 1 of The Cowboy Complication

1

Isla

“YOU’RE GOING TOwhat?” Isla paused where she was wiping down the counter in Evelyn and Grady’s kitchen, her hand stalling out as horrible images flashed through her mind. “Won’t that hurt them?”

“Nah.” Grady pulled on his tan canvas work jacket, looking beyond unbothered by what he was about to do. “It’s like clipping their toenails.”

What he was describing didn’t sound like clipping toenails. It sounded more like sawing little feet off.

She continued staring at him in shock. “How often do you have to do this?”

“Every couple of months.” Grady selected a ball cap from the rack just inside the back door, settling it onto his head. “But today they’re also getting dewormed and booster shots.” He turned to where Evelyn stood, resting one hand on the back of the baby in her arms while he used the other to pull his wife close. “Shouldn’t take too long, though. Cooper’s coming to help.”

Isla’s eyes lingered on the sweet family moment unfolding in front of her for a few seconds before she turned away, chest aching as she finished loading the remainder of the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher before setting it to run.

Coming to Montana had been the right decision, she knew that, but it wasn’t turning out to be nearly as clean of a break as she’d been hoping for. In her mind, moving across the country to a completely different place would let her forget where she was supposed to be and what she expected to be doing. It would give her brain a break from the sadness, regret, and betrayal that permeated every second of her life in New York.

Unfortunately, that shit seemed determined to follow her everywhere. To taint any happiness she tried to find and claim for herself.

“If you get bored later, you can come out and help. Cooper should be here in a couple hours and we’ll get started then.”

It took her a minute to notice Evelyn didn’t respond to Grady’s offer. When Isla turned back to where the happy family stood, both Evelyn and Grady were staring at her expectantly. She looked around even though no one else was in the room.

Pointing a finger at the center of her chest, she asked, “You meanme?”

“I mean you.” Grady zipped the front of his jacket. “Then you’ll see it’s not a big deal.” He grinned. “Don’t want you thinking I’m a monster who tortures tiny goats.”

Thatwaskind of what she was thinking. Those little critters were so freaking cute and funny and cuddly, and the thought of Grady and his friend cutting off their toes was going to haunt her at night.

“She’ll come out.” Evelyn lowered her voice conspiratorially as she leaned closer to her husband. “The second my grandmother’s car pulls in the driveway, she’ll be running for the barn.”

Isla’s stomach bottomed out. “Your grandmother’s in town again?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Evelyn’s grandmother. The woman was just terrifying. She was stuffy and serious and could make you want to pee your pants just by looking at you. To this day, she still couldn’t figure out what her grandfather saw in her. Griselda Warwick lacked warmth and humor and just about every other positive emotion she could think of.

Then again, what the fuck did she know about what men wanted in women? Obviously not a lot based on recent events.

“My grandmother has decided she should come as often as possible now that Hudson is here.” Evelyn’s eyes peeked her husband’s direction. “Honestly, I think she just comes to town to irritate Grady.”

Grady’s mouth dropped open. “But I love Gram-Gram.”

“I know. You also love to annoy her as much as she loves to annoy you.” Evelyn huffed out a little laugh. “I think she’s bored in New York now. She didn’t know how much fun it could be to irritate the shit out of someone and misses it when she goes back.”

It was difficult to imagine Griselda doing something as normal as purposefully annoying someone for fun. Hell, it was hard to imagine Griselda doinganythingfor fun. She was drier than a cracker and just as salty. Spending the day in her presence sounded even worse than spending it watching Grady cut off chunks of the goats she loved at an unhealthy level.

Isla signed in resignation. “I’ll come out to help once I finish everything I need to do in here.”

She’d only been in Moss Creek—working for Evelyn and Grady—a month, but already had a schedule in place. One she stuck to like glue. Staying organized was the only way she’d been able to juggle everything for the past six years, and now it was a way of life. The constant that kept her from unraveling even as everything else fell apart.

After Grady went outside, Isla dug into her Monday morning tasks while Evelyn cared for her infant son and updated the studio’s schedule on her website. The new mom had a lot on her plate, which was why they’d hired Isla. So Evelyn could focus on the important things—Hudson and the yoga studio—without worrying about the dirt on the kitchen floor or the toothpaste in the sink.

And Isla had taken the job so she could focus on the dirt on the kitchen floor instead of the dirtbag who left her behind while he went on to live his best life. The life she was supposed to be a part of. The life she’d been planning for six years, never once suspecting it wouldn’t be hers. Never once suspecting she was only a placeholder.

But that’s what she’d been. Someone to hold space and offer support until Eric was ready to upgrade. So instead of taking care of her own babies and picket fence, she was maintaining someone else’s happily ever after.

And maybe that was fine. She didn’t want Eric or a life that included him. Not even a little bit. Not after all the awful things he said.

But damned if she didn’t wish there was some way to still have what she’d been dreaming of for so long.

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