Page 61 of The Cowboy Complication

Her grandfather reached out to pull Gram-Gram close, planting a kiss on her lips before whispering something in her ear.

Griselda giggled—freaking giggled—her smooth skin flushing as she said, “Oh, Bernard. You’re insatiable.”

And there went aww, leaving so eww could take its place. Because gross.

As soon as her grandpa was gone, Griselda turned to her, lifting her chin. “Don’t look at me like that.” She sniffed, spine straightening. “I’m old, not dead.”

Fair enough. “Speaking of sex lives, I have a question.”

“Were we speaking of sex lives?” Griselda asked.

“You know we were.” Isla pointed at the door. “You and Captain Insatiable there started it.”

Gram-Gram’s lips softened into a hint of a smile. “You know, for a long time I was afraid you’d end up miserable because you were too timid to kick that ass you were with to the curb.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but honestly couldn’t. Shedidalmost end up miserable. It wasn’t necessarily timidity that would have put her there so much as tunnel vision and lack of flexibility. Was it possible she was doing the same thing now? Had set her sights on Cooper and was unwilling to consider anything but what she chose to see?

That had her heart sinking. Her stomach clenching.

“I thought you had a question?” Griselda stopped her spiral.

Maybe permanently.

There weren’t a lot of people in this world she trusted with her private life, but somehow Griselda had become one of them. She was smart and successful, and if anyone could help her figure this mess out, it was the woman who still sort of scared her a little. “Remember our conversation about how you and my grandpa finally got together?”

“You mean how I seduced him?” Griselda peered at the polish on her nails. “Of course I remember discussing that. I was trying to help you work things out with that police officer who loves you.”

Isla winced. “That’s the thing.” She deflated a little. “I’m not so sure he loves me.”

Griselda’s cool gaze leveled on her. “Then you’re still being stupid when it comes to men.”

“Ouch. That was a little harsh.” She stood taller, not wanting Griselda to think she was still timid. She wasn’t. “And I’m not being stupid, I’m being realistic. I’ve tried everything and none of it’s worked.” Well… That needed a qualifier. “Permanently.”

Griselda angled a brow. “Did you tell him you’d find someone else?”

Isla groaned. “That just feels so mean. I can’t do that to him.”

“Fine.” Gram-Gram shrugged. “Then live your life without him.”

“I don’t want to live my life without him.” She practically yelled her rebuttal. The thought of it was so awful there was no way not to react accordingly.

“Then stop being timid and do what needs to be done.” Griselda laid it out like it was the only option. “Give him the kick in the pants he needs to get over whatever’s holding him back.”

“I’m not telling him I’ll find someone else.” She was putting her foot down on this. Hard.

“Then make him think someone else will find you.” Griselda offered up a second plan. One that was a little less evil, but still might do the job. There was only one problem.

“That would be great except I’m pretty sure no one else wants me.” And it didn’t actually bother her. There wasn’t anyone else she wanted, so why did it matter?

Except, now it mattered.

Griselda snorted. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

“It’s true. I went out with the Bridge Bitches and no one even looked at me.” She was a little embarrassed to admit it to someone as glamorous as Griselda, but this woman was her best shot at figuring this out.

“Well that was your problem.” Griselda said it like she was missing something obvious. “Those women cock-blocked you because they didn’t want all those cowboys crawling all over you as soon as you came to town.”

Isla blinked. “Did you just say cock-block?”

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