Page 71 of The Cowboy Complication

It wasn’t indecision or uncertainty that held Leland back. It was fear. It was because something was better than nothing. It was because the threat of losing everything was more than enough to stop a man in his tracks.

“That’s good.” Isla smiled. “We both know how much I love a good plan.”

In the week that he’d managed to keep Isla coming home to him every night, he’d finally found out just how badly the guy before him—Eric the asshole—had fucked up. If he ever saw that prick he’d…

Probably buy the idiot a beer, because he owed the dumbass everything.

She’d planned out a whole life with the twerp and the dude walked away from the promise of a beautiful wife and kids because he thought he was missing out on something. Thought he deserved more. Better.

It was only a matter of time before Eric the Awful discovered there was no more, and there sure as hell wasn’t better.

“Make all the plans you want, Princess.” He met her eyes, hoping Isla heard what he was really saying. “You won’t hear me complaining.”

She could draw up a whole fucking white board of what she wanted. A schematic of kids and animals. A timeline of events and a spreadsheet to check them off. Hell. He’d love it if she did.

“You say that now.” She winced, face scrunching up. “But I told the Bridge Bitches I’d take them out tomorrow night.”

“That’s perfect.” He pulled out one of the travel mugs from the cabinet and went to work fixing Isla a coffee to go. “What time are we picking them up?”

Isla’s brows lifted. “We?”

“You want to tackle that group on your own?”

A smile bloomed across her face. “I do not.”

There were still moments—like this one—where Isla seemed uncertain about where he stood. Didn’t seem to notice he was as all-in as it got. That was something he’d have to rectify. Maybe he could add it to the list of things he wanted to tackle today.

Pretty soon he was gonna need a schematic of his own.

After pestering her while she showered, offering assistance that would make them both late for their planned activities, he left her to finish getting ready while he checked on the chicks and horses, coming back inside just as she was packing up to go.

“What time do you think you’ll get home tonight?” he asked.

There was no more discussion about where he meant when he said home. They both knew exactly which place he was talking about.

“I’ll probably stop by my apartment after work and pick up a few more things.” That flash of uncertainty flickered across her face again. “Unless I’m taking up too much space.”

“No such thing.” He wanted her presence in every square inch of his house. Wanted proof of her existence staring back at him everywhere he looked. “I’ll pack your whole apartment up tomorrow when I get off work if you want me to.”

It wasn’t an idle threat. All she had to do was say the word and he’d make it happen.

“I think you should probably sleep after working all night.” Isla collected her bag and the cup of coffee he’d made earlier. “Especially since you so kindly offered to help wrangle the Bridge Bitches tomorrow evening.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Fine.”

She smiled that sweet smile that roped him in from the very beginning, pushing up on her toes to kiss his lips. “But maybe we can come up with a plan for one of your days off.”

He grabbed her as she started to move away, pulling her body back against his, lips hovering over hers. “I’ve got lots of favors to call in, Princess. I can have all the days off it takes to make that happen.”

“I think?—”

His phone started to ring where it sat on the counter just beside them, cutting her off.

Fucking Leland. He was going to get his ass handed to him over this.

“I’ll let you get that.” Isla pressed another kiss to his lips. “Call me when you get time.”

“You know I will.” He called her even when he didn’t have time.

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