Page 79 of The Cowboy Complication

She had a habit of doing that.

“Good.” He turned away from Grady, from the information he’d offered. Directing his attention to his saving grace, he pulled Isla against him, burying his face in her hair and breathing deep. “They’ve almost got everything out of the truck.”

Isla wrapped both arms around his middle, holding tight. Her voice was low enough only he could hear it as she asked, “Are you okay?”

Leaning back, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m better now that you’re here.”

It was an interaction they’d had often since he came home from the hospital. Between his injury and the events that accompanied it, he was on temporary leave from the department, so they’d been spending nearly all their time together. Working through what happened.

And making plans for their future.

Isla’s eyes searched his face. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He’d lain in that field bleeding into the dirt, kicking himself for not saying it sooner, so now he said it every chance he got. Made sure she knew, because at any second?—

“Stop.” Isla’s voice was soft. Gentle. “No spiraling.” She rested her hands on each side of his face. “Deep breath.”

He pulled in air as she did, following along as she blew it back out again. They repeated the process, his eyes locked on hers. Like she was his lifeline.

She was.

She was his peace. His partner. His confidant and his anchor.

She was hiseverything.

He’d waited years to find her, frustrated and impatient. Never guessing she’d show up at just the right time.

“Good.” Isla’s hands skimmed down the front of his chest, one of her hands sliding into his. “Now let’s go get the rest of the stuff off the truck.” She gave him a sweet smile that soothed a little of the hard edges always cutting into his peace. “We’ve got to come up with a plan for where to put everything.”

Epilogue One

Isla

“PUT THE CANE down.” Isla gave Muriel a stern glare. “You promised.”

Muriel scowled at the ranch hand dancing beside their table, a local woman in his arms. “That one looks familiar.”

“I don’t care.” Isla kept her voice calm but firm. “No assault tonight.”

Muriel huffed out an indignant grunt. “Shoulda never made that promise.”

“Probably not, but it’s too late now.” Cooper tipped back a sip of his beer, eyes moving around the bar. “Seems busier in here than usual.”

“It always seems busy here.” Isla scooted a little closer to Cooper as the dance floor overflow encroached on their corner of The Creekery. She still wasn’t a huge fan of going out—she much preferred evenings on the couch with her husband—but it was tolerable.

As long as Cooper came along. Her days of going without him were over. Especially when she was on Bridge Bitch sitting duty, like she was tonight.

The girls put their heads together, voices going low as they discussed God only knew what. Probably some scheme that would end up cutting their night short. Cooper never needed much of an excuse to drag everyone home.

Because he loved snuggling on the couch as much as she did.

“How are you doing, Princess?” He brushed her hair back, leaning in to press a kiss just below her ear. “You hanging in there?”

“I’m okay.” She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Just tired. It’s past my bedtime.”

She’d gotten as used to being married to a cop as anyone ever could, but the hours Cooper worked would still take some adjustment. He took on fewer extra shifts, but he’d worked varied shifts for so long, he was used to it. They decided he might as well stick with them until there was a reason to try to change.

And considering Grady just snagged the most recent first shift opening, they probably had to wait anyway.

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