Page 32 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“I disappointed everyone,” he said. “Let’s leave it at that.”

“Disappointed? Why?” Jackie asked. Her indignation took him off guard.

“For ruining April’s life.”

“And how did you do that?” She was rivaling his mother with her demanding tone. Clearly Jackie felt she could straighten him out. She might think differently if she had the full story.

“For breaking up with her,” he said, watching for a reaction.

“You two were always breaking up.”

“That time it was final.”

“Because you were a poor match! It was just small-town proximity and convenience shoving you two back together again. Do you know how many people around here have gotten married because they couldn’t find anyone better suited? Because they didn’t have the patience to stay alone and wait for someone new to come to town?”

“Is that why you’re single? You’re patient?”

“We’re talking about you, not me. But yes. I’m not settling for anything less than love. But you—” She poked him in the chest. “Breaking up with April was what she wanted.”

“I know.” He caught Jackie’s finger so she wouldn’t jab him again. “But my family felt I should’ve tried harder to make her happy. Held on to her. Given her a good life.” He waited for Jackie’s reaction to reveal what she believed.

“Yeah, and how did that obligation and effort work out for your parents? As I recall, they’re divorced?”

Cole swallowed his surprise at Jackie’s blunt, well-made point.

He lifted his hat and dragged a hand through his hair. “Well…”

Honestly, he’d been shocked when Brant had called him to say their parents had separated. And yet, somehow, he hadn’t been surprised when his father moved on with Sophia a few months later. In retrospect, his folks had been more like partners than a couple. And sometimes you needed more than a partner.

And if you were April, you needed to throw yourself into something completely different in order to escape a man who had an unhealthy gravitational pull on you. Such as himself.

“April hooked up with Heath to make sure she didn’t come back to me again,” he said, hating that she’d felt the need to do so. Hating the judgment he would surely see in Jackie’s steady gaze.

But when he looked, it wasn’t there. Just fiery determination.

“It’s called a rebound relationship.”

“She got pregnant.” He let out a shaky breath, remembering the night she’d told him. He’d felt as though he’d failed her somehow.

“So you’re responsible for her proper use of birth control?”

Cole huffed impatiently. “You don’t understand. She needed me to leave town so she could put her head on straight about what to do. What kind of man muddles up someone’s brain and life like that?”

“She loved you. Like you love her.”

“Loved.”

Jackie blinked.

“Past tense. We’re over each other.”

Jackie licked her lips, then said, “What I’m saying is that she grew up with you. She didn’t know anything other than Cole Wylder. Of course it was scary letting go. You were part of her family—her only family. Her life was your life, and what if your family took sides, and it wasn’t hers?”

“She has parents.”

“Yeah, but this ranch…” Jackie grew quiet, that sorrowful look in her gaze again.

“I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but I do damage.”

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