Page 63 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

The brothers had always agreed that the five of them should have a life outside the ranch, and that when needed, the others would step in and help out. He sort of owed his brothers a few years’ worth of missed chores, but being here with Jackie felt important, and he knew Myles, who was deeply in love with Karen, would understand.

Jackie was letting Cole in, letting him help her, and he was glad she’d allowed him to stay. He felt less alone and lost around her. Like he was part of something. Which meant he needed to figure out how to get Jackie to stay in Sweetheart Creek.

She slipped out of bed, went to her dresser, pulling together an outfit.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Getting dressed.” She tucked the clothes under an arm. He had a feeling she knew that if she didn’t leave her bed now, she might not do so until Monday morning. “So we go dancing tonight, since we missed out last night?”

“All of my evenings are free,” he said meaningfully. He was happy to fill them with Jackie. Whether they were mowing grass for Mrs. Fisher or right here in her bed didn’t matter, as long as he was with her.

Her lips lifted in a smile, as though she liked the implication that he might keep himself available for her—and not just as part of their fake relationship. It warmed his heart more than he wanted to admit.

* * *

Jackie stumbled out of her apartment with Cole, smiling into the sunshine, her hand linked with his. There was a cool morning breeze, and the hearts and red streamers in the window of the Big Hair salon had been replaced with shamrocks, despite St. Patrick’s Day being several weeks away.

She’d made love with Cole that morning, and it had been heavenly. Better than anything, ever. There’d been a connection, a link… Exhilarating.

She beamed at him, and he tightened his hand around hers as they walked toward the diner, shoulders rubbing.

“What’s wrong with Bill?” Jackie asked, stopping when they reached the foot-wide gap between Big Hair and the electronics store. The well-known armadillo, the tormentor of Sweetheart Creek, was curled in a ball between the buildings.

“Is he hurt?” Cole slowed to a stop. He dropped a kiss on Jackie’s temple, and she warmed from the tips of her toes to her nose.

He glanced down the sidewalk, then back at the armadillo. “I’ll ask Brant.” Cole snapped a photo of the mammal and sent it to his brother.

“What does he say?” Jackie asked, still watching Bill. She liked being exactly where she was, leaning lightly against Cole, in no hurry to be anywhere else.

“Don’t know yet.”

“Call him.”

Cole hesitated, then said, “It’s calving season. He’s going to be extra tired and ornery.”

“Are we still talking about Brant?” Jackie asked. “Or did we switch back to Bill?”

“Still Brant.” Cole chuckled, kissing her again. It seemed he couldn’t get enough, just like her. She was tempted to pull him back to her apartment.

“April’s used to his sweet side. She’ll be in for a surprise.” As a vet, he spent a lot of late nights out in the boonies, helping calving situations that had gone wrong.

“Nah, she saw us at our worst while growing up alongside us on the ranch.”

“Is it okay they’re together now?” Jackie had asked him that before, but he’d never actually replied. She’d basically been avoiding April, afraid what her friend might say about her moving in on April’s ex. Even if it was fake.

Because it wasn’t.

Definitely not.

Not anymore.

Moving to San Antonio sure was going to hurt.

“Of course. Everyone’s moved on.” Cole waved his silent phone, then pocketed it. “He must be out on a call.”

“Cole?”

He turned to Jackie, meeting her eyes. “We’ve all moved on.”

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