Page 60 of Her Saltwater Cowboy

The sound of footsteps startled her. She turned sharply to find Chance walking toward her. He stopped at a fence post and leaned against it.

“You all right?” he asked gently.

Willow pasted on a smile. “Yeah, I’ll be right in.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway. “I’m here if you need to hash something out.”

She swallowed. She needed more than hashing, she needed a plan. And she needed the truth to stop following her around like a shadow.

But all she said was, “Okay. Thank you.”

Chance lingered, his eyes searching her face. “Maybe you’ve been doing too much lately. Taking care of all of us. Cooking special meals for Ace.”

Willow exhaled, grateful for the change in subject. “Don’t worry. I’ll crash eventually.”

“Promise?”

A faint smile tugged at her lips. “Cross my heart.”

He walked closer, just enough that she could see the flicker of concern still resting behind his eyes. He didn’t press. That was one of the things she appreciated about Chance. He didn’t push too hard against her walls.

“I’m here if you need anything.” Chance watched her closely, his voice warm and low.

“Honestly, I think I just need … a change of scenery.”

He cocked a brow. “I think I can handle that. Want to run away from the ranch for a few hours?”

“I still have to make supper.”

Chance glanced toward his truck, then back at her. “Come on, then. Let’s take a drive. I know just the place.”

Willow blinked.

He reached for her hand, and she didn’t pull it away. “I’ll get you back in plenty of time.”

She hesitated, still—partly because she hadn’t planned on going anywhere, partly because she was afraid if she didn’t stick to her routines, everything might fall apart. But when he offered his hand, casual as anything, her feet moved on their own.

“Alright,” she said softly. “Lead the way.”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, they parked on an overlook where eucalyptus trees bent in the breeze and the air tasted faintly of saltwater. Willow pulled her hair into a ponytail, securing it with an elastic band from her pocket. The wind tugged at strands of hair, but she didn’t care. The sound of the sea made its way into her bones.

Chance offered her his hand. “C’mon.”

They made their way down a sandy trail that fanned out to a marsh dotted with seagrasses.

“You weren’t kidding,” she said, shading her eyes with her hands. “What a perfect spot.”

“I figured we’d earned it,” Chance said, flashing a smile. “You’ve been serving up miracles all week, and I’ve been elbows deep in crank grease?—“

“And don’t forget—doting on Ace.”

“You’re the one doing that. I just go in for my daily flogging.”

“Ha!” Willow shouldered him with hers. “Stop that.”

He laughed.

---