Page 93 of Nashville Cowboy
Eve nearly fell, grateful she had her back against the door. “Wh-what?”
“Oh, crap. I’m not going about this very well, am I? I seem to be shocking everyone. This is a small town and a bit of a throwback. Y’all probably are just not up on the times. But here’s the thing, Eve. I’m going to be forty this year, and I don’t have time to waste with pleasantries. This is my last chance to have a baby and I want this more than anything. I put this off too long, thinking I’d always have a family later. Later ishere. Jackson and I have a connection, a deep friendship, and I think we’d make good parents.”
Lord! Why on earth wouldn’t Jackson tell her about any of this? Unless he was quietly considering fathering Winona’s baby, Eve didn’t see why they couldn’t both have a big laugh about it. She burned with heat.
“I can see you’re shocked and I’m sorry. Jackson turned me down, if you want to know the truth. I even offered him money. While I hope he’ll think about it, I have a feeling he’s done with me.”
“Well, I hope you don’t expectmeto help change his mind.”
Convincing him to consider buying the Shady Grind was one thing. Fathering an ex’s child was far more than Eve would ever be able to accept.
“I’m pretty much resigned to the fact. I missed my chance with him.” She looked behind her, at the small group of men that were gathered, watching her with eager smiles. She gave them all a little wave. “But I wasn’t lyin’ about making my home in Stone Ridge. For now. If I can’t find a father for my child here, I don’t think it’s possible.”
Eve snorted. “There are banks for this kind of thing.”
“Not here. You don’t even have ahairdresserin town. Anyway, I prefer to pick my own, up close and personal. Maybe even do this the fun way.” She did a little jiggle.
“Well, this has been fun,” Eve said, “but my burger is getting cold. If you’ll excuse me.”
Winona held out her palm. “I know y’all think I’m crazy, but taking risks got me out of a trailer park when I was sixteen years old. So, I just keep right on taking them.”
Eve nodded, and with that she let herself back in the office and shut the door on the bright, shiny, and very sad person that was Winona James.
Chapter 30
Jackson had just finished a rough day helping Hank with tagging new colts when he rode Taco back to the house. Looking forward to seeing Eve, he quickly unsaddled Taco and put him in his stall.
When he walked into the kitchen, Eve sat at the table, her eyes narrowed, lips pursed at him.
“What?” he asked, reading the room.
She stood. “You have got a lot of nerve!”
“Hell, yeah, I do but you like that about me.” He tossed his hat.
“Winona came into town today. She told me about her offer.”
Oh, crap. Dread spiked through him. “Did she tell you I said no?”
“Actually, she did. But that’s not the point!” She slapped the table.
It had been a long time since he’d seen Eve this mad. Damn, it looked good on her.
“Okay, what is the point?”
Eve tossed her hands up. “Ugh!”
She then went out the back door of the kitchen. He knew where she was headed and started after her.
“Hang on, son,” Mima said, walking into the kitchen.
“Did you hear all this?”
“All the sperm talk about Winona? Yes, Eve told me. She needed to unload, I guess. Kind of felt like I was talkin’ to Hank about his prized bull for a minute. Go figure, my grandson, a stud.”
“That’snotfunny.”
“Forgive me, then, son, but you’ve done met some strange people in show business.”
