Page 16 of Soldier Cowboy
“Did you…leave your gun behind?”
He wore a light denim jacket, and she couldn’t tell if he wore a holster underneath. “No. It’s going with me everywhere we go. Remember, I’m also on the job.”
“Right.”
She would argue nothing could possibly happen to her on their property, that the point of coming here to the countryside was they’d be safe here. But this morning she’d thought Dan might have opened the door to the cabin. The memory was still fresh in her mind, right along with the thought that she wanted to live. Badly.
“Don’t worry,” he said as if he was also remembering. “You’re safe with me.Always.”
A sheepdog rushed past them, a streak of black-and-white fur going up the porch steps to join Bonnie and Sean.
Bonnie walked down the steps to meet them halfway.
“Colton, you rascal!” She went into his arms, causing him to let go of Jennifer’s hand. “You gave me another gray hair and gray doesn’t look good on a redhead.”
“Bonnie Lee. It’s been a long time.”
There was that smile again, so honest, so…open. Another Colton was in there, a younger version, and a more carefree one. This Colton didn’t have his soldier guard up. This Colton wasn’t at all frightening.
Bonnie broke the hug to smile at Jennifer. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen this guy for years. We all grew up together. I knew Coltonbeforehe was a soldier. I knew him when he was a skinny kid, throwing pebbles at Sean and me.”
“You shouldn’t have been making out in thebarn. Easy target.”
“I’m Jennifer Walker.” Jennifer stuck out her hand.
Bonnie ignored the outstretched hand and pulled Jennifer into her arms. The woman gave great hugs, she had to give her that. First bear-hugged by Sean, then Bonnie. Jennifer wasn’t used to this type of affection. She didn’t come from a hugging family. In her family they were far more likely to salute each other than hug. Good to know Colton had enjoyed a healthy balance between the harshness of the military and a warm and loving family.
She, on the other hand, had not. Neither had Joe.
“Have we met before? You looksofamiliar.”
“I’ve got that kind of a face?” Bonnie smiled.
“Meghan Kavanaugh,” Sean called out. “In the flesh.”
It all came together in a matter of minutes. She was older now but still so beautiful.
“You’re Meg!Kavanaugh’s Way? I watched that show when I was a teenager.”
Bonnie grinned and covered her mouth. “You’re making me feel old.”
“When the streaming service brought it back, I binged all the old seasons so I could watch right where the show left off. You were such a badass on that show.”
“As the oldest daughter of an Irish mafia family, I had to be.” Bonnie blew on her fingernails like a lady boss. “How old are you, honey?”
“Twenty-five.”
“You’re not just a rascal, you’re a cradle-robber!” Bonnie called out. “He’s thirty-five, you know?”
“Um, sure. I do.”
She did not know this. He certainly didn’t look much older than Jennifer. But she and her new fake fiancée had a bit of an age gap going on. Well, that was okay. Probably.
“I’ve dated younger men and there’s no comparison with the experience of an older man who knows what he’s doing.” She elbowed Jennifer. “But love is love, right? Sue me, but I’m a romantic. Sean and I fell in love at sixteen. We’re only now getting married. Second chances are the best. And all the rage.”
Colton had moved up the steps, where he squatted to pet the dog. “This must be Beer.”
“Forgive my fiancée and his poor taste in names,” Bonnie said. “He thought it funny and original to name his dog Beer. Hewon’tbe naming our children.”
