Page 66 of A Cowboy's Bride
“Petra.” He kissed her. A gentle brush of his lips over hers before pulling back. He wiped his thumb under her eye, brushing away a tear. “You are a better person than me. If I had the ability to hack into records I’d be legally changing his name to Humperdinck McBastardface.”
Oh my God. Amusement hit hard, and a huge snicker escaped, followed by another, especially when Aiden joined in, his laughter contagious and warm as it brushed over her. Then he pulled her into his arms and squeezed tight, holding her as she released part of the burden she’d been carrying by herself for months.
She wiped away tears again, this time from laughing too hard. She patted his chest approvingly. “Thanks. I needed that. Also, you’re the only person I’ve told what happened. So don’t share it around, please.”
“Of course.” He nodded slowly, peering into her eyes. “Think you should consider expanding thatin the knowlist to include Tansy and Sydney. They’re rock-solid friends and having them beside you would help.”
“I feel like such a fool, though,” Petra complained.
“You trusted someone, and they lied to you for all the wrong reasons. That makes the failure on their side, not yours.” Aiden set the porch swing swaying, tucking her tighter into his embrace. “You sure you don’t want his knees broken or anything?”
So very tempting, except for one fact. “Whenever thoughts of revenge rise, I remember there’s an innocent kid out there who has an ass for a father and a conniving wench for a mom. She doesn’t need more trouble in her life.”
Aiden pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You’re a good woman, Petra.”
They sat for a while longer, sunshine sneaking around the side of the house and warming them where they sat, gently rocking. A few birds sang, but mostly it was the sounds of the prairies that wrapped around them. A rush of wind, the creak of the swing. The flag beside the parking area flapping in the wind.
Aiden hummed happily then squeezed the arm around her shoulders. “I hate to interrupt this, but I have a bed to repair.”
Oh God. Petra fought back against the snickers that wanted to rise. “Let me give you a hand with that.”
He stood, holding her hand as he brought her to vertical. “You think it’s safe for us to work together? That’s what caused the bed to break in the first place.”
She poked him in the belly, finger bouncing off an amazing set of ab muscles. “Don’t get me restarted laughing. My stomach already hurts,” she complained.
He squeezed her fingers and strolled them slowly through the living room. “I’m going to have to order a new frame. I’ll leave the mattress on the floor for now if you’re okay with that.”
“Sounds a lot safer,” she teased.
Tidying up didn’t take that long, but after a half-dozen trips to carry the broken wood to the workshop area, it was rapidly approaching the end of the school day.
Aiden dipped his head toward the front of the house. “I know it might be a little overkill, but let’s walk all the way up to the road. We can totally embarrass her. I’m sure that’s a rite of passage she needs to go through.”
“Bring Dixie,” Petra reminded him.
When Aiden linked their fingers together as they walked slowly up the Gravel drive, Petra didn’t mind. She took deep breaths of the fall air and tilted her face up to the sun. “It’s been a good day. I hope it’s been a good day for Jinx as well.”
“Me too,” Aiden agreed.
They waited until the school bus had pulled to a stop. Dixie wiggled impatiently, tail wagging a million miles an hour as the door swung open and Jinx stepped down.
She smiled big as she met Petra’s eyes, chin held high. “You’re here.”
“Too excited to wait for you to walk all the way up to the house,” Petra admitted. She waved at Sasha, who had her face pressed up against the school bus window.
Jinx twisted and waved as well, then she knelt. “Come, Dixie.”
Dixie pounced, slapping her tongue all over Jinx’s face as if the girl had been gone for a million years instead of eight hours.
Aiden made a face. “I was going to offer you a hug, but now that you’re slathered in dog germs, I’ll just wait until you’ve decontaminated yourself.”
Jinx rolled her eyes, and another knot of tension inside Petra’s chest loosened.
One week.Oneweek, and already this girl was beginning to show who she was, strong and resilient.
Petra tipped her head toward the house. “So, save the big stories for when we get to the house, because I know Declan and Jake want to hear them as well, but did you and Sasha still hit it off?”
“She’s pretty amazing,” Jinx said quietly, surprising Petra when she slipped their fingers together, pacing at Petra’s side. “Did you guys have a good day?”
