Page 29 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Of course.I felt terrible afterward.”
“Why?”
“Because it was just… wrong.”
“Wrong in what way?”
“Wrong in every way!”
“You think you should be faithful to your dead husband?”
“I doubt he’d have wanted me to hook up with his best friend.”
“Would he want you to mourn him forever?”
“Probably.”
He laughed at this, and she laughed with him.
“You don’t think I’m terrible?”
“No.I think you’re too young and beautiful to be alone.”
Her eyes glittered with tears.She inhaled a ragged breath and glanced away.“I don’t have feelings for Wade.”
“Good.”
She smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes.“I shouldn’t be encouraging you, either.I’m not ready to date anyone.”
“You’re not encouraging me,” he said gruffly.“Unless I’ve missed something.”
“I’ve invited you to dinner.Twice.”
“I thought you were just being polite.”
She fell silent beside him.Jason sensed the attraction between them was mutual, but he didn’t try to hold her hand or put his arm around her.He listened to the sound of the rain, enjoying her presence.He couldn’t imagine what the future held for them, so he focused on the quiet peace of the moment.
Jason suspected the Hendricks brothers would bring more trouble to her doorstep.Billy was a dangerous man, but Wade might pose an even bigger threat.He was protective of Natalie, and he had law enforcement resources at his disposal.
Jason would have to watch his back every day he stayed in this town.But he would stay for as long as she needed him.
Chapter Seven
Natalie awoke toMarcus gently shaking her.
“Mom?Mom?”
“Yeahwhat,” she mumbled.
“Can I let Jason in?He said I had to ask you first.”
She opened one eye to check the clock by her bedside.It was almost eight.“You can let him in.”
“Great!We’re going to make pancakes.”
A pronouncement like this would normally jolt Natalie into motion.She pictured a mess in her kitchen, with spilled syrup on the table and broken eggs on the floor.Then she remembered Jason washing the dishes with Marcus last night.She decided they didn’t need her to supervise.Yawning, she rolled over and dozed for another half hour.
When she finally rose from the cozy tangle of blankets, she put on her robe and padded toward the kitchen.Coffee was percolating, and Marcus had a stack of pancakes in front of him.Jason stood at the stove in a pair of sweatpants and a ribbed undershirt.His feet were bare.Though he looked nothing like Mike, her husband had worn similar pajamas.They were both dark-haired and well-built.Jason’s biceps flexed as he flipped a pancake.Her chest tightened with a mixture of grief and longing.
