Page 10 of Still A Cowboy
Cal lunged, more instinct than plan, caught his foot in the uneven sand, and twisted his knee hard enough to see stars. His balance gave out, and he practically crashed into her, his full weight leaning on her as he fought not to hit the ground.
Willa staggered but caught him, her hands gripping his arms as they both tried to stay upright.
Cal winced, breath sharp. “I was trying to help.”
She blinked up at him, wide-eyed. “You’re being hunted by a seagull.”
“Apparently.”
“Maybe you are cursed,” she muttered.
“Starting to believe it.”
The bird circled once, let out a final screech, then soared off toward the next unlucky victim.
Willa steadied him, her hands still firm on his arms. “Can you walk?”
Cal straightened slowly, biting back a groan. “Yeah. Just… maybe not fast. Or maybe not in a coordinated kind of way.”
She smirked, still catching her breath. “Well, that was smooth. Really top-notch seagull dodging.”
“Thanks. I try to set the bar high.”
Her laugh slipped out, soft but real, though her eyes flicked down to his leg with a trace of worry she didn’t quite hide.
“You sure you’re okay?” she asked, keeping her tone light but not letting go of his arm. “I’m not dragging you back to the saloon, cowboy.”
Cal shifted his weight carefully, testing his knee. “I’ll make it. Probably.”
She didn’t roll her eyes, but she came close. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Yeah, but I make decent company.”
That earned him another quick laugh, but her hand stayed on his arm a little longer than it needed to. Willa slid her arm under his to help steady him as they made their way across the sand toward the parking lot.
“Try to lean on me, not crush me,” she said, her voice teasing but careful.
“I’m leaning responsibly,” Cal promised, though every step made his knee burn like someone had twisted a wire too tight.
As they cleared the beach, he spotted two women standing on the seawall nearby. One of them, older, with silver-streaked hair, waved cheerfully. The other, who Cal immediately recognized, was Willa’s mother.
Willa groaned quietly. “Of course, they’re here.”
Cal squinted at the pair. “Is that your mom?”
“Yes. Delia.” She sighed. “The other is my grandmother, Maeve. Get ready. This is where things go off the rails.”
Delia called out, her grin wide and unapologetic. “Look at that. A soulmate beachstroll for your first date.”
Willa shook her head. “It’s not a date.”
Maeve’s sharp gaze took them both in. “Sure looks like a date to me. Especially with all that hand-holding.”
“I’m keeping him from planting his face in the sand,” Willa called back.
When they reached the seawall, Willa made the quick introduction. “Cal, this is my grandmother, Maeve. Maeve, this is Cal Bennett.”
Maeve gave him a once-over, warm but sharp, like she didn’t miss a thing. “You’re the cowboy who wandered in under the full moon?”
