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Shane gave himself a minute . . . or ten, to think about anything other than the current erection he was sporting. Because the task that lay ahead was going to be just about as unpleasant.

He had to face the kid, and he had the sinking suspicion it wouldn’t be easy at all.

Chapter Fifteen

Despite the ups and downs of the morning, Cora was excited to be heading over to the flower farm. She wanted to explore it a little more, both from a personal interest standpoint and from a Mile High Weddings standpoint.

She smiled to herself, because she was starting to sound like her sister, and a couple years ago she never would have believed that was possible.

Molly drove her truck across fields and back toward the north edge of Tyler property, where Cora had never been before. The summer green was getting a little brown, but the sky was a beautiful blue, and the mountains acted like honorable sentries in the distance. The cows dotted pasture ground, the occasional ranch hand in a four-wheeler or on horseback waving as Molly drove.

“Mom doesn’t like it when I cut through the back, but it cuts off about twenty minutes. And she won’t be home till this afternoon, so I figure I’ll have till dinner before she scolds me about it.”

“Did you grow up with Lou and Emily?”

“Oh, sure. Lindsay’s so much younger than me. Lou and Em were my only hope for female companionship my own age for a while there. Plus, small towns. You didn’t grow up here.”

“No, Denver.”

Molly wrinkled her nose. “I tried to live there for a few years with my ex. Worst years of my life, and not just because he was a dickbag.”

Cora laughed. “Yeah, I relate.”

“Micah’s dad?”

Cora tensed and tried to find a way to play it off. Play it down. “Yeah, he’s not . . . the greatest.”Ha ha, understatement of the year.

“But he’s still around?” Molly asked conversationally, concentrating on the path.

“Alive, but not around.” Cora squinted out the window, trying to get a handle on her whirling emotions. Stephen seemed to keep coming up, a bad penny as always. She didn’t want to talk about him. Couldn’t, even if Molly had a shitty ex, too. “I don’t like to talk about him.”

“Got it. Well, just a head’s up, we’re not just helping Lou with work. This is a little cheer up mission over similarly shitty exes. I guess you saw the shiner my idiot brother got.”

“Shane said he got in a fight.”

Molly rolled her eyes, waving at a ranch hand who opened a gate for her and closed it behind them. “Gavin and his hair-trigger temper, I swear. Most easygoing guy alive unless he thinks you wronged him, thenboom.”

“But this wasn’t about him.”

“No,” Molly agreed as the truck rumbled along. Cora saw rows of colorful blooms, so she knew they must be on Lou’s property now. “But I’m not gossiping until I hear what’s going on with you and my brother.”

“Oh. Well. We’re, uh, going to go out on a date.”

“Hmm. And there’s already been kissing. PDA is gross and mean by the way. It’s like rubbing it in to the PDA-less.”

“Sorry,” Cora offered, though she knew Molly was just teasing her. Cora glanced at the brunette. Her profile reminded Cora a lot of Deb. “I like him.”

“Aw,” Molly offered without a hint of cynicism or sarcasm. “Our Shane . . . He’s such a good guy. I think you’re perfect for him.”

Cora scoffed. “Hardly perfect.”

“You’re outgoing and determined and funny. You tease him, and he lights up. He needs a little light now and again. And, I can’t pretend to know what having a kid is like, but Shane’s good with them, so it’s not like that’s a problem.” Molly glanced over at Cora briefly, her expression one of mock horror. “Oh my God, I sound like my mother meddling.”

Cora laughed. “I hate to point it out, but coming over to cheer up your friend under the guise of helping her workalsosounds like your mother.”

“Shit.”

“I guess it’s a good thing your mom’s awesome.”