Page 71

She yawned, her eyes opening, then fluttering closed again as if she just didn’t have the energy to keep them open. “Isn’t that a lot? Don’t you want some space?”

He slid out of bed, grabbing his jeans. “Why would I want space from you guys?” He pulled on the jeans, watching her as she struggled in that half-asleep, half-awake middle ground.

“But . . .”

“Come by for dinner. We can talk all you want about space then. And maybe sneak off and make out somewhere.”

Her mouth curved. “’Kay, you convinced me.”

He leaned down and gave her one quick peck on the cheek, wanting to linger and not allowing himself the pleasure. There was work to be done at home, and she’d be by later tonight.

He found his shirt and pulled it on, slipping out of her room. He found his cowboy hat and slid it onto his head before working on buttoning up the shirt as he walked down the stairs.

He looked rumpled and rather walk-of-shamed, but hopefully he could get back to the ranch early enough to avoid any familial prying.

He stepped onto the porch, pulling the door closed and making sure it locked. The world was still dark except for the faintest hint of light far away in the distance. He just might make it.

He drove through empty morning Gracely, though the lights in Em’s bakery were already on. He possibly slid a little lower in his seat, despite the fact that she’d likely recognize his truck if she looked out and happened to see him drive past.

He sank lower still in his seat when he crossed the threshold of the Tyler ranch. And yeah, maybe he took the side way instead of the main drive, and maybe he parked his truck next to the stables and then hurried in a jog to the house in the hopes someone might fall for him already having been up and around.

Boone probably would have had no problem walking through the front door, bold and defiant, but Shane didn’t have it in him. Not even because he was embarrassed, but because he didn’t want his mouthy family saying anything that might embarrass Cora. And, Lord, was his family mouthy.

Shane slipped in through the back door, being careful to shut it quietly and flip the locks back as noiselessly as possible. He took two steps toward the stairs.

“Where have you been?”

“Jesus.” Shane jumped a foot at the unexpected voice of his mother, and, when he slowly turned, Mom, Grandma, and Molly were all sitting around the seldom-used kitchen table, calmly sipping coffee.

Mom raised an eyebrow as Shane accepted his fate and stepped into the doorway of the kitchen.

“Seems to me you’re sneaking in rather than heading out.” She watched him over the edge of her mug.

“Seems to me those were the clothes you were wearing last night when you hightailed it out of here,” Grandma said, also holding her mug up to her mouth.

Shane scowled at Molly. “What’s your observation?” he grumbled.

But she smiled sweetly. “You look happy.”

He grunted, because he didn’t know what to say to allthat. “Gonna shower,” he muttered, turning away and moving out of the kitchen opening.

“Heed my advice,” Grandma called after him. “Lock that girl down quick.”

“Grandma’s right,” Molly added, even as Shane trudged up the stairs. “Plenty of nice-looking cowboys out there could sweep her off her feet.”

“Ha.” The thing was, locking Cora down didn’t seem like such a bad idea. But he didn’t have much to offer, and hadn’t he made a few mistakes when deciding he was all in long before the other person did?

Hell, Cora had been asking about space just this morning, while she’d still been half asleep. Maybe he needed to heed the warnings of his past and slow down a bit.

He just had the sneaking suspicion that once she was in his orbit again, he wouldn’t be able to help himself.

Chapter Nineteen

Cora hummed to herself as she drove up to Mile High headquarters to pick up Micah. She’d had a perfect day. Awash in a post-sex, post-sleep-in morning, she’d ticked off just about every stray errand and chore on her to-do list.

Once she got Micah home and showered, she had a dinner with the Tylers to look forward to. Micah got to hang out with his beloved horses, and the world seemed aglow with goodness and possibility.

Which was far too good to be true.