Page 87 of A Cowboy's Trust

He shrugged. “You’re a doctor. I didn’t expect to hear you talk about auras and energies.”

“I’m a well-rounded doctor,” she said with attitude. “Deal with it.”

“On that note, here are your candles.” Petra stepped forward and handed each of them a paper bag. “Jake, it’s your room, so you get the master candle, and we’ll light ours off yours.”

“This is not my typical morning, but I appreciate the sentiment.” Jake took the tall candle she held out to him. “Thanks.”

“Always.”

He glanced down and read the note attached to the taper out loud. “One Fuck Left (and It’s on Fire).”He glanced at Tansy. “This is one ofthosekinds of fumigations, is it?”

“Petra’s in charge. I’m just along for the ride,” Tansy said with a grin.

It might have been somewhat inappropriate, but having the people who meant the most to her and to Jake there made it hugely meaningful. Especially as everyone attempted to solemnly read their candle labels and slowly failed more and more hysterically.

Laughter was therapeutic, right?

Aiden’s candle readSometimesYou Have to Take It One ‘Are You Fucking KiddingMe?’at a Time.

Petra made direct eye contact with Jake then announced, “Some People Just Need a High Five in the Face.”

When Sydney read,I Will Gladly Tittiepunch a Ho for You, Declan choked briefly. He waved them on. “Sorry. That was a little on the nose.”

“Wasn’t it?” Sydney offered in her best Disney princess voice.

Before reading hers, Tansy nodded slowly. “I like this, and it goes well with yours, Jake.May the Bridges I Burn Light the Way.”

“Nice.” Jake nodded. “Very appropriate.”

Declan was the last to go. He raised a brow as he lit his candle and intoned, “I Cleanse this Room of Your Negativity.”

Huh. Tansy glanced at Petra. “That was boring.”

“Not the candle I bought.” Petra glanced at Sydney then rolled her eyes. “Never mind. Last thing, carry your candle to your assigned part of the apartment.”

Tansy carried hers into the bedroom, standing where she could still see Jake where he remained as the hub of the candle spoke. The teeny light of the candles bounced off the walls as every corner of the apartment got hit by very profane sentiments.

The event was somewhat childish if she’d had to describe what they were doing, but at the same time, warmth radiated through her. Friendship and family, all doing their best to find the good and move toward the light.

One fucking candle at a time.

It was almostanticlimactic when he finally got the text. For two weeks, Jake had silently stewed and tried not to obsess so that he could help the rest of the family, and especially Tansy, deal with their uncertainty.

When the notification showed up, Aiden was the only one near at hand. The two of them huddled together over the phone and hoped Melissa had come to her senses.

That faint hope was dashed pretty damn quickly.

Melissa: Hello, darling. Miss me?

Jake: What do you want? Get to the point.

Melissa: Such a bad attitude. Don’t you remember that saying about catching more flies with honey?

Jake: If you don’t have anything to say to me regarding Jeffrey, goodbye, Melissa.

Melissa: Still a stick up your ass. Fine. I gave it a lot of thought, and you’re right. There’s nothing to say you’ll keep away from that woman a second longer than you have to, so I’ll accept a show of you humiliating yourself and her. Your precious new town holds an auction every year. Sign up for it.

For a moment, Jake truly had no idea what she was talking about. “An auction? What auction?” he demanded.