Page 15 of Backup Cowboy

A scuffling noise catches my attention along with a flash of white. “We have a visitor.” I nod toward Leonardo, who struts his llama self right into the barn without even blinking.

Caspian curses under his breath. “Out, Leo.”

The llama emits the loudest, shrillest bleating sound before walking over to where we’re sitting and knocking over my mineral water.

“What was that for?” I look right at Leo, my arms stretched out wide in question. “I thought we were friends. I gave you my hat.”

Caspian is trying so hard not to laugh as he gets up to grab a shop towel. “He’s very protective of me.”

I stare Leo down, and I swear to all that is pink, he sticks his tongue out at me.

“Oh, shit!” Cas jerks me into his arms and yells something at Leo that I don’t understand because the cowboy’s arms are holding me so tight I can’t breathe.

“Crspyun.” My words muffle against his T-shirt, his earthy scent seeping underneath my skin and making my toes curl. I try again. “Caspian!”

“Sorry about that.” His chin dips down, those steel-blue eyes catching the light as he studies me. “I was worried he was goingto spit at you. That’s what he usually does when he’s feeling territorial.”

“I’m starting to think Mr. Leo doesn’t approve of me.”

“He’ll come around.”

I push off the couch and snag the towel. “Let me clean this up while you deal with your bestie.”

I wipe up the spilled water as Caspian attempts to corral Leo toward the door. Just when Cas tries to reach for the barn door, Leo stands right in front of it, trapping us inside.

“Leo.” Caspian’s voice is curt and commanding, but the animal doesn’t care. He plops onto the ground and doesn’t budge. “Move, Leo, or you will not be allowed out of your pen. Is that what you want?”

I’m not sure if Leo actually understands Caspian or not, but he just yawns and stretches out like he’s going to take a nap. It’s like the animal knows that nobody can get in or out. He’s a country doorstopper.

“This could take a while.” He motions to the alpaca wannabe. “He did this with Ruby at first.”

“How did she win him over?”

“Food.”

I glance at the drink fridge. “You think he likes yogurt?”

We both laugh.

Caspian walks over to the kitchenette and grabs a guitar that’s leaning against the wall. I’m surprised I hadn’t seen it there. He sits back down, guitar on his lap like it belongs there.

“You play?”

“I dabble.”

Impressed, I say, “That’s not a typical skill, Cowboy.”

“It’s not as unusual as you think, Boots.” He strums a few notes and looks over at Leo, who lifts his head off the ground.

“He’s heard you play before.”

“After his mom abandoned him, I bottle fed him. I stayed in the barn with him, and I would sometimes sing.”

The man sings to abandoned wildlife. He fills out a pair of jeans like he’s a Calvin Klein model. And the way his dark hair curls slightly from underneath a cowboy hat? Perfection.

Caspian’s fingers glide across the strings, his fingers moving with an ease that makes my throat dry. Strong, sure, calloused… I can’t stop imagining them tracing down my skin instead of those strings. I clench my jaw as hard as I can stand to distract me from my wicked thoughts.

As the notes take shape, the song is unfamiliar to me, but they blend into a rich melody.