Page 11 of Cowboy’s Last Stand (His to Protect #1)

To his surprise, Marcus showed no reluctance to help with chores. They cleared the table and put the dishes in the sink. Marcus pulled up a stepstool beside Jason. He rinsed the plates after Jason washed them.

When Natalie came in, her face softened at the sight of them.

Take that, Wade.

Marcus jumped down from the stepstool and gave her a hug. She embraced him with open arms and held him tight, like she needed this contact, this comfort. “What a good helper you are.”

He told her about his plan to fight firecrackers with firecrackers. She ruffled his hair. “Are you ready for dessert?”

“Can I have ice cream with chocolate syrup?”

“You don’t want apple pie?”

“I don’t like apple pie.”

“You’ve never tried it.”

“It looks yucky.”

Natalie chuckled at his comment, unoffended. She took out the ice cream and syrup, arching a brow at Jason. “Do you like apple pie?”

“I like any kind of pie,” he said.

“à la mode?”

“Load it up.”

She did, and they sat down at the kitchen table. Jason dug into the pie with relish, glad that Wade hadn’t been invited in for a slice. Marcus returned to his video game afterward, and Natalie made herself a cup of tea. A soft rain began to fall outside.

“He’s a nice kid,” Jason said.

“You think so?”

“I do.”

“He’s been giving his teacher fits.”

“Really?”

“She says he never stops asking questions.”

“Isn’t that a sign of intelligence?”

“She calls it ‘off-task behavior.’”

Jason didn’t know much about kids, but he thought the criticism was a shame. “He’s in kindergarten?”

“Yes. He just started in the fall.”

“Are kindergartners supposed to be on task?”

She smiled ruefully. “I guess they are.”

“Does he like school?”

“He loves it.”

“That’s good.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

When she went quiet, Jason changed the subject. “What did Wade say?”

Her smile faded.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

She grabbed a shawl and her teacup, then gestured for him to follow her outside. They resettled on the glider. The rain made a gentle pitter-patter against the rooftop. “He said that Billy would probably leave me alone if you left town.”

Jason found this hard to swallow. “Do you believe that?”

“Not really.”

“I’ll leave if you ask me to.”

“It’s raining,” she said, lifting her palm to the sky.

“I like the rain.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to stay,” he said simply. He hadn’t done what he’d come here to do. He might not be able to do it, no matter how much extra time he spent here. Even so, he wouldn’t leave her unprotected if given a choice.

She curled her legs underneath her and tucked the shawl around her slender body. “Veterans Day is tomorrow. I wouldn’t feel right about putting you out.”

“You haven’t really taken me in.”

“Haven’t I?”

He fell silent because playing on her sympathies worked in his favor. She’d allowed him to stay because she felt sorry for him. And perhaps because he’d known Mike. The idea gave him a stab of guilt that he pushed aside.

“There’s a dinner at the VFW tomorrow night,” she said. “We go every year.”

“Are you inviting me to come with you?”

“Yes.”

“I accept.”

She smiled, sipping her tea.

“Is there something between you and Wade?”

“Why do you ask?”

“He had a territorial vibe.”

“He was Mike’s best friend. He thinks it’s his duty to look after me.”

Jason suspected this wasn’t the whole story. “Is that all?”

She set her cup aside and nibbled her lower lip as if she were considering what else to say.

Jason waited for her to continue. “He came over about six months ago. It would have been Mike’s birthday.

We cracked open a bottle of his favorite tequila.

We were drinking and reminiscing. One thing led to another, and we… you know.”

Jason stared at her in fascination. This revelation was juicier than he’d anticipated. “You slept together?”

She groaned with embarrassment. “Yes.”

“You regret it?”

“Of course. I felt terrible afterward.”

“Why?”

“Because it was just… wrong.”

“Wrong in what way?”

“Wrong in every way!”

“You think you should be faithful to your dead husband?”

“I doubt he’d have wanted me to hook up with his best friend.”

“Would he want you to mourn him forever?”

“Probably.”

He laughed at this, and she laughed with him.

“You don’t think I’m terrible?”

“No. I think you’re too young and beautiful to be alone.”

Her eyes glittered with tears. She inhaled a ragged breath and glanced away. “I don’t have feelings for Wade.”

“Good.”

She smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I shouldn’t be encouraging you, either. I’m not ready to date anyone.”

“You’re not encouraging me,” he said gruffly. “Unless I’ve missed something.”

“I’ve invited you to dinner. Twice.”

“I thought you were just being polite.”

She fell silent beside him. Jason sensed the attraction between them was mutual, but he didn’t try to hold her hand or put his arm around her.

He listened to the sound of the rain, enjoying her presence.

He couldn’t imagine what the future held for them, so he focused on the quiet peace of the moment.

Jason suspected the Hendricks brothers would bring more trouble to her doorstep. Billy was a dangerous man, but Wade might pose an even bigger threat. He was protective of Natalie, and he had law enforcement resources at his disposal.

Jason would have to watch his back every day he stayed in this town. But he would stay for as long as she needed him.