Page 39 of Cowboy’s Last Stand (His to Protect #1)

N atalie had been working in a fog all week.

She hadn’t slept well since the fight with Jason.

Although she was used to late nights and early mornings, she couldn’t focus on menial tasks.

She re-shelved books like an automaton, going through the motions.

When she knocked over a display she’d spent an hour creating, she almost burst into tears.

Gail helped her put things back in order.

Natalie thanked her in a shaky voice, blinking rapidly.

“Let’s take a break,” Gail said.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Gail asked.

Natalie wrapped her hands around the warm mug. “I met someone.”

Gail brightened at this news. “Really?”

“He’s been working on the upstairs apartment,” Natalie explained. “Fixing it up so I can rent it out.”

“OK.”

She took an experimental sip of her tea. It was hot and fragrant.

“What’s he like?”

“He’s very… intense.”

“Intense is good.”

“We had an argument.”

“About what?”

Natalie tried to summarize the conflict with Jason. “He thinks I’m living in the past.”

Gail sipped her own tea, not commenting.

“He also thinks I should quit my second job.”

“Hmm.”

“I like working at the Night Owl.”

“I know.”

“I’m an independent woman,” Natalie said, feeling disgruntled. “I don’t need a man telling me what to do.”

“Of course not,” Gail said.

Natalie studied her friend’s face. “You agree with him.”

“No,” Gail said. “I’m on your side.”

“But?”

“There’s nothing wrong with having a second job,” Gail said in a careful tone. “You’ve got a son to take care of and bills to pay. I just think it’s your way of staying busy… and staying single.”

Natalie tilted her head to one side. “What do you mean?”

“Honey, I know how it feels to be alone. Long weekends are the worst. The nights go on forever.”

Natalie remembered the endless nights after Mike’s death, followed by nonstop invites from friends who wanted to get her out of the house or keep her company.

Had she started working at the bar to escape her grief and solitude?

To avoid social gatherings? Perhaps. As an added benefit, she had a ready-made excuse for not dating.

She was never free on Friday or Saturday night.

Gail patted her hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“About the job or the man?”

“Both.”

“Has he asked you to quit?”

“No.”

“Then don’t worry about it. Keep the job and the man. Maybe you’ll eventually decide that you’d rather spend your nights with him.”

Natalie finished her tea in silent contemplation. Gail was right. She didn’t have to plan her entire future this minute. She could continue working at the bar and continue seeing Jason. Like Jason always said, they didn’t have to agree on everything.

Alma, the reference librarian, came into the breakroom. Her eyes were bright, her hands fluttering with nervous energy. “There’s a good-looking cowboy out front,” she said. “He’s asking for you.”

Natalie’s brows rose in surprise. “Me?”

Alma smiled and nodded. Natalie exchanged a glance with Gail, who appeared delighted by this news. Natalie rose to her feet and smoothed her hair. Gail practically shoved her out of the breakroom into the main hall.

Jason was standing by the front desk with a mixed bouquet of sunflowers and daisies.

The afternoon light silhouetted his broad shoulders.

He looked tall and lean and achingly handsome.

He didn’t say anything as she came forward.

She glanced at the bouquet in his hands.

The cellophane crinkled as she accepted it.

She was aware of the audience of women behind her, tittering at the awkward scene.

He moved his gaze from them to her. “Sorry to bother you at work.”

“It’s fine,” she said stiffly. She didn’t know why he’d brought the flowers here rather than giving them to her at home. He seemed as uncomfortable as she was with the public display, even though he’d chosen it.

“Can I walk with you to get Marcus?”

“Sure,” she said. “I’m off at two fifteen.”

“I’ll wait outside.”

When she nodded her agreement, he turned on his heel and left.

Gail and Alma joined her in watching him push through the glass doors and stride across the parking lot.

Gail made a sound of appreciation as Jason walked away.

He was wearing a cowboy hat that appeared new, along with faded blue jeans that were worn from use.

Although the clothes were nothing special, they fit well enough to showcase the hard body beneath.

With a heavy sigh, she stepped away from the front entrance. Then she noticed the squad car in the parking lot. She frowned as Wade emerged from the vehicle to block Jason’s path. They exchanged some terse words.

To her relief, Jason ignored the provocation and kept walking.

He paused beneath an oak tree at the edge of the parking lot.

Putting his back to the trunk, he crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

Wade spoke into the radio receiver on his shoulder.

After shooting a glance at the library, he got into his car and drove away.

“Wow,” Alma said. “That was a lot of testosterone.”

Gail fanned her face excitedly. “Can I have the one you’re not having?”

Natalie gave her an annoyed look.

“Now I understand why you’ve been moping all week,” Gail teased. “You poor thing, torn between Wade Hendricks and a man even finer than him.”

“I’m not torn between them.”

“How would you describe it? Sandwiched?”

Alma and Gail collapsed in giggles. Natalie carried her bouquet to the breakroom and sank into the chair she’d been sitting in before Jason’s visit.

“You should take those home,” Gail said. “We’ll be closed all weekend.”

“I will.”

“Is Wade an option?” Gail asked gently.

Natalie shook her head. “I’ve never had feelings for Wade. Since I met Jason, I can’t think about anyone else. It’s overwhelming.”

Gail hugged Natalie’s shoulders. “I’m sorry for teasing you.”

“It’s OK. I’m really emotional today.”

“Falling in love does that to a girl.”

Natalie covered her face with her hands, groaning. Gail left her alone to compose herself. After a few minutes, she rose to her feet and finished reshelving. At two fifteen, she gathered her bouquet and waved goodbye.

Jason was waiting for her, as promised. She put the flowers in her car before they started walking. When he reached for her hand, she didn’t rebuff him. It felt natural to let him hold her hand as they strolled down the sidewalk.

“What did Wade say to you?” she asked.

“Nothing important.”

“Did you come inside with the flowers because he was here?”

“Yes.”

No wonder he’d decided on a public display. He couldn’t resist showing up his arch-rival. She glanced up at him, noting the faint circles under his eyes. She suspected that he hadn’t been sleeping well, and nightmares still plagued him.

When they arrived at Marcus’s school, she let go of Jason’s hand.

He didn’t make an issue of it. They needed to have a serious discussion, but this was neither the time nor the place.

The problems between them couldn’t be solved with a simple apology or a bunch of flowers, though she appreciated the gesture.

Marcus bounded down the steps a few minutes later.

He beamed at the sight of Jason. Rushing toward them, Marcus gave Natalie his customary tackle-hug.

Then he greeted Jason the same way. Jason lifted the boy off his feet and turned him upside-down with joyful ease. Marcus squealed with laughter.

“How about coffee?” Jason said. “My treat.”

Natalie nodded her agreement. They went to the café across from the library, which had sweets that Marcus liked.

Jason talked her into having a cappuccino with him while Marcus demolished a cupcake.

As she enjoyed the frothy drink, she noticed Jason watching her intently. She moistened her lips, self-conscious.

“Your birthday’s coming up,” she said to Marcus.

He chugged a carton of milk. “Yep. December 1.”

“Do you know what you want?”

Marcus glanced at Jason, as if seeking his approval. Jason gave a slight shake of his head. Natalie wondered what expensive or inappropriate gifts Marcus had in mind. Weapons, a cell phone, a monster truck?

“I want a puppy,” Marcus said.

She took another sip of her drink to stall for time.

He’d asked for a dog last year too. She’d told him to wait until he was older because she couldn’t take care of a puppy on top of her other responsibilities.

Her gaze met Jason’s once again. He said nothing, but his eyes were dark with longing.

If they became a family, having a pet was doable.

She could imagine Marcus and Jason playing fetch with a floppy-eared pup in the backyard.

“We’ll see,” she said huskily.

Marcus listed a few other items he wanted, and they talked about his day at school.

After leaving the café, they spent a quiet afternoon at home.

Marcus and Jason did tai chi. She arranged the flowers in a glass vase on the dining room table.

Jason disappeared into the upstairs apartment for an hour but returned with an offer to take them out to dinner.

Marcus chose his favorite pizza place. While they waited for the pizza, Marcus spent a handful of Jason’s quarters trying to capture a prize with a claw in a game machine.

Jason finally secured the toy himself. It was an action figure from Marcus’s favorite movie.

Victorious, Marcus watched another kid try to win a similar prize.

Natalie put her hand on Jason’s arm. They stepped away for a private chat.

“What did he tell you he wanted for his birthday?”

Jason gave her a blank look.

“You haven’t talked about it before?”

“He has mentioned wanting something,” Jason admitted.

“What?”

He leaned forward to speak into her ear. “A little brother.”

Her mouth fell open. “You’re kidding.”

“No.”

“He asked you to make this happen?”