Page 56 of Owned By The Cowboy

“I know, Mama. I just need to see her.” I force myself to give her a smile, I’m sure she’s just as worried.

We walk into the diner, and I immediately spot them in a corner booth. Nia’s got her foot propped up on the opposite seat, crutches leaning against the wall, and she’s laughing at something Blayne just said. He’s sitting across from her, looking completely relaxed, like spending his afternoon in urgent care with someone else’s kid is totally normal. And fine as hell… as usual. He’s wearing construction clothes. Sturdy pants and shirt, heavy boots, a baseball cap instead of his cowboy hat, sunglasses resting on top. Blue eyes twinkling as he grins at my daughter. All sun-kissed, scruffed jaw, dusty outfit. Making my girl laughwhen she just got hurt! The relief that floods through me is so intense I nearly stumble.

“Mama! Grandma!” Nia waves when she sees us. “Look, I’m fine. See?”

I slide into the booth next to her, immediately pulling her into a hug that’s probably too tight. “Let me see.”

My mom settles next to Blayne, smiling. “Hi, you two.”

Nia rolls her eyes but lifts her foot so I can examine the brace. “It’s just a sprain. The doctor said I’ll be back to normal in a week.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? Does it hurt? Do you need pain medicine?”

“Mom, breathe. I’m fine. Blayne’s been taking great care of me.”

I look across the table at him, and my chest fills with warmth. His thick dark hair’s poking out of the sides of his hat, and he’s got that soft expression he gets when he’s looking at my kids… or me.

“Thank you,” I say, and my voice comes out rougher than I intended. “I can’t even begin to tell you…”

“Don’t,” he interrupts gently, putting his hand on mine on top of the table. Right in front of my mother and daughter… “You don’t need to thank me.”

“Yes, I do. You dropped everything. You came running when she needed someone.”

“Of course I did.”

He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, like there was never any question that he’d be there. And maybe for him, there wasn’t.

“How did shopping go?” he asks, clearly trying to change the subject.

“Cut short,” my mom informs him. “We barely made it through two stores before the school called.”

Blayne nods at her before turning back to me, like his eyes can’t stay away for more than a few seconds. “Did you at least get what you needed?”

“Some of it. I’ll have to go back next week.”

“I’ll come with you next time,” Nia says. “I can be your assistant.”

“You’ll be in school next week, young lady.”

“Not if I’m still in pain.” She grins mock-innocently.

“Nice try, kiddo,” Blayne says. “You’ll be fine by Monday.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re too stubborn to stay down for long,” her grandmother chimes in.

Nia laughs, and the sound makes warmth spread through my chest. I don’t know when was the last time I heard her laugh like that? Really laugh, not just the polite smiles she gives when adults think they’re being funny.

“We should get you home,” I say. “Get you settled with some ice and elevation.”

“Can Blayne come over for dinner?” she asks. “I want to show him my volleyball trophies. Prove I’m not always a klutz.”

I look at Blayne, who’s already shaking his head. “You guys have had enough of me for one day.”

“Actually,” I say, “dinner sounds perfect. It’s the least I can do.”

“You don’t need to…”