Page 67 of Owned By The Cowboy

“Blayne…”

“No arguments. Doctor’s orders.”

“You’re not a doctor.”

“I’m the closest thing you got right now.”

I watch him leave the room, and a few minutes later I can hear him in the kitchen with my kids. His voice is calm, sure, like he’s done this a thousand times.

“All right, troops, what’s the morning routine?”

“Cereal first,” Annalise announces.

“What kind of cereal?”

“The one with the rabbit on the box.”

“Trix,” Jaylen clarifies. “She means Trix.”

“Got it. Nia, you need help with anything?”

“I’m good. Just need to grab my backpack.”

“Jaylen, when are your tryouts?”

“After school. Coach said we’d know the results by five.”

“I’ll be here when you get home.”

The easy way he talks to them, the way he remembers what’s important to each of them, the way he steps into the chaos of our lives like he belongs here… it makes my chest tight with something that feels a whole lot like love…

* * *

Twenty minutes later, he’s back in my bedroom with a cup of tea and what looks like toast cut into triangles.

“I’m not hungry,” I tell him.

“I know. But you need to eat something, even if it’s just a little.”

“I’ll throw up.”

“Maybe. But you need to try.”

He sits on the edge of the bed and holds the tea while I take tiny sips. It’s perfect. Not too hot, with just a touch of honey.I feel like Goldilocks. I let out a small giggle. Blayne smiles at me with warmth in his blue eyes, pushing my sweat-damp curls away from my forehead.

“How did you know how I like my tea?”

“I pay attention.”

“When did you have time to pay attention to how I like my tea?”

“Every morning for the past few weeks. You make it the same way every time.”

Three weeks. Has it really been three weeks since we started? Since he started staying over most nights, since he became part of our morning routine, since he became… what? My boyfriend? My partner? Something else entirely?

“The kids got off okay?” I ask, pushing away my thoughts.

“Yep. Nia’s got her lunch money, Jaylen remembered his cleats, and Annalise has her math folder and her stuffed elephant for show-and-tell.”