Page 95 of Owned By The Cowboy

“The kids need stability, Regina. They need their family together.”

“They have stability. They have a family.”

“What they have is a broken home.”

“No, Rich. They have a home where they’re loved, wanted and treated like they matter.” Another blow.

“I love them.” His voice sounds desperate now.

“Do you? Because love isn’t just a feeling, Richard. It’s showing up. It’s being there when they need you. It’s putting them first.”

“I can put them first.”

God, this is exhausting. But I guess we needed to have this conversation once and for all. “Now? What about all the years when work was more important? When golf was more important? When your side piece was more important?”

“That’s not fair, Regina. I was working to provide for us.”

“None of this is fair, Richard. For any of us. Whatyouput us through.” I point at his face again.

I’m interrupted by the sound of Blayne’s truck pulling into the driveway. Oh, shit. My heart starts pounding, because I know this is about to get much uglier.

“Is that him?” Richard asks, his classically handsome face twisting into something ugly.

“Yes.”

“Good. I’d like to meet the man who’s been playing daddy to my children.”

I roll my eyes. “Richard, don’t.”

“Don’t what? Protect my family?”

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” I warn him. Because I suspect Blayne Madison doesn’t play fair when it comes to us.

The front door opens, and my cowboy walks in. All tall, built, rugged… freaking magnificent. He takes one look at Richard, and his entire demeanor changes.

“Why is my woman upset?” he growls without preamble. Oh boy…

“You must be the handyman.” Blayne crosses his massive arms over his huge chest and stares down at my city-boy ex. “The guy who swooped in when Reggie was at her lowest and convinced her to give you a try.” He takes a step forward, and I think he must be suicidal because the waves of unrestrained fury coming from my cowboy are frightening even me (more like turning me on in a “my man’s a badass” way…). “You’re using her.”

“Using her for what?” My guy asks.

“For whatever it is guys like you are after.”

Blayne raises an eyebrow. “Guys like me?”

“Small-town guys with big dreams and no prospect.”

“Richard, stop,” I say.

“No, let him talk,” Blayne says with a smirk.

“You’re not good enough for her or for my children. And I’m not going to stand by and let you ruin their lives.”

“Yeah? Where were you when Nia got hurt at school? When Jaylen made varsity? When Annalise needed a date for her father-daughter dance?”

Richard’s face goes pale. “How do you…”

Blayne thumps his chest. “I was here. For all of it. That’s what you do when you love someone, you scumbag.”