Page 115 of Rocky Mountain Devil

And just because he wasn’t texting her didn’t meanshestopped. He considered blocking her number for about two seconds before realizing he’d sooner cut off his balls.

It hurt to read the messages, but it would hurt more to not.

Laurel:Your cousin pulled me over for having a broken taillight. I’m glad she wasn’t one corner earlier or I’d have been nailed for speeding too

Laurel:Made pizza tonight and put pineapple on it because you’re not here. You’re welcome to come pick it off and make rude comments about how fruit isn’t a dinner item

Laurel:I’m wearing your T-shirt to bed. It smells like you. Well, agoodyou, not after you’ve been shoveling manure

Laurel:This bed seems empty without you hogging the covers

Laurel:I’ve got room saved for your stubborn ass

Laurel:Baby? It’s cold without you

She wasn’t making it easy to move on without her, that was for fucking sure.

So he looked for ways to fill the time. He certainly didn’t want to spend it over at Gabe and Allison’s, and have to face questions about why he was there and not with Laurel like usual. Jesse was nearly as bad company these days as he was. When Rafe had mentioned that he and Laurel were over, all his cousin had done was grunt.

He figured his mom was probably lonely. Plus, making his way over to the homestead between chores was also an excuse that let him salve his conscience slightly.

And if his mom was confused at how often he showed up, she didn’t mention it. Not right away.

He walked in to find her leafing through a pile of pictures on the kitchen table. “What’s up?”

“You again? You were here only a few hours ago.” Dana glanced at him suspiciously. “Wait. Are you and Gabe keeping an eye on me?”

Rafe settled into the chair next to her. “Course not. You have homemade cookies, though. It’s like ringing a bell.”

She was focused on the photo in front of her again. “Help yourself. The neighbours have been bringing around food like crazy. I don’t know what they think I’m doing with my time that I can’t make a meal for one person.”

“It’s what people ’round here do when someone dies.” Rafe pulled a picture from under her fingers. “Who’s Gabe with in this shot?”

She laughed. “That’s not Gabe, it’s me and your father.”

No way. He picked the photo up to examine it closer. “But you’re so…”

“Young?” Dana sighed mightily. “Did you think I was born this age?”

“I was going to sayhappy,” he said, unable to tear his eyes off the picture. His father had an arm draped around Dana’s shoulders, her head thrown back as she laughed, hands clutching a small bouquet of purple flowers.

Ben was staring at her with adoration on his face.

Rafe looked again—he could have sworn it was a shot of his brother, right down to the expression. It was exactly the way Gabe looked at Allison, as if she were his entire world.

His gut twisted. “You guys were in love.”

Dana took a deep breath. “I know you two didn’t get along, especially toward the end, but yes. He was a good man for a long time. The man I fell in love with…” She smoothed the picture under her fingers. “He was sweet and caring. Gruff with everyone else, but with me? Ben made the hard work seem easy. Even when we were working ourselves silly, there was always time for laughter.”

But that wasn’t who he’d been—not for many years. That wasn’t the father Rafe remembered having. Not since Mike had died.

And if Ben could change that much…

Rafe closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing his fists to unclench before his mom noticed. No, this proved even more clearly he was right to stay away from Laurel.

As if he’d summoned her name by thinking of her, his mom spoke.

“Since you’re here already.” She looked him over. “Why don’t you call Laurel and ask her to come join us for supper?”