12-Alarm Cowboys by Cora Seton & Becky McGraw & Sable Hunter & Elle James & Cynthia D'Alba & Delilah Devlin & Donna Michaels & Randi Alexander & Beth Beth Williamson & Paige Tyler & Sabrina York & Lexi Post

Author:Cora Seton & Becky McGraw & Sable Hunter & Elle James & Cynthia D'Alba & Delilah Devlin & Donna Michaels & Randi Alexander & Beth Beth Williamson & Paige Tyler & Sabrina York & Lexi Post [Seton, Cora & McGraw, Becky & Hunter, Sable & James, Elle & D'Alba, Cynthia & Devlin, Delilah & Michaels, Donna & Alexander, Randi & Williamson, Beth Beth & Tyler, Paige & York, Sabrina & Post, Lexi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, cowboy, romance, Anthology, bundle
Goodreads: 25523398
Publisher: Cora Seton, Becky McGraw, Cynthia D’Alba, Delilah Devlin, Beth Williamson, Donna Michaels, Lexi Post, Elle James, Paige Tyler, Sable Hunter, Randi Alexander, Sabrina York
Published: 2015-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

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Lacey looked at the clock for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. Frustrated with how slow time was moving, she pushed her chair away from the computer and stood.

“Something wrong, honey?”

Not aware anyone had approached the front desk, it took her a minute to compose herself before walking forward to respond to Ginger, Kendra’s dear friend. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

The older woman with bright, naturally orange hair smiled widely. She and her husband had been the reason Kendra had built Poker Flat in the first place. The last thing Lacey wanted to do was keep her waiting.

“Don’t you worry none, sweetie. I imagine you were off daydreaming about that hunky cowboy in blue jeans I saw walking down the back hall yesterday.”

Her cheeks warmed. Ginger had hit the spot. “To be truthful, I was daydreaming a little.” She smiled wanly, not particularly happy about how anxious she was to have Cole coming for dinner. He was her weakness and despite eight years of separation, her heart was busy knocking down the hard-fought walls she’d constructed around it as it clamored to reach Cole.

“I don’t blame you one bit.” The woman chuckled. “I swear if he looked at me like he looked at you this morning, I’d have to think twice before turning back to Buddy.”

Lacey shook her head. “Now, Ginger, I know for a fact nothing could take you away from your husband. You two were made for each other.”

“And how do you know you two weren’t made for each other as well?” Ginger smirked.

If she and Cole had been made for each other, would he have been so quick to abandon her? “I don’t think so. We have a history and he’s the one who ended it. I don’t think I can trust him again.”

“Did the bastard sleep around on you?”

It took Lacey a minute to register the older woman’s words. “No! Cole would never be unfaithful.”

“Well, if he didn’t cheat on you, because I say once a cheater, always a cheater, then he deserves a second chance, right?”

She wanted to give him another chance. She really did, but she was so afraid of being hurt again and never being able to recover. She hadn’t dated more than six years after him. If they tried again and he betrayed her… Her stomach tightened painfully at the thought.

Ginger reached across the counter and grasped her hand. “Sweetie, I’m not telling you what to do. Just giving you an outsider’s perspective. It seems to me that Kendra built this place especially for second chances, but if you can’t offer that, you don’t have to. You do what’s right for you.”

She stared at the woman with teary eyes and nodded. “Thank you.” Maybe Ginger was right. Maybe Cole did deserve a second chance. It wasn’t like she was perfect either.

Ginger released her hand. “I’m happy to help.”

Lacey wiped her eyes and smiled. “Now what can I do for you? You probably didn’t come over here to advise me on my love life.