The Cowboy's Texas Rose by E. Elizabeth Watson

Author:E. Elizabeth Watson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781954894891
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2021-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Yeah, sometimes life dealt a rough hand, but it was okay to feel hurt by it, Rose thought, and Toby didn’t think it was. With his parents both gone and his brothers scattered across the state, life was no doubt lonely with no one to lean on—she knew that sentiment well. Travis was hurt from war, and Tyler no doubt had some grief in his story if he was raising two sons alone. But Toby was hurting, too. No wonder he blanketed his real self in a shroud of jokes and poor taste.

But that kiss… Wow. It had been toe popping. She’d felt electricity as he’d gripped her hips, undulated against her so she could feel his arousal, and showed her a peek of the truth beneath his shell. He’d called her a guy’s fantasy. He’d given his all and had seemed to restrain himself by a thread. And now with this offering about his mother, Rose wondered about him more. But was he grounded enough for her? Or was he still unpredictable? Would he revert to his old ways the moment the going got tough if they took this attraction deeper?

Gear down, girl, she told herself. We can take it slow, like he suggested. But then, what happens when I return to Austin? Would Toby remain faithful? Or would he jump back into bed with the first woman to pique his interest when he got desperate and missed her? Stunned, she looked away. She knew unfaithfulness had affected her, but she’d never realized she was so scarred by it. Losing her mom, Sage’s birth father using her, Howard’s cheating… Why couldn’t someone just stay?

She couldn’t bear to involve herself and Sage with someone who could steal both their hearts, only to betray their trust. She’d never forgive herself for hurting Sage.

Toby cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had descended upon them.

“Anyway, the star of this show is in that big box down there. I don’t have any place to lay it out, but feel free to examine it. I’m gonna grab some coffee and then get to work. Got a vet coming out to check on one of my cows soon. Help yourself to the coffee if you want it, and I’ll grab some tea next time I hit up the store. You got a key to lock up if you leave before I get back. See y’all tonight.”

He walked out, his hands jammed in his pockets, and Rose felt a twinge of sadness that he was gone. His absence left a void where things had been complete before. She turned toward the pot, her excitement momentarily restored. Reaching down, she slid the box gently from the shelf and pulled the lid up. Inside, was the pot.

“Ohmigod,” she whispered to herself and breathed out long and hard.

Was this really happening? She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out the folder in which she kept her old supervisor’s black-and-white photo, holding it beside the pot, a round bowl the size of a beach ball with a wide mouth.

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