A Cowboy Never Quits by Cindi Madsen

Author:Cindi Madsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2019-11-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“This is my nightmare,” Chloe said as she took in the small-town diner. A moment ago Aiden had been telling her about their amazing burgers and shakes, which she could wholeheartedly get down with. She could even handle that the place went all rustic wood for the floors and booths, and while she wouldn’t choose horseshoes and a giant longhorn skull that emptily stared down at you as decorations, to each their own.

But the stools that had saddles where a round cushion should be made her want to sprint right back out the door. I almost forgot I was in hell.

Aiden placed his hand on her back and gave her a nudge toward the stools. Dang guy must’ve seen her urge to flee. “Don’t knock it before you try it. They’re actually pretty comfy.”

“You would say that.” She widened her legs and walked around the broad back end of the saddle before plopping herself down in the middle of the worn leather seat. When in the sticks…

Aiden settled into the stool next to her, looking perfectly at home in spite of his legs being way too long for the stirrups. When he’d first said he’d gotten permission for them to go into town, she’d thought he was playing the cruelest joke ever on her. That he’d add, “In a month, if you play your cards right,” or maybe “Psyche! I totally got you.”

Part of her even worried there’d be a line of adults waiting for them at the edge of the property, barring their escape. While she was getting used to the ranch and loved the times she got to climb into a saddle with a living and breathing horse under it, she’d felt increasingly restless in spurts. After her computer session today, she’d been ready to implode.

“Okay,” Aiden said, looking at her instead of picking up the laminated menu in front of him and focusing on it. “Let’s hear it. What’s wrong?”

“I’m on a stool shaped like a saddle. And my horse is an effing pole.” Chloe nudged her heels as if she were on Rowdy, then made a big show of trying to see why her horse wasn’t responding before knocking on the metal post. “I think he’s dead. Rigor mortis has set in.”

Aiden cocked his head, his expression making it clear he wasn’t buying her bullshit. “Is the guy still not responding?”

If she had hackles, they would’ve risen. “No, Tyler and I have been talking.”

Aiden continued to stare, and the dam of humor and sarcasm she’d erected to hold back her emotions cracked and began leaking at an alarming pace. The betrayal and doubt and panic and pain all rushed forward.

One minute she was grateful beyond belief to have Aiden as a friend, and the next she regretted that she’d made friends with him. He was far too observant, not to mention way too good at reading her. How could he read her so well after such a short time? Most people told her she was

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