Cathy Mcdavid - Aidan - Loyal Cowboy

“I was hoping to take some online classes this summer.”

“You can do that from here.”

“And Billings.”

“Not until your dad’s ranch sells, which gives us a little time to decide. Together.”

She shrugged.

“Flynn.” He took a chance, reached out and captured her hand. “We’re having a baby. It’s pretty incredible when you think about it.”

She wiped at the tears spilling from her eyes.

“Don’t cry.” He’d always been a sucker for a woman’s tears and ached to kiss her.

Better not. She’d probably club him up the side of the head.

A hug, that was the safer option.

He put an arm around her, pulled her close and stroked her back. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”

She surprised him by returning the hug and burying her face in his jacket.

He cupped the back of her neck, threaded his fingers into the hair that had escaped her colorful stocking cap.

“There’s another solution, you know,” he murmured.

“What’s that?”

“We get married.”

She pushed away from him. “Ace, I can’t.”

“Won’t you at least consider it?”

“No.”

Her quick and adamant rejection stung.

Was the prospect of marrying him really that intolerable?

* * *

“ACE, I’M SORRY. That came out wrong.” Flynn rose from the log and joined Ace at the creek bank where he stood watching the water rush past. “I wasn’t expecting you to propose. It really was a sweet gesture.”

“Sweet?” He looked crushed.

“Okay, that came out wrong, too.”

“Flynn, I’m serious. I want to marry you.”

“I know you’re serious. And, honestly, that’s what scares me.”

“Because of your divorce?”

“Marriage is a big commitment. Hopefully, a lifetime commitment. Take it from me, marrying for the wrong reasons can lead to a lot of unhappiness.”

“A child seems like a pretty good reason to me.”

She softened her voice. “You only proposed because you don’t want me to move.”

“That hit below the belt.”

“Maybe, but it’s true.”

“How do you know?”

“Let’s be honest. You don’t have feelings for me—”

“I do. Couldn’t you tell from our night together?”

“All right, then, what kind of feelings?”

“I care about you,” he replied, a tad too defensively.

What had she expected? A flowery declaration? “I made a promise to myself after my divorce. I’m not going to marry any man who doesn’t love me.”

“Your ex-husband didn’t love you?”

“Not enough to make our marriage work. The same with my parents. You know my mom walked out on us when I was young. What you don’t know is Paul did the same thing to me.”

Ace remained silent for several seconds. Several very telling seconds. When he finally spoke, it was haltingly. “The other night, it wasn’t just the sex. I haven’t been that close to anyone before.”

Looking away was impossible and, boy, did Flynn try. “For me, either.”

They’d been intimate a few times when they dated in college. Here at this very spot, in fact. But Flynn had been completely inexperienced and Ace not much more. Ten years had brought about a lot of changes, for both of them.

Ace’s skill as a lover had been matched only by his emotional intensity. He wasn’t always as strong and confident and capable as he wanted people to think. Sometimes he let his guard down.

He had that night, allowing her to see a vulnerable side of him he mostly kept hidden.

And she’d fallen a little more in love.

“There isn’t anyone else I’d want for the father of my baby,” she admitted. “You’ll be a good one, I’m sure of it.”

“Then give us a chance.”

“I told you—”

“Not to get married. I realize I’m rushing you. But to be the best parents we can. Raise our child together.”

She did owe him that much. “You’re right. We have time. I won’t be moving for a while.”

“I’m not going to change my mind. I want you and the baby living close to me.”

Flynn should have heeded her father’s advice more closely when he’d warned her about Ace’s determination.

“Are you going to tell your family?” she asked.

“Soon. Once I figure out what I’m going to say.” He smiled crookedly.

Flynn turned away from that charming smile to stare at the sun descending toward the distant mountaintops.

“What’s wrong?” Ace touched her shoulder.

“I’m worried about what they’ll think of me.”

“Mom will be overjoyed. She doesn’t understand how she could raise four kids to adulthood and none of them make her a grandmother yet.”

“I can see your mom being happy.”

“And she likes you.”

“I like her, too.” Flynn couldn’t picture a better, kinder grandmother than Sarah Hart.

Then again, almost anyone would be a better grandmother than Flynn’s own mother.

“Have you told your parents yet?” Ace asked.

“My dad.”

“And?”

“He’s pretty excited. He adores Nora’s two sons.”

“What about your mom?”

He would have to mention her mother.

Flynn sniffed. “I haven’t spoken to her since last Christmas.”

Her contact with her mother was infrequent and that suited her fine. For some reason, Nora had fewer painful memories of their childhood than Flynn and could talk to their mother without resentment rising up to choke her.

“Are you going to tell her?” Ace asked.

“Maybe. If I don’t, Nora will.”

Flynn’s gaze returned to the sunset. “My mother wasn’t what you’d call a good role model.”

“You’re not like her, Flynn.”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“You forget, I know you.”

Not like he thought he did or he’d see the love she carried around for him in her heart.

A painful lump in the back of her throat made speaking difficult. “I would never abandon my children for anyone or anything. Ever.”

“Neither would I. You and our baby are stuck with me for the long haul.”

She believed him. The Harts were close-knit, and Ace unerringly loyal.

That loyalty also scared her. He may not abandon her or their child, but he wouldn’t give as much of himself as Flynn needed. The family business and his vet practice would come first. It had before, it would again.

She shivered as a breeze swept over them. “We should probably head home. I don’t want to drive that road in the dark.”

He helped her to climb the slope, held her hand until she found her footing.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said at the top where their trucks were parked.

The words hung between them. If only he’d told her that a month ago, their conversation today might have gone differently. She’d still be pregnant, but she wouldn’t have so many doubts about his motives.

“All right. Evening is better. I’m working the day shift at the clinic this week.”

He walked her to her father’s truck and opened the door. Before she could climb in, he circled her waist and drew her close. It was nice to be held by a pair of strong, muscular arms, and Flynn let herself melt into his embrace. For a moment, she could almost believe everything was going to be all right.

How could she be mad at him for proposing and for wanting her to stay in Roundup? He might have had an entirely different reaction to her announcement. Told her the baby was her problem and refused any responsibility whatsoever.

Ace no sooner released her than her sense of security faded, leaving Flynn feeling alone and more than a little scared about what lay ahead.

Chapter Five

Ace liked starting every morning with a plan. Today, he intended to make headway with Midnight, somehow, someway. If he couldn’t discover what lay at the root of the horse’s unmanageableness and resolve the issue, he’d settle for behavior modification.