C.J. Carmichael - Colton - Rodeo Cowboy

“Hello, Mom.” She fought to keep her tone friendly, even though she was upset at her for crying in front of the kids. Her mom had been a big help since she’d moved back to Roundup. And she did appreciate that. But her children needed less drama in their lives. Not more.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you this earlier, Leah, but Jackson called the house today.”

“Really?” She hadn’t heard from her ex in over a week.

“He wants you to phone him back.”

“Did he talk to the kids?” They hadn’t mentioned anything, so Leah would be surprised if he had.

“No. They were napping, so I never thought to mention it.”

It shouldn’t have been up to her mother. Jackson should have asked.

“Leah, you will call him back?”

“Yes. I’ll dial him on Skype tomorrow morning so the kids can talk to him, too.”

“Maybe it would be better to call him tonight while they’re sleeping. So the two of you can have a private chat.”

“Mom, there is nothing private to be said. The divorce is final. Our only connection now is our children.”

There was a long silence. Then her mother said, “This wouldn’t have anything to do with Colton Hart helping you with the move today, would it?”

“Mom, no! I haven’t seen him in years. We just happened to run into one another at the Open Range last night.”

“Is that where you stormed out to? I thought I could smell stale beer on your clothes when I put them in the washer.”

Oh, my Lord. Give me patience. Her mother was making her feel like an adolescent again.

“Yes, Mom, I went to the bar for a few drinks last night.” Leah opened the black garbage bag that held her bedding and pulled out her sheets. She pressed the speakerphone option, then set the phone on her nightstand so she could start making up her bed. “I am thirty-two, remember? And since I know you’re about to ask—no, there is nothing romantic going on with Colt and me.”

Not anymore, there wasn’t.

“I’m relieved to hear that. The Harts are a good family, but everyone knows Colt is the black sheep.”

Really, Mom? Black sheep? Leah bit back a sarcastic comment, knowing there was no point in starting an argument she couldn’t win.

“The real reason I was talking to Colt was because I wanted him to ask his mother about me doing some bookkeeping for Thunder Ranch.” Her mother knew about her plans to run her own home business. She’d shocked Leah by actually being supportive.

“That’s a good idea.”

“Thank you. I just received a message that Sarah Hart wants to interview me tomorrow. Is there any chance you could watch the kids for me, again?”

“I have coffee plans with some friends in the afternoon, but my morning is free. I’d be happy to have them for a few hours. Would that be enough time?”

“Lots. Thanks so much, Mom. I’ll bring them over around nine-thirty.”

Leah sat on her bed and picked up her phone to end the call with her mother then typed a reply to Colt’s message. Great! Tomorrow at ten, okay?

His reply came a few seconds later.

That works. Now you owe me, darlin.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.