True Love Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan

Trinity walked into Jon’s kitchen and found him with his back to her, phone to his ear. She slipped up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and laid her cheek between his shoulders.

His hand immediately pressed to hers over his heart. “I told him I’d pay that amount nearly a year ago, but he didn’t want to sell. Now his business is in real trouble and it’s not worth anywhere near what I originally offered.” Jon turned in her arms as he listened. “No.” He shook his head and gave her a disgruntled look, though she guessed it was for the guy on the phone. “I’m not interested even if he drops the price.” Jon kissed her softly, then leaned back, disgusted by whatever the guy said to him. Hopefully not because of the kiss. She’d finger-brushed her teeth when she got up half an hour ago so she could take Emmy to school on her way into work. “Yes, I could turn the business around, but it would require an infusion of cash, and I’ve got my eye on something else right now.” He held her gaze.

She liked being the object of his affection and attention, so she slipped her hands up and over his chest, then down his belly to the thickening erection swelling behind his jeans zipper and now in her hand.

He sucked back a groan. “I’m not interested.”

She raised her eyebrow.

He pointed to the phone, then closed his eyes when she gripped his length and squeezed. “Tell him he’s too late. He’ll have to find another buyer.” Jon tapped his phone to end the call, tossed it on the counter next to them, cupped her face, and kissed her like he hadn’t done it in forever, even though he woke her up this morning with a hot kiss, then made love to her, slowly, drawing out every stroke of his body in and against hers.

The long weekend had been more than amazing. Thursday night had simply been the first of several nights spent in each other’s arms. She hadn’t been able to spend the days with him, but each night after work, she drove out to his place and they spent as much time together as possible.

Mostly naked, because she arrived after Emmy had gone to bed.

Of course, if she got there early enough, they had dinner with Emmy, played games, read her stories, and tried to give her the kind of home life Jon wanted her to have every day.

Except today. Jon’s lawyer advised him to follow the custody agreement. He’d already warned Steph she needed to get her act together or he’d fight for Emmy.

This was her last chance to get it right.

Trinity doubted she would and hated that Emmy may have to endure more neglect from her mother before Jon could get the court on his side.

Jon nuzzled his nose against her cheek and whispered in her ear, “All I want to do is take you back to bed.” Instead, he gently separated them because they both heard Emmy humming her way down the hall toward the kitchen.

Trinity smiled up at him. “I can’t help it. When I see you, I have to touch you.”

He kissed her softly. “Don’t ever stop feeling that way.”

They stood close, but a respectful distance apart for Emmy’s sake. Though she’d stayed overnight, they tried to be up, dressed, and presentable when Emmy woke up.

Luckily, Emmy was so tired each night when she went to bed because Jon kept her busy during the day, she didn’t try to sneak into his bed.

Trinity wasn’t sure what he’d say to her if she did and found Trinity already there. Maybe in time it wouldn’t matter, but right now, things were new between her and Jon, even if it felt like life had always been like this.

She didn’t want to remember what it felt like to be alone. She liked this feeling of connection to Jon too much to let it go.

The last few days together had brought them even closer to each other.

Still, she wanted to know more. “I don’t actually know what you do for a living.”

Jon chuckled under his breath. “I told you I sold most of my businesses before I moved here to rehab the ranch and raise Emmy.”

She squished up one side of her mouth and gave an exasperated look. “That tells me nothing about what you do with the businesses you kept.”

He laughed again. “Okay. Let’s see. I used to look for small businesses that had a great service or product but not the resources or know-how to expand. I bought the business, grew it over time, then in most cases I sold it for a profit.”

“Except you kept the two you own now.”

“I kept them because they make great money and are managed well. I don’t really have to do anything but make the major decisions for the businesses.”

“So that call, someone wanted to sell you their company.”

“Yes. I made them an offer last year when the company hit the peak for what the owner could do with it, but he didn’t want to sell despite the generous amount I offered him.”

“How much?” It wasn’t so much about the money as it was about understanding the deals he made and the . . . She really didn’t know what else. The scope. And maybe the status he had in the business world.

“The company was worth about nine million. I offered him ten because I knew I could make it worth ten times that.”

Okay. Millions. Wow. “So you’re rich?”

He stared at her for a long moment before answering, “Yes.” He took a step away. “I bought my first business with a loan, a plan, and a prayer. With lots of hard work, I made a decent profit when I sold it. So I bought another company. And I did the same thing, but instead of selling it right away, I leveraged it to buy an additional company. That one failed. Poor management. I was too busy building the other company and looking for a new one to see that the plan I’d put into place wasn’t being implemented. The guy I hired to run the place thought he knew better than me and made a bad deal that tanked the reputation of the company. I had to lay off workers and close the doors because it would have cost too much to rebuild. Lesson learned.”

Emmy walked into the kitchen, taking Jon’s attention from the story and Trinity. “Your breakfast is on the table.” Emmy set her bunny next to her plate, sat down, and dug into the scrambled eggs and toast with strawberry jam Jon made her.

He went to the coffeepot, poured Trinity a mug, and handed it to her. “I lost a ton of money on the deal. I wanted to focus on the one business I was running well. But I had a feeling about this start-up. The guys had the idea, the ingenuity, the drive, but they needed capital and someone who knew business to oversee the expansion from the ground up. They wanted to go with a well-known venture capital company. I convinced them to take a chance on me.” Pride lit his eyes.

“Let me guess, you made a killing.”

“It took a lot of sleepless nights, eighty-hour work weeks, and blood, sweat, and tears, but that one far exceeded my expectations.”

“Do you still own that company?”

He nodded. “Yes. We make custom packaging and cases for products.”

“Sounds interesting.”

“It can be.”

She wanted to know more. “What kind of cases do they make?”

“For instance, we work with a company that makes high-quality earbuds. We make the case customers can buy to hold and charge them.” He shrugged.

She couldn’t help but notice he kept a greater distance than they’d shared this whole weekend between them. He kept his answers to the information about what she asked and didn’t expand on it. She wondered why. “Do you not want to talk about this?”

“It’s fine. Why?”

“You seem standoffish all of a sudden.”

“I’m fine.” He didn’t seem fine.

“What’s the other business you kept?” She hoped her interest would show him that she cared about what he did and what mattered to him.

“It’s the one I’m most proud of actually.”

That made her smile. “Really? Why?”

“Because it helps the community.”

“I understand why that would make you feel good. Adria and I support the cities we’re in with Almost Homemade. You know we deliver to seniors. We also donate excess food to the local shelters and food banks near the stores. What does your business do?”

“It started as a single grocery store in an underserved community. The business was going under because of rising rents and, believe it or not, theft from the store because customers were too poor in the community to pay for their groceries. I had read an article about how people in communities like this were losing their local grocers and having to travel to larger cities to buy food, but it cost so much more, plus what they had to pay for gas or public transportation.”

“So you bought the store to help the community.” She loved that. It showed his big heart.

“I could have just bought it, but the man who owned it was the second-generation owner who was teaching his son to one day take over. It wasn’t their fault the store was going under. They managed it well and tried to keep food costs low for their customers. So I bought the building and lowered the store’s rent for a modest piece of the profits after I looked at their books, helped them negotiate better wholesale buying prices, added some security measures to cut down on theft, and basically helped turn things around for them.”

“That’s brilliant. And you allowed that man to keep the family business that meant so much to him.”

“He was very grateful. So were the locals. So I did it again. And again. And again.”

“How many store buildings do you own?”

“At last count? Twelve. I was thinking about buying the local grocery store here and expanding the chain to help out some of the more remote areas in Montana.”

“Are you going to do that?”

“I’m focusing on the ranch right now. Originally, my plan was to spend summers here with Emmy and go back to California during the school year so she could be with her mom, too. But when I talked to Steph about my idea, she said she wanted a change, too. Living here would be less expensive, she could do it on her own, be more independent from her family. Anyway, I asked the owner of the grocery store to give her the open manager position. She used to manage a clothing store. I figured a grocery store wasn’t much different.”

“And you could keep an eye on her.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t buy the store. It’s still on the table, but a week before the move, I had an epiphany.”

“You didn’t want to be her boss and that closely linked to her on a regular basis.”

He smiled. “That’s right, smart girl.”

She waved her hand out toward the desk area he had set up in the living room during the renovations. “So what have you been working on? It looks like a bunch of grocery store stuff.”

“It’s similar, but something new. Just some ideas I have, but I’m not sure I’m going to do anything with them yet. I’m not sure if the owners of the business are open to my ideas.”

“Well, if your track record is any indication, they’d be crazy not to partner with you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because it doesn’t seem to be about the money for you. You care about the people you work with and the service or product you deliver. What those businesses do matters more than how much you can make on them.”

He eyed her. “What matters to you, Trinity?”

“I believe in delivering a quality product sourced from local producers. I believe in working in cooperation with the community for the community’s benefit. That’s why Adria and I partnered with our soon-to-be sister-in-law for the eggs, chicken, and produce we use. It’s why we partnered with my brothers at Cedar Top Ranch for our beef. And why we buy our other ingredients from local vendors as well.”

He shook his head. “That’s all fantastic and why I admire the hell out of you and your business, but I’m asking what about me and what I do matters to you?”

She tilted her head and studied him. “I really don’t understand what you’re asking me.”

“Are you interested in me because I’m a rich businessman?”

This time she took a step back from him. “Are you serious?” She wanted to swear, but Emmy was right there pretending to feed her bunny jelly toast. “I’m interested in you because of who you are, not what you do or how much money you have. I’m insulted that you’d even think I care about—”

He closed the distance and kissed her, cutting off her words.

She tried to push him away, because he’d made her angry, but he held her against him, ended the kiss, and pressed his forehead to hers. Remorse, deep and true, filled his eyes. “I’m sorry. It was stupid to ask such a thing when I know none of that matters.”

“Why would you even think it?”

He said the one thing that made all the sense in the world. “Steph.”

She remembered him saying that he paid for her apartment. She wondered what else he paid for to keep Steph happy and off his back. None of her business.

Or was it now?

She took a breath before she spoke to let the last of her anger dissipate. “I’m not her.”

“I know that. I’m so damn happy you are nothing like her.”

Trinity glanced at Emmy, who watched them closely now. “I need to get Emmy to school.”

Jon lifted his head and looked at his daughter, then back at Trinity. “I’m sorry.”

“I know you are. Forget it.”

“Will you? I really don’t want to mess this up, and I feel like I did because up until five minutes ago you had no idea what I did or how much I’m worth.”

“I don’t care. I just wanted to know more about you.”

He sighed and looked completely dejected.

She took mercy on him. “I’ll see you later tonight.” She kissed him softly, hoping to ease his mind.

Distress and sorrow still filled his eyes when she stepped back.

Emmy hugged his legs and stared up at him. “How come I can’t come back tonight?”

“It’s your mother’s turn,” he said, brushing his hand over her hair.

“I don’t want to go there. I want to stay here.”

“The painters, landscapers, countertop and carpet guys will be here all week. By the time you come back on Friday, the house will be all done. Don’t you want new carpet and your room painted?”

Emmy shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. “No. I just want to stay in my room here with you and Trinity.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“Please don’t cry, baby. I know things with your mom are hard right now, but I spoke to her yesterday.” He’d informed her that he’d spoken to his lawyer. “She cleaned the house and bought groceries, including all the things you like. She promised she won’t leave you alone ever again.” If she did, Jon would defy his lawyer and the custody agreement they had in place and keep Emmy, damn the consequences.

His lawyer answered Jon’s early-morning email, telling him to go along with Steph so long as she proved she had done those necessary things until they filed the full custody papers and a judge ruled in his favor. So he’d made Steph send him pictures of the clean apartment and stocked fridge, giving him absolutely no reason to deny her right to see her child.

Emmy rolled her eyes and released her dad. “She promises stuff all the time.” With that, Emmy walked out of the kitchen to the entry to pull on her backpack.

Trinity retrieved Bunny from the table and stopped in front of Jon as he stared after his daughter with a frown and sad eyes of his own. “She’ll be okay.”

“I hate making her do something she doesn’t want to do.”

“You’re following your lawyer’s advice. You’ll work through the process and hold Steph accountable. If she doesn’t keep her promises, there will be consequences.”

“I feel terrible that Emmy doesn’t want her mother. That bond should be unbreakable.”

Trinity put her hand over his heart again. “All you can do is listen to Emmy. She is telling you she needs you more.”

Jon walked over to Emmy and crouched in front of her. “I want you to know I’m working on changing things with your mom. The last time you stayed with her, you got scared. I don’t want that to ever happen again, so I’m going to call you when you get to Mom’s place tonight and check on you. We’ll video chat and you’ll tell me all about your day. I’ll know you’re all right. And you can tell me if you need anything.”

Emmy nodded, some of the hurt leaving her eyes. “Okay.”

“Are you okay with Trinity taking you to school? Because if you want me to do it, I will.”

Emmy shook her head. “I’ll go with her.”

“Give me a hug, sweetheart. I am going to miss you bunches this week.”

“I miss you, too.” Emmy squeezed Jon around the neck, then walked to the door and out onto the porch.

Jon stood and kissed Trinity. “Do you have all your stuff?”

“Afraid I’ll leave something here and it will look like I’m trying to move in?” She teased to help ease the tension and his mind.

Instead of teasing back, he asked, “Do you like the paint and carpet color I picked for the house?”

She glanced at the different colored squares he’d painted on the living room wall and the one that had a penciled X in the corner. She liked the soft gray. “I’d have gone a shade lighter with the darker hardwood floors in here. But that’s just me. The new silver carpet is going to be thick and lush and will brighten those back rooms a lot. Why?”

“I want you to be comfortable here.”

That made her smile, but he had to know the truth. “I’m only here for you.”

Emmy called out, “Are we going yet?”

“And her,” she added.

“But will you like the changes I’m making?” He seemed so earnest about it.

“You’ve seen my place. Your taste and mine complement each other perfectly.”

That seemed to ease his mind and put a slight smile on his face. “Now that you say that, yeah, I see that now.”

She chuckled under her breath, really not getting his strange mood this morning. “Good. Now will you let me go so I can take Emmy to school?”

For the first time, he seemed to realize that he’d taken her hand and linked his fingers through hers. He raised their joined hands and kissed the back of hers. “I can’t wait to see you tonight.”

“Me too. Don’t forget it will be late.”

“I know. You close. I wish you could get someone else to do that.”

“Me too, but for now, it’s me.” She turned to go, but he tugged her back for another kiss she accepted and sank into because he seemed to need a little extra affection after their little tiff and Emmy’s near meltdown about going to her mother’s.

Jon still didn’t release her, but walked with her out to the car so he could make sure Emmy buckled herself into the booster seat correctly and gave her one last kiss goodbye, too.

He waved to them as Trinity drove out of the driveway. She watched him in the rearview mirror, hoping they had more days like this, with him waving her off for the day and her driving their children to school.

“Can you make him let me stay with him?” Emmy stared hard at her in the rearview mirror, her eyes and voice intent on getting what she wanted.

Trinity gave her the truth. “No, sweetheart, I can’t make him do anything. You know your dad loves you, right?”

She nodded and stared out the window, a sad frown on her face.

“He loves having you at the ranch. He’d like to have you there all the time. But he has to work that out with your mom, and it’s hard to make happen right away, because she wants to spend time with you, too.”

Emmy didn’t look at her. “If you say so.”

“Maybe it doesn’t seem like it sometimes.”

Emmy let out a loud and exhausted sigh.

“Emmy, if you don’t feel safe when you’re at your mom’s, you can call your dad anytime just like you did last week. Day or night. Doesn’t matter. You know that, right?”

She nodded, but didn’t stop looking out the window.

Trinity hoped she hadn’t stepped over some line, but she wanted Emmy to know she had a lifeline in Jon. He would always be there for her.

Too bad Emmy didn’t have her own phone to call Jon if she needed him.

What if something happened and she didn’t have access to her mother’s phone?

She needed to talk to Jon about getting her one. Something simple she could use just in case until Jon got full custody.

It would make Emmy feel better, and probably Jon, too.

She’d feel better knowing Emmy wasn’t trapped with Steph. There was a fine line between Steph being sometimes neglectful and her putting Emmy in danger. Things had turned out all right when she’d been left alone, but how did the hurtful things Steph did add up in Emmy’s mind? What effect did they have on her self-esteem and sense of security?

Questions like that plagued her all the way to Emmy’s school.

She was supposed to drop Emmy off in the carpool line, but instead she parked and walked Emmy to her classroom door. She crouched and looked Emmy in the eye. “You have a great day, sweetheart. I made you your favorite turkey, cheese, cucumber sandwich.”

“Just the way you like it, too.”

“Crunchy,” they said in unison.

“I might have also snuck in the last brownie for you, too.”

Emmy threw her arms around Trinity’s neck. “Thank you. I love you.”

Trinity hugged her close and tears gathered in her eyes. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

Emmy rushed into her classroom, leaving Trinity staring after her, her heart bursting with affection and joy and a protective streak that made her want to pick Emmy up at the end of the day and take her right back to her loving father.

She silently vowed that as she and Jon grew closer together, she wouldn’t ever forget that Emmy came first for both of them.