True Love Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan

Trinity checked the time on the voice mail Jon had left yesterday. She winced, feeling like shit for not calling him back last night. But last night had been crazy—they’d had an unexpected dinner rush, and she’d stayed to clean up. She had finally made it up to her apartment only to crash on her couch while she waited for dinner to warm in the microwave.

It was still in there in the morning when her alarm went off and she found herself fully clothed, shoes on, still sleeping on the sofa.

In a hurry to open the shop, she’d quickly showered, put on new clothes, and hauled ass downstairs to meet the morning crew to open the store. The early-morning bakers had done their jobs and were headed out when she came down.

The store was humming with activity. Adria was in the office doing paperwork. She promised she’d stay only for an hour, then go home and rest like she was supposed to do.

With the store shelves, refrigerated cabinets, and hot counter all stocked and ready for the lunch crowd, she took a seat at one of the tables by the front windows and listened to Jon’s message, hoping he wasn’t upset with her for not calling him back yesterday. He probably thought she was ignoring him. That’s the last thing she wanted him to think. Then again, she’d been very busy yesterday, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have taken the time to call and check in with him like she did most days.

She didn’t like this odd state they were in and wanted to find a way to get back to where they were when everything was so good between them.

She’d never had a relationship like they shared, and she didn’t want to lose it over something they hadn’t even taken the time to discuss.

She could only imagine the drama, uncertainty, and strife he faced now that the Department of Public Health and Human Services had gotten involved with Emmy. Poor Jon. He wanted to do right by his daughter. And Emmy had to be feeling uncertain and confused by all of it.

She tapped the screen for her voice mail. Jon’s deep voice settled her. His message was sweet, his voice filled with longing to be speaking to her instead of leaving her a message.

She really appreciated that and so much more about him.

And she hated that she hadn’t even bothered to check her phone last night. She should have and called him back if only to say she’d missed him yesterday, was too tired to talk, but she’d connect with him today.

She called him now, ready to make apologies and set things right between them.

“Trinity.” He didn’t say hello, just her name filled with relief. “I’m sorry. For whatever it is you’re thinking or feeling about the other day. Really. I’m so sorry. I just want us to get back to where we were.”

All the anxiety in her heart evaporated. “Jon, I’m the one who’s sorry. I worked like a demon yesterday and didn’t see your message until this morning. I passed out last night without even looking at my phone.”

“I miss you. I miss us.”

Her heart melted. “I do, too. I don’t even know what it is that’s come between us. You had something you wanted to say to me and I don’t even know what it is, so why am I holding back?”

“You don’t have to. Nothing about the business proposal is worth losing you and what we have together.”

“You’re not losing me. It’s been a long couple days with work and the thing with Emmy and Steph and I don’t know . . . I’m tired, I guess, but my wanting to be with you hasn’t changed.”

“Then say you’ll come out to the ranch tonight so we can talk in person and put things back to the way we both want them to be.”

She should stay until the shop closed, but she didn’t want this thing with Jon to continue any longer. “I can probably get out of here by five.” If she tried to leave any later, she’d inevitably get caught up in the dinner rush and not escape until closing.

“How about I barbecue steaks? I’ll make some baked potatoes and a salad or something and we’ll have dinner together and talk.”

“You do the steaks and potatoes. I’ll bring the salads.” She could grab a few out of the refrigerator case and hold them in hers upstairs until she left tonight.

“Look at us doing things together again,” Jon teased, but she sensed his relief that they’d see each other soon and work this out.

“I really can’t wait to see you tonight.” She wanted to reassure him. She hoped he heard how much she meant it, so much so her stomach fluttered with anticipation.

“I hope that means you’ll stay. It’s been too long since we’ve been together.”

She really missed kissing him and having his arms around her. “I’ll bring my overnight bag.”

“Maybe you should bring some stuff to leave here.” He waited a beat, then added, “Maybe you should just stay here.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. “That sounds like a bigger conversation.”

“All you have to say is yes.”

She wanted to say it, but she held back because they still needed to get back on the same page. “It’s not a no.”

“Then I’ll do my best to convince you to say yes tonight.”

She wondered if he hoped to get her to say yes to the business deal, whatever it was, too, but didn’t want to get into it right now. They’d see each other tonight, talk, and she’d know exactly what he wanted and where they stood.

“Listen, Trinity, if you need more time, I will wait however long you need to decide, but I want you to know I’m all in. I get that my life is complicated with Emmy and Steph and that’s a lot for you to take on.”

“Jon, I don’t want you to think that because it’s not the case. I mean, yes, the trouble with Steph is . . . difficult, but I love Emmy. You know I love her.”

“You’re everything I want for myself and her.”

And that told her everything she needed to know. “How can I say no to that?” Her heart felt so full to bursting she pressed her hand to her chest.

“Don’t.”

“I can’t.”

“I know we still need to have that talk. We will. I promise. But I know everything is going to be okay now, so that makes the rest easy.”

She felt the same way. “You said in your message that you spoke to your attorney.”

“Beth from DPHHS interviewed me, Emmy, Steph, the people at Emmy’s school.”

“I had a brief conversation with her. I told her about my interactions with you and Emmy. Basically, I confirmed what you’d already told her.”

“I’m sorry you had to get involved. Steph and I are at the point I hoped we’d never get to, battling for custody instead of working things out together. I knew it would come to this eventually, but when she said she wanted to move, start a new life here, I thought she was ready to make a real change.” Jon sighed. “I’m worried that she’ll want to go back to California. Her lawyer will probably advise her that it’s best for her to show she has family support to help her.”

“Does that mean you’d move back with her?”

Jon didn’t say anything for a long moment. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“But you need to put Emmy first.” She understood, but it would break her heart to lose them both now. She and Jon were just getting started on what felt like something that could be a forever kind of love.

“Yes. She needs me. And I need you. I hope you know that, whatever happens.”

She didn’t really know what to say. Her life was here. Her family was here. Her job. Would she give it all up to be with Jon and Emmy?

Maybe.

“We have a court date coming up in two weeks, along with Beth doing another check-in with Steph. Until then, I keep a close eye on Emmy and Steph and document everything, even though I want to keep her at the ranch with me.” Bitterness filled his voice and every word.

“I’m sorry, Jon.”

“I’ve asked myself the last few days how I could ever be with her.”

“It didn’t last because whatever spark that brought you two together fizzled out because she wasn’t right for you.”

“That’s for sure. Everything I ever wanted, I found in you.”

“Oh Jon, I feel that way, too.”

“I try not to regret my time with Steph because it gave me Emmy, but it’s damn hard.”

“She’s the best of what you two had. Totally worth it, if you ask me.” Though she wondered how long Jon and Emmy could endure Steph’s bad behavior before things came to a head and ended in an all-out fight.

“I just wish Steph and I could have a nice, normal friendship, so we could parent Emmy together instead of always being at odds.”

“Stop trying to get her to change and expecting her to be someone she’s not. Find her strengths, work with those, and compensate for her weaknesses. Emmy will be better off for it.”

“I love that you’re always thinking of Emmy and what’s best for her. I wish I could put you first all the time, the way you put her first.”

“Jon, I understand that she needs you to make her your priority. That’s how it should be. She’s lucky to have a wonderful dad like you.”

“Emmy and I are lucky to have you.”

Her heart overflowed with . . . love. She loved him. Admitting it to herself, knowing it absolutely solidified all those dreams she couldn’t wait to make a reality. With him.

She didn’t want to think about him moving back to California. Or what she’d do if faced with the decision to stay or go with them.

She hoped it didn’t come to that. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Not soon enough, but I’ll take it.”

“And Jon . . .”

“Yeah?”

“Everything is going to be all right.” If they loved each other, they could work anything out. It sounded easy, but she knew it would be very hard if they were faced with a possible separation.

She hoped Steph turned things around and stayed here in Montana where she could support Emmy on her own, live a good life, and be someone new if that’s what she truly wanted.

“As long as you and I stick together, I know that’s true.”

They said their goodbyes, and she hung up feeling a lot better and lighter for talking to him, but also worried about what came next. She couldn’t wait to see him tonight. Emmy would be with her mom; they’d have dinner and time to talk, then they could reconnect in a whole other way when they were in each other’s arms. They had the whole night to explore the love growing and strengthening between them.

She made a mental list of what she’d like to take with her. Something sexy, and naughty, to wear for him. The strappy black lace thong and bra set she ordered online that arrived the other day made the top of her list. She had some extra bathroom essentials she could leave at his place.

Their place?

That sounded good to her. But how long would that be if Steph wanted to move back to California?

One step at a time, the cautious part of her warned.

If she wanted to spend the night with him, and turn that into every night, she needed to get back to work so she could leave early and they could continue their conversation. But first, she went to the refrigerated cabinet, took out two salads, and brought them upstairs to her place. Later, she’d pack her bag, grab the salads, and head to his place where they’d talk about the future she hoped they had together.

Yep, that felt right. It felt perfect.

And a little scary, because with Steph involved, nothing felt certain.