True-Blue Cowboy - Vicki Lewis Thompson Page 0,56

might not appreciate him revealing that and it would only make things more awkward.

Garrett folded his hand, created a neat stack and set them aside. “I’d give her a few days and then maybe send her flowers.”

“That’s an idea.” Leo nodded. “I’ll try that.”

“I was thinking about doing the same with Kate.” Rafe seemed like his old self unless you noticed the defeated look in his eyes. “Not as a romantic thing, but to see if we can at least get back to being friends.”

“If it’s friendship you’re after,” Leo said, “I’d go for a big box of chocolates. She likes dark.”

Rafe scowled. “I know she likes dark. I know she likes her coffee with cream, no sugar, her favorite color’s blue, her favorite singer’s Brad Paisley and she hates the smell of burnt toast.”

“Just sayin’.” Leo took a drag on his bottle of cider. “She’d rather have chocolates than flowers.”

Nick sighed. “I wish you’d let me talk to her.”

“And say what? It’s hopeless.”

“Have you ever tried pointing out that you’re the opposite of her ex-husband?”

“In various ways, yes. Didn’t make much of an impression.” He glanced at the kitchen clock. “Hey, lover boy, it’s almost nine. Have you checked your phone recently?”

“Yep. Nothing yet.” He tapped the screen. “Still nothing…wait, there she is. She’s leaving Fiona’s.” He quickly typed a reply.

Leo glanced at him. “Any chance you’ll get some intel on Fiona?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks. On second thought, forget it. This is sounding way too middle school.”

“I’ll be subtle.” He stood. “Just divide up my winnings. I don’t want to take the time to—”

“I’ll put them aside for you,” Garrett said.

“Yeah, get on outta here.” Rafe smiled. “It’s nice to see that at least one of us has smooth sailing.”

He took a breath. “Right.”

“You don’t?”

“It’s…I gotta go.”

Rafe pushed back his chair. “I’ll walk you out.” He followed him into the bunk area and waited by the door. “I thought everything was peachy-keen.”

“It is. For now.” He loaded up on condoms, grabbed his keys and his hat.

Rafe opened the screen door and gestured for him to go first. “What’s that mean?”

“Seems I have a similar issue to yours. Yesterday, before we’d even kissed, she announced she was never getting married.”

“What the—” Rafe didn’t finish the comment as he fell into step beside him. “Has she been talking to Kate?”

“Maybe. But I doubt Kate has much to do with it.”

“Does she have a smarmy ex, too?”

“No.” Nick blew out a breath. “She was raised by her great-aunt, who apparently loved being single. Aunt Sally’s her role model.”

“Is Aunt Sally still around?”

“Died four years ago. She was Eva’s only family and they adored each other. Aunt Sally couldn’t have kids and Eva’s been told her chances are slim, too. That clinched it for her.”

“Then why in hell did she buy that big ol’ house?”

“It’s a lot like the one she grew up in, the house Aunt Sally used to own. Near as I can tell, Eva’s honoring Aunt Sally’s choices by following in her footsteps.”

“But she’s okay with having you pop in for overnight visits?”

“Taking a lover is okay, just so I don’t get any ideas about marrying her. She values her independence. Just like her Aunt Sally did.”

“Hey, I’m all for independence. Henri and Charley were independent as they come, and they made it work.”

“We know that, but Charley’s gone. Kate never met him and Eva didn’t know him very well. We can talk all we want about what Henri and Charley had but neither of those women saw it in action.”

“Damn it all.” Rafe stared into the darkness, his voice soft. “Why did he have to die?”

“I ask myself that all the time.”

“Do you think Eva will budge on this? I mean, now that you two are—”

“I wish I could say yes, but she’s convinced staying single is the life she’s meant for. The one Aunt Sally groomed her for.”

“She sounds as bull-headed as Kate. I’ve been holding out hope on that front for two long years.”

“Think it’s time to throw in the towel?”

“Wish I could. But I’m hooked on her. More now than before.”

“I never asked this, but have you two ever—”

“I kissed her for the first time yesterday. And she kissed me back. I thought that was the breakthrough. But I didn’t want to go further unless she’d had a change of heart, so I asked. Got the wrong answer.”

“Sorry, bro.”

“I’m a damned fool. She’d have an affair with me. She said as much. I should