My exhale waves a white flag in surrender. “I don’t imagine you will. Ever.”
Byron claps a palm over his mouth to muffle a bark of laughter. “This is more entertaining than reality television.”
“Hush,” I scold.
Ronnie sighs happily. “I’m tired now.”
In unison, Byron and I stoke down the slope of her nose, ending the practiced motion with a tap on her chin. She smiles as her eyes slide shut. Across our daughter’s sleepy form, my hand claps his to connect us as a family.
“Love you,” he tells us.
“Love you,” I echo.
“Gonna have the sweetest dreams,” Ronnie murmurs. “My little sister can’t wait to meet me.”
That’s technically the end, but I have a few bonus scenes fromTangled in Troublefor you. Get them free here!
Curious about Chance and Gemma? Their story –Roped in Rawhideis releasing next. Here’s an exclusive sneak peek.
Chance
On Ronnie’s party bus…
My heart is in my throat as I creep along the narrow aisle. Kids are screaming. Parents aren’t even trying to quiet them down. There’s a funky smell in the air and a sticky residue on the floor. It’s a sensory overload, but all I see is her. All I’ve ever seen is her.
Which is why I pause beside her seat. There’s no moving on from a woman like Gemma Keaton. Not that she was ever mine to begin with.
That doesn’t stop me from staring. I’ve been doing a lot of that since she returned to Cloverleaf Meadows after graduating college.
My gaze devours her shamelessly, roving over her glossy hair and soft features. She’s so damn beautiful. It hurts to look at her. But that ache in my chest is most likely from the damage I’ve done. What I wouldn’t give to rewind the clock.
My gaze lowers. Gemma’s arms are crossed loosely over her waist. At least until she notices where my attention has wandered. She tugs at her left sleeve, covering the scars peeking out. I furrow my brow at the defensive action.
“Did you need something or are just going to stand there?” Gemma’s glare finds me gulping over countless excuses.
Every single one of them is a waste of breath. It’s going to take a lot more than flimsy apologies to fix what I broke. If there’s even anything left to fix.
“You look really beautiful,” I blurt.
She snorts. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“Are you saving that spot?” I point to the empty space next to her on the bus seat.
“For anyone but you,” she clips.
A wince pinches my face as if I have any right to be bothered by her hostility. It’s a brand I’ve worn since we were seventeen and my actions ripped us apart.
“I miss you.” My gaze drops to her delicate hands that I’ve never gotten to properly hold. “I miss our… friendship.”
That offensive term ridicules what we used to share, and what we could’ve been.
The unshed tears in Gemma’s eyes couldn’t agree more. “Should’ve thought about that before you ruined it, bronc.”
You can pre-orderRoped in Rawhidehere!
Have you read the other two standalones in the Cloverleaf Meadows series?
Buckled in Barbwireis Brody and Paisley’s story. Read this enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, one bed, age gap romance here!