A Cowboy to Call Daddy (The Boones of Texas 4)

“Dad left some food in your office.” She nudged him. “Said he needed to talk to you.”

Archer looked at his sister. “About what?”

She shrugged. “He didn’t say. Thought I’d try out a few of the new rides for the parade. If that’s okay. Toben said you’ve got a few sweet horses to choose from. He thought the dapple and the blue mare would be good choices.”

He nodded. “I’ve been thinking the mare might be a good fit for Shawn. He’s ready for his own horse, and she’s about as even-footed and responsive as a horse can be.”

“What’s Fisher say?” Renata asked.

“I need Fisher’s permission?” Archer asked, frowning at his sister.

Renata laughed. “Well, considering Shawn is his brother-in-law and Fisher and Kylee have baby twins to keep them busy, yes. I think you might want to make sure they want Shawn to have a horse. On top of everything else.”

Archer shook his head. “I’d say our family has done their part populating Stonewall Crossing.”

“Don’t be such a grump, Archer. I love how big and happy this family’s become. All the laughter and smiles... And, yes, babies. I know you love it, too.” Renata smiled.

For the most part, yes. Even if it was a whole lot louder. Three weddings and two sets of twin boys joined the family. He was happy for his brothers—even if he didn’t understand the whole falling-in-love, start-a-family thing. They seemed happy; that’s all that mattered. “I’ll talk to Fisher about the horse.”

“Good. Until then, I can ride them?”

He nodded, heading toward the office. “I’m going to change.” He was stopped by two different employees, signed off on a delivery and inspected a saddle that needed repair. Once he was in his office, he shrugged out of his still-wet shirt and dropped it on the chair by his desk. A sandwich sat on his desk, a note beside it.

Come to the Lodge for dinner tonight. 7 p.m. Love you—Dad.

He laid the note down and glanced at the clock. It was already four.

The muffled, “Ow, damn it, shit,” from Eden’s office had him running next door. “Eden?” He stepped inside, but she wasn’t sitting at the desk. She was on the floor, rubbing her calf.

“Scorpion,” she said, looking up. “And no, it wasn’t in my shoe. It just climbed up my leg and bit me.”

He tried not to smile as he knelt by her side, lifting her hands. “They’re inconsiderate that way.” He ran his thumb over the reddened mark. It was the wrong time to notice how soft her skin was. Or soak up just how sweet she smelled this close. He cleared his throat. “I’ll get you some ice. And Tylenol.” He tried not to stare at her...

Her hazel gaze met his.

He felt immobilized, trapped—in a good way. Other than family, he tended to avoid women. They made him nervous. But not now. Now... He wanted to stay right here, close to her. He didn’t know why, exactly, just that being near her was surprisingly...pleasant. It made him feel good. If she wasn’t in pain.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He nodded, pushing off the floor. His brain was processing this odd development as he pulled an ice pack from the break room freezer and some pain reliever from the medicine cabinet mounted in his bathroom. By the time he’d returned, he had no reasonable explanation for his reaction to her. He’d barely touched her, but the tips of his fingers and thumb felt like they’d been zapped by 220 volts of electricity. He paused inside her office, studying her as she sat at her desk, staring out the small window.

Her long blond hair fell over her shoulder, loosely braided.

Damn it. He wasn’t one to give much thought to such things but...she was beautiful.

He swallowed, beginning to accept that his reaction had no reasonable explanation. Being a man of research, he had to know. “Take these,” he said, placing the bottle on the table. He knelt, his fingers encircling her ankle and placing her foot on his leg. Damn, but it was the same. Her scent—He damn near groaned. His gut tightened, his fingers burned and his lungs emptied ’til he ached... He stared at her ankle, stunned.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, her voice sounding off—tight and thick.

He looked up at her again, wary. “This will help stop it from swelling.” She had no right to be irritated. He was the one who’d just been knocked for a loop.

“Okay,” she said, sliding her foot from his knee and holding out her hand. “Thank you.” She bent, pressing the ice pack to the red welt along her calf.

He stood, his hands on his hips. What the hell was he doing? She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She was capable of taking care of an entire family on her own. Family as in a baby and a little girl. A little girl he’d made cry.

“I didn’t mean to upset your daughter,” he said. “I just... I... She’s little.”

“I know she’s little.” Eden looked up at him then. “Contrary to what you think, I would never put my daughter at risk, Dr. Boone. I wasn’t planning on letting her touch Fester, but I didn’t think it would hurt to get closer to the barn. Fester is not the only horse to see. I wasn’t going to let her touch any of them. She’s never been around horses. Or cowboys. Your world.”