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

“I...I couldn’t tell him,” she murmured.

“I imagine the words get stuck.” Teddy sighed, his nod slow. “But soon, I hope? Won’t get any easier.”

She nodded. Soon. She had to tell him. Now that she loved him. She swallowed. But Archer was nowhere to be found this morning. He’d dropped her off without saying much. Eden had kissed him, but he’d seemed almost disinterested—as if the passion they’d so recently shared never existed. And it scared her. She hadn’t known him long enough to know what was going on inside that head of his. But she wanted to. She wanted to know what he was thinking, to understand him.

“I was hoping things were falling into place with you two.” Teddy shook his head. “I admit, I’m more than a little disappointed.”

Eden glanced at Teddy Boone. “Not all of us will have a successful holiday romance, Mr. Boone.”

Teddy smiled. “Who said anything about a holiday romance, Miss Monroe?”

She carried the box to her room and played with the girls. Lily was in love with peekaboo, and Clara and Ivy had just found a new coloring book full of kitten pictures. They went through two purple crayons before Ivy decided she wanted to play peekaboo, too.

She glanced at Clara, sitting on the floor, smiling at the girls. Would she lose her? Could she blame Clara for wanting love? No, she couldn’t. And if Teddy Boone was going to make an honest woman out of her, Eden would be happy for her.

She wished it were that clear-cut with Archer. She loved him. She wanted to stay. Considering she’d been here six days, she knew that was insane. But...irrefutably true. She had no idea how he felt about her. He wanted to help her. He was attracted to her. But that didn’t mean he was ready to tie himself to her—and her two children, ex-husband and controlling family.

Eden waited until nap time to tackle the box. At first, she felt as though she was intruding, reading her mother’s secrets. But it soon felt like she was visiting with her, her voice ringing from each clearly scripted line. She and Mags had been close. And even though she didn’t have Mags’s letters, it was easy to pick up the thread of conversation between them.

They exchanged stories about their children, their hopes and dreams for them. Their husbands. She was sad to learn that her creation had resulted from an attempt to save her parents’ marriage. Like Lily. She was so engrossed that she was completely unaware someone was speaking to her until he tapped the letter in her hand.

“Earth to Eden.” Clark smiled, his bright eyes crinkling at the corners.

She stood, stunned. Clark was here? “What are you doing here?”

“I have today and tomorrow off. I felt terrible about canceling on the girls and thought I’d spend it with them.” He paused. “Since it’s still my week with them.”

“So Dad sent you?” she asked.

He shook his head, chuckling. “You’re so cynical.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not going to answer the question?”

“Your dad is very concerned,” he said.

“You realize how pathetic this is, right?” she asked.

He shrugged. “He’s the boss.”

Eden studied him. “Where are you staying?”

“Here,” he answered. “I’m supposed to do a cursory site inspection while I’m here.”

She blew out a deep breath. “You are?”

He nodded. “Come on, Eden. You have to admit, you coming here like this wasn’t the smartest move. Your dad’s making it sound like you’re emotionally compromised—because of your mother and this place.”

“That’s not true.” Her mother wasn’t the problem. It was Archer.

“I know you take your work seriously. I know you wouldn’t let anything get in the way of facts and research—emotions or otherwise. I know that. I know you. But your dad...” He broke off, shrugging. “You know how he is.”

Eden frowned at him. “Would it kill you to tell me your visit here has nothing to do with the girls and everything to do with staying on my father’s good side?”

He had the decency to look uncomfortable. “Where are the girls?”

“They’re sleeping.”

He glanced at his watch. “Nap time.” He glanced at the box full of letters. “They sleep while you’re relaxing. You look tired.”