The Cowboy's Texas Sky (The Dixons of Legacy Ranch 2)

Babe. She smiled, feeling an ounce of relief. So natural. Gawd, she was stupid getting giddy over that. Yeah, slow it down. Good one, Skylar. She bit her lip and tapped a reply.

Skylar:Hey. Busy surgery schedule?

Like this was normal, like he was her husband off at work, checking in. A speech bubble wavered in the next instant.

Travis:Yeah. Ain’t seen my pillow much last night before I had to get to the hospital for a 5:00. Couldn’t get to sleep with this girl on my mind

Skylar smiled. She was ashamed to say she’d crashed hard. Getting up at five each day herself knocked her out at night.

Travis:Taking a break right now. Life flight coming in soon. Critical case flying in from Fort Hood.

She bit her lip. It wasn’t their veterinary dream, but Travis was a fine surgeon. He’d grown so accomplished. He’d found a passion, and it did nothing but good for the lives he touched with his scalpel and talented hands. She admired it.

Trav:How’s Yodabear?

Yodabear. God, the idea of this muscled man with a baritone, husky voice and worn-out mesh-back making up cutesy nicknames for his dog did nothing but make her love him more.

Skylar:He’s doing great.

She bit down on her lip harder, then attached a photo she’d taken of him and Brandon nestled on the couch together while Brandon read a comic book on his phone, his arm slung around the contented dog like he was a stuffed animal.

Skylar:As you can see, the whole ‘boy and his dog’ vibe runs strong with these two. We might be adopting him lol.

A reply popped up.

Trav:That’s a helluva pic. Real sweet.

Trav:Yoda’s never been around a kid so I wasn’t sure if he’d take to Brandon or not.

Skylar:Oh, he’s taken to him.

Trav:Brandon to the dog, or the dog to Brandon?

Skylar:Your pick.

Trav:Damn… Am I right that you only want me for my dog?

She leaned an arm on the saddle horn to prop herself there, basking in the serenity and the light conversation, as if they were both avoiding the more complicated aspects between them, when right on schedule, her kit fox arrived for its morning hydration. Patches stomped the ground to get walking again, rocking her in the saddle.

Skylar:I mean, he’s an awfully good cuddler.

Trav:So am I. You gonna adopt me, too?

She chewed her lip now, the ridiculous grin on her face only broadening. Take it slow, her brain said. Hit the ground running, her heart argued.

Skylar:Do you need to be adopted?

Trav:Yes.

She laughed. That same desire warred through her that had been doing so since they’d reunited. They were totally flirting, and she’d always been horrible at flirting. Travis had always seemed oblivious to that fact, like the more awkward she got, the more it turned him on.

Skylar:I don’t know. Brandon might not want to cuddle you like he does Yoda lol

A speech bubble wavered instantly.

Trav:What about Brandon’s foster momma?

Skylar laughed again. She knew where he was going with this.