Grumpy Cowboy (Single Dad Collection)

“I don’t need a fuckin’ babysitter!” I shout. “I need you to stop meddling in shit that you don’t belong in.”

He scowls. “You don’t need a babysitter? You’re gettin’ on fuckin’ horses, for shit’s sake. You shouldn’t even be tottering around on the damn thing like you are, and you’re out there actin’ like you can rope the fuckin’ wind. Give me a break, Rhett. You’ll end up losing that leg if you keep pullin’ the shit you’re pullin’.”

I turn away from him and run a frustrated hand through my hair, damn near ready to pull some of the strands straight out of my head.

“I swear,” I mutter. “It’s a real talent that one man can be this infuriating all the goddamn time.”

He laughs at that. “The feeling is mutual, son.”

With a shake of my head, I grab the handle on the screen door and open it wide with a yank. It flies back and hits the house, and I don’t bother looking back or apologizing for it. I head straight for the kitchen, keen to get my daughter and get the hell out of there, but when I arrive, Joey’s sitting in Leah’s lap, smiling like she’s in heaven.

My mom catches a glimpse of my face and stands up from the table to come toward me. Her voice is gentle, soft—goddamn traitorous—as she says, “I know you’re upset, baby. I was too. But I wouldn’t be condonin’ this if I didn’t think it was what’s best, you hear me?”

I hear her all right, and I’ll be damned if I don’t want to retort with a growl.

But my mama knows—seems like she always does—and puts a hand to my elbow softly. “Look at your baby girl, son. Look at the way that innocent baby looks at that woman and tell me that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know.”

“She’s dazzled,” I rasp, the low, hard tone unmistakable in my voice, but my mom shakes her head and whispers again.

“She’s more than dazzled, Rhett. She’s smart and she’s a good judge of character, and you know it. Look at her with unvarnished eyes and give this a chance. Give yourself a chance to get better,” she insists.

I let my head fall back for a minute and blow out a deep exhale.

This is complete shit. The whole situation. But I can’t seem to do anything but agree.

“Fine,” I say, meeting my mom’s eyes again before glancing over her shoulder to my happy little girl.

If everyone wants the city doctor to stay, she can stay. That doesn’t mean I have to accommodate her.

“Can Joey spend the night with you tonight?” I ask, and my mom nods immediately.

“Of course. Why?”

Instead of answering, I turn to Leah and wait for her to look up and notice me. When she does, her eye contact sticks and holds.

“How about this?” I ask her as Tex takes his seat back at the table. “If you can find me, you can treat me.”

“Rhett,” my mom breathes, no doubt disappointed in my behavior as I turn and hobble my way straight out the door. I make my way down the porch steps and back to my truck, climbing in as gingerly as I can. I’ve just gotten my leg swung inside and my hand on the door when someone grabs it and yanks it back open unexpectedly.

“Do you mean that?” Leah asks, slightly out of breath from the jog out of the house.

My eyes narrow. “Do I mean what?”

“That if I find you, I can treat you.”

I consider her for a minute, and she squares her shoulders under my scrutiny.

This woman might have just become the biggest pain in my ass, but she has some thick skin, I can at least give her that.

But that’s all I’m giving her.

“Like I said, if you can find me, you can treat me.”

She sticks out a hand for me to shake, and some weird part of me feels the need to clarify.

“I don’t know if you really know what you’re signin’ up for, darlin’. You’re gonna have to find me more than once, and it’ll never be in the same place. Truth is, around here, I doubt you’ll even be able to keep up.”

“I know what I’m signing up for,” she insists. “Now, shake my damn hand.”

“Okay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Our hands glide together, her fingers clutching around mine with a flash of electricity that zaps me all the way to the base of my spine. Leah snaps out a shake, then turns on her fancy heels and, hips swaying, heads right back into the house.

Ready or not, here we go.

June 22nd, Tuesday

Leah

I slug a sip of coffee from the to-go mug I found in the cabinet of my cabin and place it back in the cupholder of my updated ranch vehicle, a much, much newer F-150, with a fancy Shaw Springs Ranch logo emblazoned on the side.