Cowboy Baby Daddy

He nodded. “I see what you mean.”

The palomino nickered. I looked over at the horse and noticed he was looking at a dark-haired woman on the porch of Carl’s house.

Aspyn? I sucked in a breath. No. I wasn’t ready to face her yet.

“Oh, that’s my buyer,” Carl said with a grin. “I have to go talk with her. Talk to you soon.” He nodded and jogged toward the porch.

I stared at the woman. After a few seconds, even at a distance, I could tell she wasn’t Aspyn. Too tall. Wrong shape.

I shook my head. I was going to see her soon, and it wouldn’t be an easy conversation, but if I really wanted to clear my head, I had to set things right and apologize for disappearing.

Even if I had my reasons, I knew I must have hurt her. My only hope was she could forgive me so we could at least be friends. I knew I couldn’t dare to even hope for anything more.

Chapter 9

Aspyn

Perri sat across from me, furiously typing some official letter on her computer. We didn’t really have an office or even a cubicle. What we did have were desks opposite each other in the town hall lobby.

It wasn’t like the building was all that large, though, so it’s not like I felt like I was missing out. Other than the mayor’s office, there was a bathroom, a conference room citizens could reserve, and a break room.

That Thursday had started normally enough for Perri and me. The afternoon was also what we’d expected, busy but not painfully so.

In a small town like Livingston, people expected we wouldn’t have much to do, but maybe that’d be the case if we had more staff. As it was, we both worked as hard as three people, in my opinion.

Typically, the only people working at town hall were Perri, Joe, and me. The town treasurer only had to come in part-time to balance the books. He spent most of his time at his own accounting business. We didn’t see the custodian unless we were working really late.

Not that I minded all that much. The budget didn’t really allow for more people, and Perri and I had never gotten too overwhelmed.

Our days were filled with paperwork, taking calls from angry and not-so-angry folks in town, and typing up forms and letters for Joe. Just like on that Thursday.

It’d been two days since Alex had returned to town, and I’d managed to avoid him. I was hoping to keep up the streak, and work was as good place as any to do that. It’s not like he had any reason to stop by town hall. Right?

Perri sighed as she finished tapping away on her computer. “Almost time to head home. Too bad it’s not the weekend.”

“I think we’ll survive.”

She grinned. “I’m not sure. I still have to get through an entire Friday.”

I rolled my eyes, and we both laughed.

“So, any plans tonight?” I said. “You having dinner tonight with Carl again?”

“No. I’m most certainly not.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her chin in the air. “I’m mad at him.”

I’d long ago gotten used to Perri’s attitude toward Carl changing on a dime, but that never stopped me from asking for the reason. Just too curious, I guess.

“Why? You were happy with him a couple of days ago.”

“Why?” she echoed. She stared at me. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

I shrugged. “Uh, yes, because I want to know.”

“Oh. I thought you knew.” She pointed at me. “Because he chose Alex over you.”

I sighed. “He didn’t choose anyone. Alex needs help, and Carl’s helping him. It’s what a real man and a real friend does.”

She shook her head. “Well, as your real woman friend, I’m sticking with you. Your enemies are my enemies.”