Win Me Over (Cowboys of Crested Butte 5)

Half of Tristan hoped they’d protest; the other half hoped he’d be invited to stay.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said when no one answered. “Tristan, you don’t mind do ya?”

She had her answer. He’d noticed her, and he, along with everyone else, was waiting for her to reply. The room was silent; the TV still on mute.

“Tristan, you don’t mind, right?” teased Lyric. “I heard a rumor you two were at Black Mountain Ranch together recently. How’d that go?”

Inwardly, Tristan rolled her eyes at Lyric. Outwardly, she hadn’t moved a muscle, or answered Bullet. She was afraid to speak, and when she tried, her voice was hoarse.

“What was that?” Bullet was walking toward her. “I couldn’t hear you.”

Tristan cleared her throat. “Of course I don’t mind. Why would I?”

“Just checkin’.” Bullet sat down on the floor, next to her, and pulled Grey on his lap. “Grey, you wanna sit by the prettiest lady in the room?”

Grey moved from Bullet’s lap toward Tristan and plunked down right next to her, resting his head on her leg.

“He shares my good taste,” Bullet whispered and leaned over to kiss her.

Tristan jerked away from him so quickly, Grey’s head hit the floor with a thud. The baby burst into tears, rubbed his head, and wailed.

“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled to Bullet. “I—”

“Save it,” he growled. He stood and took Grey in the direction of the bedroom.

“Is my Pearl in there?” he asked Liv.

“She is.” Liv put her finger in front of her lips to tell Bullet to be quiet; the girls were asleep.

Instead, he barged into the room, turned on the light, and picked his little girl up with one arm while he held the still-crying Grey in the other.

“We’ll see y’all later,” he said to no one in particular and walked out the kitchen door, leaving it open behind him.

Tristan jumped up to follow him, but Lyric stopped her.

“Let him go,” she warned.

“I need to apologize,” she pressed.

“Sometimes words aren’t enough to make up for actions.” Lyric’s jaw was set. Tristan knew better than to try to argue with her.

I’m sorry, she texted him. He didn’t answer. She told herself he was probably busy getting Grey and Pearl to bed, but she knew better. He was mad. And he had every right to be. Her reaction to him baffled even her.

Lyric stood next to her on Billy and Renie’s deck. “I’m mad at you too.”

“It really isn’t any of your business, Lyric. I’m sorry I hurt your brother’s feelings—”

Lyric walked back in the house before Tristan finished her sentence. A minute later, Liv came outside.

“If you’re going to scold me too, don’t waste your time.”

“My, my, aren’t you in a tizzy?”

“He shouldn’t have done that.” Tristan waited, but Liv didn’t respond. “Especially in front of everyone.” Still nothing from Liv.

Finally, she spoke. “Did you know this is where Renie grew up?”

Tristan hadn’t put it all together, but yes, Liv had told her Billy bought her ranch before he married Renie.