Hard-Riding Cowboy (Kinky Spurs 3)

Every single thought that Megan had telling her everything would be all right vanished with the harshness in Nash’s voice. She wanted to scream up to the sky, When will this stop? Pretending she hadn’t heard his scathing voice and the way he spoke of her father, she entered the hospital room. “Hi.” She forced a smile.

“Hi,” Nash said, carefully watching her.

He wore a hospital gown, but it was off his one shoulder where the bandage had been placed. Even in a hospital bed, he looked strong and unbreakable, but he was used to hospital visits. Likely much more comfortable there than the random person. She moved next to the bed and knowing exactly what he wanted, she figured she better get over the slight awkwardness of PDA. She dropped her head and pressed her lips softly against his. When she leaned away, he looked beyond smug. She took a seat on the end of the bed and met Jenny’s gaze. Her eyes were beaming and her smile bright. Even Emma and Harper gave loving looks. “Okay, you can all stop looking so happy.”

Emma grinned. “But we are happy you’re together now.”

“Yup. Real happy.” Harper nodded.

Even Jenny gave a quick nod. “It’s about time.”

Shep wasn’t laughing, though. His gaze was on Megan, concern there. He placed his arm around Emma’s neck. “Come on, beautiful, let’s give these two some time alone.”

Emma smiled and said to Megan, “Call me later, all right?” She followed Shep out of the hospital room.

Megan nodded, swallowing the emotion threatening to explode.

Chase stepped closer and tapped his fingers against Nash’s calf. “If you need anything, I’m a phone call away.”

“Appreciate that,” Nash said, “but I’m counting on getting out of here and won’t need shit.”

“Just call if you need anything,” Chase repeated before vanishing through the doorway.

“I’ll be around if you want to talk,” Harper said to Megan, pressing a hand on her shoulder.

Megan didn’t even know where to start.

Jenny rose from her chair and pressed her lips against Nash’s forehead. “You need rest. Make sure to get it.”

“Will do, Ma.” Nash smiled, his head resting against the pillow.

Jenny wrapped Megan in a warm hug before she said softly in her ear, “He’s been waiting for you to get here. You brighten him up, my dear.” With a soft kiss on her cheek, Jenny then strode out the door.

“What did she say to you?” Nash asked, once they were alone.

“Nothing you need to know about.” Megan scooted closer to Nash. He rested his good hand on her leg. So perfect. So comfortable. God, she felt so safe and content around him. And that was where things got so confusing. The hardest part in all this was that the hatred between Nash and her father darkened the news of the baby. Earlier this morning, Megan had been happy, beyond happy now that the shock of the pregnancy had worn off, and Nash seemed happy too.

She’d decided when she left the vet’s that this was happening between them. No more fear. And yet now, the harsh words Nash said about her father replayed in her mind, over and over again. Her motherly instincts were beginning to feel strong and protective, making her want to keep a bubble around this baby to ensure all the stress and anger Nash and her father caused each other wouldn’t ever touch the baby. The last thing she wanted was their child to feel like she had growing up. Even how she felt now. Torn in two directions. Her heart wanting both men but struggling to find a way to do that.

To stop thinking about all this, knowing she would never figure out that answer tonight and needing to be there for Nash, she switched subjects. “I wouldn’t count on getting out of here anytime soon. The nurses were chatting at the nurse’s station out there and said the doctor wanted to keep you overnight.”

“Terrific,” Nash grumbled.

“I called in some extra staff for tonight, so I can stay with you.”

He winked. “That’s better news. How about the kittens?”

“They’re good. Leah said they were really lucky. My mom is watching them tonight.”

Nash nodded then watched Megan intently for a long time. He finally sighed and took her hand with his uninjured arm and tangled his fingers with hers. “I didn’t mean for you to hear that about your father.”

Her throat tightened. Her blood pressure rose. She had no idea what to say anymore. For so long she had been running from Nash. Now she couldn’t run anymore, but the truth was even harder to face, breaking her heart in this impossible situation. To avoid all that, she glanced at the large bandage on his shoulder. “How much pain are you in?”

“Megan. Look at me.” Her eyes connected to the warmth in the depth of his. “I didn’t mean for you to hear that about your father.”

“But I did hear it,” she retorted softly. And suddenly there was a flood of emotion and her mouth had no off switch. “I hear every time you say something about him and the venom in your voice. I see the hatred on your face. And every time I do, I can’t help but ask myself: How can we be a we when you hate the man who raised me?”

“I don’t need to like him,” Nash said, as if this was all very simple. “I need to put up with him, and that I can do.”