Love Again (Cowboys & Angels 4)

Mitchell sat down next to me and turned to Tripp. “You’re not the least bit interested to know what happened with the dickhead she left you for?”

“I can always count on you to remind me of that fact.”

“Hey, I’m just asking and stating the obvious.”

Tripp rolled his eyes then let out a sigh. “I overheard Karen say that Harley had dated some guy named Al for a couple of years. Moved to Dallas with him and as far as she could find out, they broke up a few years back.”

“Al? What in the fuck kind of name is Al?” Cord asked with a chuckle.

“Hey, I have an Al who works for me. He’s a nice guy.”

Cord turned my way. “And how old is he?”

“Um…well…he’s around fifty-five.”

“There ya have it. Al is an old man’s name.”

Mitchell, Cord, and I all looked at each other. “How does it make you feel to have her back in town for good?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what she expects or why she is so insistent on us talking.”

“Maybe she wants to say she’s sorry, or she wants to date again.”

Tripp lost it laughing as he rubbed the back of his neck. It was a scared shitless laugh. What if she did want to try again? Would Tripp open up his heart like that again?

“You know what pisses me off? I finally meet a girl I like and connect with after all these years, and Harley walks back into town like she never left.”

“Does Mallory know about Harley?” Mitchell asked.

“I told her all about her. I figured I at least owed it to her to be honest. I’m not sure I’m ready to settle down with anyone. And with Mallory having a little girl, we want to be careful with how much I’m around and that sort of thing. We went out to dinner right after Christmas and ran into Harley and her folks. It was awkward to say the least, and Mallory picked up on the history almost instantly.”

Mitchell nodded his head. “Women are good about that kind of shit. It’s some sort of internal radar.”

I agreed. “Yep.”

Tripp slapped me on the side of the arm. “Enough of me. We’re here to talk about Jonathon fucking Turner. The man who is going marry our big sister. Are you sure you’re going to be able to handle a Parker woman, Turner?”

It was my turn to rub the back of my neck in a nervous manner. “Hell, I think so. I have a feeling she’ll keep me on my toes.”

They all chuckled. “Ask Wade. I’m sure he can fill your head with all kinds of tales.”

Cord’s eyes met mine and his smile faded. “Seriously, though, thank you for being so patient with Waylynn and not leaving her side. I know it has to be hard for you. I know how much you were looking forward to having kids.”

My chest tightened slightly. “We’ll have kids, not in the traditional way, but I know we will.”

“Adoption?” Mitchell asked.

“That’s one option,” I answered.

Tripp sat down on a barstool. “Is there another option?”

“One I’m not too keen on at all, but Waylynn brought it up. I guess women donate their eggs and Waylynn suggested we use my juice to fertilize it.”

All three of them frowned. “Would you consider that?” Cord questioned.

“No. Donated egg or not, it’s not Waylynn’s. It would be like having a baby with another woman. I’m not interested in that.”

“But it would be your biological baby and a part of you,” Tripp added.

Shaking my head, I blew out a breath. “I don’t think I could do that.”

“I get you, I really do, but if Waylynn brought it up, it might be something she’s interested in, so I wouldn’t push it to the side altogether. I suggest y’all have some long conversations about it,” Tripp advised.

Cord cleared his throat. “I’m with Jonathon. I think you try adoption first, and if that doesn’t work out then you go with the other option.”

“Who would carry the baby if you had a donor egg?” Mitchell asked.

With a half shrug, I replied, “I’m not sure. Waylynn mentioned it. I told her it wasn’t an option right now, and we dropped the subject. Everything is still pretty raw, and at this point I just want to marry her and be her husband.”

They all nodded. “That’s understandable…and the reason we’re here.”

I chuckled. “I don’t need a bachelor party.”

“Dude! Yes, you do! It’s an excuse to shut the bar down for a private event and have strippers!”

“What?” Mitchell and I said at the same time.

“Hell no to that!” Mitchell added.

Cord groaned. “Come on, Mitchell. Just because you’re married with a kid on the way doesn’t mean we all have to suffer.”

“I’m not down for the strippers either,” Tripp said. “I’m pretty sure that’s all you and Trevor.”