Colton Cowboy Jeopardy (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“No email, not a phone call?”

“No.” She sighed. “I’m being silly and impractical to take it at face value.”

“You’re being a hopeful daughter,” he said. In the background he heard Silas gurgling. “How’s the little man today?”

“Goofy.” This time he heard a smile in her voice.

Since the night of the party, when she’d let him hold her while they slept, he was getting better and better at reading her, in person and over the phone. He spent most of his nights with her on that narrow bunk. On the rare occasions when he couldn’t get out to her, he missed her and the baby more than he was ready to admit.

Sleeping beside her didn’t eliminate the clawing desperation to make love with her, but it was better than not touching her at all. Although she’d made her willingness to get physical with him clear, he resisted taking that leap while her life was still in turmoil.

“How goes the search?” she asked.

“I came up empty here,” he said. “It’s too hot anyway, though it might be worth a closer look tomorrow. You’ll be okay a while? I need to get back, stable Duke and clean up. I’ll be there as soon as possible with dinner.”

“I’ll be fine,” she replied. “Thanks, Jarvis. I really appreciate you.”

Appreciation was safe. Smart. So why did he want her to say something more meaningful? He hadn’t said anything of the kind to her. “Text me if something sounds good.”

“Okay.”

After ending the call, he stowed the shovel and climbed back into the saddle. He urged the horse into an easy canter, eager to see Mia’s face. And the text message. When he reached the stable, he forced himself to take his time with Duke. Routine tasks kept him grounded. Always had. He’d been one of the weird kids who liked doing dishes and vacuuming because it gave his mind time to wander. It really shouldn’t have surprised him that this straightforward life as a cowboy would fit so well.

Not easy, not simple, but straightforward.

Mia was tied to all of it. And she shouldn’t be. She kept researching the questions in the Colton family tree and land records while he dug up small pockets of the Triple R. She wasn’t doing anything he couldn’t have done alone, but it was going a whole lot faster with her as his partner. They had a system, a friendship with the promise of heat, more than a relationship.

He reminded himself of that fact every single day. He wasn’t relationship material, though this time with her and the baby eroded his confidence in that theory. Her sunny outlook and persistent hope in the face of her stepmother’s manipulations made him reconsider options he’d sworn off years ago. Her philosophy challenged him and made it increasingly difficult to remember why he shouldn’t follow the example his siblings set, taking chances on love and life.

The difference, he reminded himself, was crystal clear. Eventually, Mia would go back to her life and raise her son. They wouldn’t need him to bring her groceries and supplies or watch their backs. Eventually, a woman like Mia would find

the right man, a man who believed in love and plans, and all the possibilities of the future rather than all the pitfalls.

As nice as he felt with her, he knew himself. He enjoyed her and this interlude in part because it couldn’t be permanent. Women from Mia’s background didn’t look for the long-term gig with cowboys who were raised on the lower end of middle class. She came from money, was used to luxury.

Sure he’d made a name for himself in business for a time, but he’d tossed that reputation aside for a quest to prove his Colton name was as valuable as those who sat around the Colton Oil boardroom.

As he took the older truck into town, he was grateful it was still here. Since coming to the ranch, he’d become fascinated with broken things, things that could be fixed with time and patience and elbow grease. He’d assumed an operation with Payne Colton at the helm wouldn’t bother with repairs, tossing out anything that didn’t function and replacing it with something new. But he’d discovered that Asher had an eye for profit that included being practical and he didn’t throw money or men around without careful thought and planning.

Driving toward Lucia’s Italian Café to pick up a pizza, he thought about taking Mia on a real date. Mustang Valley was a step down from parties in New York City or Paris. Still, he’d enjoy going out, just the two of them, or going somewhere with Silas. Dancing could be fun. Or maybe a baseball game, in honor of how they’d met, he mused as he parked and headed for the café.

Distracted, he didn’t notice Regina walking over until she was practically on top of him.

She raked him with a hungry look that chilled his skin. “Jasper, isn’t it?”

“Jarvis,” he corrected again, smiling politely. He wouldn’t let her feel like she had any advantage. “Nice to see you again.”

“You’re certainly casual this evening. How...rugged.”

“Everyone needs a bit of downtime,” he replied diplomatically.

She emitted a tiny, brittle laugh. “I suppose so.” Something was off. She didn’t appear as polished as she’d been at the party. “Is Selina meeting you? I’d love to say hello.”

“Not tonight,” he said. “I’ll pass that on when I see her.”

Regina’s delicate eyebrows arched. “So the two of you aren’t exclusive.” She inched close enough that the skirt of her dress brushed around his jeans. “That’s fascinating.”

“I’m flattered you think so.” He didn’t add any of the warmth or charm that consistently amused Selina. “Give my best to your husband.”