The Cowboy's Texas Rose (The Dixons of Legacy Ranch 1)

He hadn’t forgotten. He never did forget their summer tradition. “Yup, then we’ll go to the lake.”

“Will Mister Dixon come to the lake?”

“He’ll…” Rose looked back at Toby. “I know he has work to do, but—”

“Heck yeah I’ll come to the lake.” Toby grinned, tousling the boy’s hair again.

Rose shook her head in fond exasperation and took the leads, walking the goats to her father’s truck while Toby stacked the crates and carried them, loading the animals. All of this trouble because her son loved Peanut Butter.

But when her dad tried to lift Sage up into the back seat, the boy turned around and walked to Toby, leaning into him to give a hug. He ended up hugging Toby’s leg, and Toby, stunned, stood still for a second, his eyes shooting to hers as her throat thickened with longing for her son who so desperately needed a daddy but didn’t know how to say it. Toby squatted down and pulled Sage into a firm embrace, giving his back a few stout pats, then stood him back by both arms.

“You come back to see me, you hear?” he asked.

Sage nodded.

“Good. Those toys got your name on ’em. Bring your momma back, too, and we’ll watch more Star Wars and put peanut butter on popcorn.”

Sage nodded. “And throw the spoons in the sink so they go—” He made an explosion sound.

Toby chuckled and chuffed his chin. “You got it.”

He hugged him once more and pecked a quick kiss to his head, then stood up and backed up to stand behind Rose, wrapping his arm around her tightly to plaster her back to his chest, and rested his chin atop her hair as Sage was buckled in and the truck was fired up. Rose leaned into him, her hand over her heart so it wouldn’t squeeze right out of her chest. She’d wanted this man before. But she’d give him the chance he wanted now. Every fiber in her itched to tell him she accepted the job and accepted him.

The truck pulled away. Her father lifted his arm out the window as they receded, waving. Toby never let go, as if this were their home together and they bid their guests goodbye.

“Did you hear that, baby?” he murmured beside her ear.

She furrowed her brow. “Hear what?”

He nipped her lobe. “He called it a truck.”

She swatted his arm draped around her neck and shoulders. “Yeah, I heard.”

“Smart man. I like him already.” Toby chuckled. “And…and Sage is a cool kid. I didn’t get shit done in terms of work, but it was worth it. Brought back a lot of memories of being a boy.” He sank into an embrace, draping both arms around her neck and shoulders from behind, still resting his chin atop her head. “I know Sage has his struggles, and I know it’s been hard for you, worrying about him fitting in and all. But you’re doing a good job. It shows. He ain’t as different as you think.”

Dammit! He was going to make her cry when she’d been holding back the downpour by a thread. She twisted around in his arms and buried her face into his chest. Was this what it felt like to have a man falling for her and her son? Accepting them? Is this what it felt like to have a…partner?

“Thank you for that,” she murmured against his shirt. “I needed to hear that.” She looked up at him, fighting the mist collecting in her eyes. “I accept your job offer. It might be a mistake to mix business with pleasure, but I…I think it’s the right decision.”

He hoisted her up, and his lips crashed against hers so suddenly she lost her breath, as if she’d just given him the world instead of a few words.

“Girl, I knew the way to your heart would have to be bigger than a fajita night,” he teased.

She laughed and held him tighter. Just the two of them, they probably had another hour before her crew got back. Tomorrow was their last day of field work, and then the morning after, they’d pack up and drive back to Austin. But she couldn’t be happier.

She hadn’t set out this summer with a boyfriend and dream job in mind, but Toby had surprised her in more ways than one, and to be given these wonderful things after so many years atoning for her past mistakes felt too good to be true. Howard’s doubts cast upon her two weeks ago wove through her mind, as they had been doing since he uttered them. She hadn’t reported anything to the dean. Not yet. Each time she sat down to compose her email or place a phone call, she deleted it or hung up in hopes that more perfect words would come.

Don’t let Howie’s ugliness spoil your happiness now.She scolded herself. Don’t waste your time fretting about Howard Glenmore.

“I don’t know. Fajitas are hard to top. You gotta feed this girl to keep me happy,” she teased.

“You ain’t gonna know what hit you. Tamales, brisket, waffles, nopalitos…” He pecked a trail down her neck. “Peanut butter. Got a helluva lot of peanut butter.” She laughed as he nipped her ear. “I got a lot to feed you to keep you coming back for more.” Oh God, the innuendos. He delivered a brazen body undulation as he held her while she straddled his waist to punctuate the meaning of his words now that Sage wasn’t here to require their censorship. “My girlfriend’s appetite will be satisfied, now that’s a fact.”

Don’t. Be. Distracted. She fought the smile twisting her lips, tipping her neck open for his roving kisses. “I’ll have to find a house and figure out how to enroll Sage in school. Coordinate moving—”

“We got time to sort it all out,” he said, quelling her attempt at practical conversation. “Tell me more about the lake. Specifically, what kind of bathing suit you wear. Bikini?”

Another suggestive hip nudge. She laughed, holding him tightly. Of course his mind was in the gutter. “Mmm, I hadn’t thought about it.”