Catching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 2)

I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place because I want to be involved in his life as much as I can, but Phoenix is too far to drive every weekend. Chelsea agreed to FaceTime me after work throughout the week so Dawson and I can talk regularly. I’ve also decided to try to visit him at least once a month if I can get off one weekend a month for the twelve-hour drive.

The second night Chelsea was here, I finally got her to open up about what she needed so I can help support Dawson. I’ll do whatever she needs to make sure Dawson doesn’t go without.

My parents were over the moon excited about having a grandkid, and I saw the instant love in my mother’s eyes. She called me later that day with all sorts of stories about how I acted when I was Dawson’s age.

Chelsea and I have found common ground and get along quite well, so I’m hopeful it’ll be easy to work together. I’ve gotten to know her a little better and found out she works as a teller at a bank and hopes to one day become a loan officer. Most of the time, she’s living paycheck to paycheck but has somehow made it work. I guaranteed her she’d no longer have to worry about buying whatever he needs.

The next morning, I wake up and go to the kitchen to make coffee. I have the day off and want to spend as much time with Dawson as possible before I have to take them to the airport this afternoon. As the maker stops dripping, Chelsea comes into the kitchen and pours herself a mug and leans against the counter.

“Mornin’. You sleep okay?” I ask.

She nods, then saunters closer.

She parts my legs and stands between them, leaning forward with lust in her eyes. There’s nowhere for me to go, so instead, I firmly place my hands on her hips to stop this from going anywhere.

“Chelsea…” I quietly say, not wanting to disturb Dawson sleeping.

She gives me a side grin and bats her long lashes at me. “What?” she purrs. “We’re both single.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m dating someone, and even if I weren’t, I don’t think it’d be a good idea. The last thing I want to do is confuse our son while trying to build a solid relationship with him. It’s important to me. Plus, you and I hardly know each other and look at what happened the last time we jumped into bed together.”

Defeat washes over her face. “Ouch. That hurts.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, hoping she understands. “I think you’re nice and very pretty, but even if I were available, I wouldn’t want to cross that line.”

Chelsea backs away, creating the much-needed space between us. “Who is she? Why isn’t she around then?” I try to keep my voice calm as I explain. “It’s a new relationship, and we’re keeping it under wraps at the moment. We haven’t told anyone yet.”

She rolls her eyes. “You don’t have to lie.”

“I’m not lying, but it doesn’t matter anyway. I’ve grown up, Chelsea. I don’t sleep with women just to do it. There has to be some sort of spark there. Any man would be lucky to have you, but it can’t be me because I don’t have feelings for you that way. I’m madly in love with someone else.”

She releases a long, deep breath. “I can respect that, Diesel. Most guys would just use me. Sorry. I must look so desperate. I just thought things were going well, and there was a connection between us, but I shouldn’t have assumed.”

“There was a connection three years ago, and we made a beautiful kid, but being friends and raising our son is all that can be between us now.”

She walks to the fridge, grabs some milk, and pours it into her coffee. “Do you have sugar?”

I know she’s trying to change the subject, so I give her the escape. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass her, but I can’t cross that line, not when Rowan means so much to me. What I said to Chelsea is true—I’m in love with another woman. I’ll be damned if I let my dick fuck that up any more than it already has.

Chelsea excuses herself and takes a shower. Once she’s out and dressed, she brings Dawson into the living room. I make him scrambled eggs and add some fruit to his plate. Chelsea puts milk in a small cup, and he sits at the table in a booster chair like a big boy. He’s talkative this morning, which I find adorable.

After he’s done and Chelsea has changed his clothes, I ask if I can take him to the horse barn, just me and him.

She looks at me as if she’s contemplating it but is still hesitant.