Bucking Bronc Lodge 04(69)

Miles didn’t love her. Like Marie said, he was married to his job.

And she couldn’t keep him from what he wanted.

She had given herself to him out of love and comfort, not because she expected anything in return.

Miles had enough on his plate being a single father. And one day soon, she was sure, he would return to his job. He was too good at it not to. She’d also heard he’d been hunting for a small ranch to buy himself.

Then he and Timmy would have a home and be gone from her life forever.

Tears blurred her eyes at the thought, and she turned to leave. Timmy suddenly ran toward her then thrust a piece of paper in her hand. Miles strolled up behind him, his hands in his pockets, a sheepish look on his face.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“It’s what I see when I close my eyes now. No more red.”

She smiled and patted his shoulder, then studied the picture. It was his drawing of her and Miles and him, the three of them hand in hand. Stars glittered brightly from the night sky shining a halo around them.

Her heart squeezed.

“Those two stars are touching,” she said as she noticed two of the brightest ones in the corner, their points coinciding.

“You told me Mommy lived in heaven. That’s her.” Timmy pointed to the bigger star. “And that’s your little brother. Mommy tolded me she’d take care of him till you got to heaven, since you took care of me.”

Jordan’s heart thumped wildly, and she looked up at Miles. His expression looked as stunned as hers.

“Did you tell him?” she asked.

Miles shook his head no.

“I told you,” Timmy said. “Mommy did.” He tugged her arm down and gave her a big sloppy kiss. “She likes you.”

Then he turned and ran back to the other boys. Jordan saw the shock on Miles’s face, and her stomach tumbled to her throat. She wanted to believe that the three of them could be together, but Miles had made no declaration of love. It was only Timmy’s childish wishful thinking.

Unable to speak for the emotions clogging her throat, she gave him a slight wave, then turned and ran toward her cabin.

Images of her little brother hit her, then images of Timmy and Miles, and tears spilled over. She was glad she was alone and in the dark so no one could see them.

A chill had set in, and she swiped at her wet cheeks, then rubbed her arms, tugged her key from her pocket and let herself into her cabin.

She thought she’d left a light on, but the room was bathed in darkness. Then a sound squeaked. A footstep.

Jordan froze, her senses alert. Dugan was dead... Had Ables escaped?

Her derringer was locked in the desk drawer and she headed toward it, but suddenly someone grabbed her from behind and put her in a strangling choke hold.

* * *

MILES WATCHED JORDAN disappear with a dull throbbing in his chest. He had been so relieved to have Timmy back alive and so worried about his health that he hadn’t had time to think about what had happened between him and Jordan.

He’d assumed that the sex had been a frantic, emotionally charged release of pent-up frustration at the time.

But deep down he knew it was more.

He simply hadn’t been ready to face it or the questions that the possibility of an ongoing relationship with Jordan brought.

The complications...his job...her feelings...his...Timmy’s...

Hell, he didn’t want to think about it. He just knew what he wanted.

He wanted Jordan.

In his life. In his bed.

With him and his son.

For good.

Determination suddenly cleared his head of the questions and doubts. Timmy’s drawing and comment about Marie had also dissipated his guilt.

Jordan had helped his son see that he could still love his mother while he moved on. That it was okay for him to love Jordan.

Just as it was okay for him to love her.

But he’d seen the emotions on her face when Timmy had given her the drawing of the three of them—did she not want them in her future?

Would she feel the same as Marie—that he was married to his job?

Dammit. He had to know.

He laid his hand on his little boy’s shoulder. “You okay, son?”

Timmy nodded. “Can I spend the night with the other campers tonight?”

Miles barely breathed, he was so happy. He and Carlos had discussed this earlier, but he hadn’t been sure Timmy was ready.

It was such a monumental step that he wanted to jump for joy and shout his thanks above.

But he stooped and gave Timmy a knuckle-up instead. “Sure, son. Have fun.”

Timmy threw his arms around him and hugged him, then ran back to the group. Miles gestured to Carlos to watch out for him, and Carlos nodded that he would.

A sense of relief filled Miles and lightened his mood, and he strode toward Jordan’s cabin. Now that he knew what he wanted, he couldn’t wait to tell her.