Lost Love (Cowboys and Angels #1)(35)

“Daddy! It’s a fishing game.”

Something in the air changed, and I quickly looked around. Paxton was nowhere to be found so I shook it off. Chloe was yanking on my shirt, trying to get me over to the small circular pond where the kids were fishing.

When I walked up, I glanced down. Real fish. Yep, we’re back in Texas all right.

“Please may I fish?”

My Chloe loved fishing. She and Dad had already been to the lake on the ranch about a dozen times. Smiling, I motioned for the kid manning the booth to give us a pole.

“Just one, sir?” he asked confused.

Laughing, I stated, “She fishes better than me.”

When the kid handed her the fake worms, Chloe stared at him with a confused expression. “Those ain’t real.”

“Those are not real,” I corrected.

She quickly glanced around and dashed over to the open field.

“What’s she doing?” the kid asked.

A smile spread across my face. “Looking for a worm.”

“But we have worms. She has to use these.”

My eyes swung back over to the kid then I glanced around at their setup. “I don’t see where it’s posted they have to use your bait.”

He glanced over to the older man who laughed and winked. “Hey, if she’s got the guts to dig her own worm, she deserves to use it.”

I gave him a nod as my way of saying thank you.

Chloe came back with a huge fat earthworm.

“I got me my worm, sir.”

“Would you like me to hook for you?”

By the look on Chloe’s face, he knew her answer and handed her the pole again. Promptly getting her worm on the hook, Chloe tossed it into the water. Peeking up at me, she grinned and my heart fluttered in my chest.

I was in so much trouble with this little girl.

So much trouble.





Standing to the side of the giant sign, I watched as Chloe dug up her own worm and proceeded to fish with it. Steed stood there with a proud expression.

My heart ached as I watched them. The moment I saw him earlier I wanted to run up to him and tell him I made Joe leave immediately after he left. Well, after I told him there was no way he had a chance with me. Telling Joe I was still in love with Steed had visibly hurt him, but it was the truth. Besides, we had nothing in common and it was one of the reasons we had never worked out as a couple. That and I wouldn’t give it up for him.

I hated I had asked Steed to leave and not Joe. When Steed hit him though, I was so angry. I hate violence, and Steed knows that. Plus, it was my way of avoiding what had happened between us in the kitchen. His admission to loving me still, my admission, and that kiss. So much more was said with that one kiss. I wasn’t sure I was ready to deal with it all.

“Whatcha doing?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I spun around and clutched at my chest.

“Jesus, Amelia! Why would you sneak up on me like that?”

She tried to hide her smile and failed. Lifting her brows, she glanced past my shoulder. “Were you watching Steed and Chloe?”

My cheeks heated. “What? No! Are they here? I haven’t seen them. Why would you say that?”

When her eyes moved back to mine, I knew she saw right through my blunder of lies. “Uh-huh. I know I was little when you and Steed dated, so we really don’t know each other all that well.” She smiled. “But I can already tell you’re a terrible liar, Paxton.”

I dropped my head then peeked up at her. “I wasn’t spying.”

Amelia held up her hands. “I didn’t say you were.”

Chewing on my lip, I sighed. “Okay. I was spying. I’m lost, Amelia.”

With a soft sympathetic grin, she glanced at her brother. “So is he, Paxton. His eyes are so sad. Earlier this morning we all had breakfast together as a family and both Mom and I noticed it.”

“The family was all together?” I asked.

She nodded with a grin. “The boys have been working the ranch the last two days so they’re all staying at the house. It’s been nice having Steed home again. Dad’s thrilled he’s back and digging deeper into the business side of the ranch. The idea of having another son run day-to-day operations has him all kinds of happy.”

Guilt hit me square in the chest. It was my fault he left. I told him to leave.

He left his family and stayed away because of me.

“I’m so sorry he left town,” I said.

“Paxton, you didn’t keep him away all those years. That was his decision. A poor one, but his nonetheless.”

I shrugged. Turning, I glanced back at Steed and Chloe. “He’s such a good father.”

The sadness in my voice caused Amelia to put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Steed told Mom y’all talked last night.”