Carrillo's Cowboy by Tee Smith (classic novels to read .txt) 📗

questioning. “I, um,” he stammered, presumably searching for the right response. “I guess I always thought if I met the right person I might.”

“Ahh . . . holding out for Mrs. Right, hey?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood. She hadn’t meant to put him on the spot. It was just a conversation.

“Funny you should say that, actually,” Cody replied. “Austin asked me today if we were going to get married.”

The sip of wine she had taken worked its way up her throat and threatened to choke her. Letting out a small cough, she felt her cheeks redden with the burn of embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” she managed out, both an apology and question.

“I told him it was early days yet. Don’t want to get the kids' hopes up.”

“I’m sorry, Cody. See, this is why I didn’t want the kids to know about us. It makes it awkward.”

“It’s better that they know, though, right? I mean, no secrets and all that?” he threw her words back at her. She had always told her kids that keeping secrets wasn’t healthy, that nothing good could come from them. “He’s struggling, Cal.” His tone turned serious. “Austin. He misses his dad. Thinks he’s been abandoned for the new woman and her kids.”

“He told you that?”

“Not in those words, but yeah. Pretty much.”

Her mind turned to what Mr. Olsen had said. She hadn’t shared with Cody. She knew he’d be angry.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that,” she admitted. “I do my best, but I can’t force Adam to be a proper father.”

“I know,” Cody soothed, dropping his arm around her shoulders and tugging her close to him before taking a swig of his beer. “He doesn’t blame you for any of it.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asked bitterly. “Because he sure as hell has been vocal about not being happy about moving to Harlow’s.”

“He’s at that age. It’s hard. Boys need a male figure around to teach them how to be men.”

“Oh boy, where have I heard that before?” she grumbled, and was met by Cody’s questioning gaze.

“I don’t mind doing some stuff with him while I’m here.”

There it was. The fateful words. While I’m here. The not so subtle reminder that he was indeed a drifter, he would pass through their lives, and move on with his own. All cowboys were the same. They had wanderlust in their veins. That was why she’d never settle for one. Adam had seemed so safe. Then again, look where being safe had gotten her. Had she known she’d end up being a single mother with two kids, all her father’s debt, and alone back in Harlow’s Bend all those years ago, she would have run the other way.

“Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?”

Cody’s words dragged her from her thoughts. “Yeah, I’m okay,” she lied. The truth was, she knew her time with him was limited. Either she pulled away or enjoyed it while it lasted. She just had to remind her heart not to get invested in this man; otherwise, he was going to break it.

“I owned you that time.”

“You’re cheating!”

Callie smiled to herself as she listened to Cody and Austin in the next room. If nothing else, Cody had been good for Austin. His teacher was right about one thing; it was good for him to have another man in the house. Even if he was smarmy enough to think it should be him. Her stomach churned with the memory of it. She hadn’t told anyone, didn’t feel right talking about it. She sometimes wished her dad was still around. Then again, Vin would have wanted to confront the asshole.

The shrill ring of the phone dragged her from her thoughts, and she pulled the spoon from the concoction on the stove, resting it on a saucer. It was starting to smell good; the aroma of herbs mingled with the sweet smell of lamb filled the air.

“Carrillo Estate,” she answered. It was the same way she had answered this phone since she was a child, the same phone too. An old rotary dial type that hung on the kitchen wall. The kids had been amazed to find it still worked. It was certainly a relic.

“Callie?” an uncertain voice came down the line, but she recognised it straight away.

“What do you want, Adam?” she asked her ex-husband.

“I want to speak to my son.”

“Then why didn’t you call his mobile?” After all, he had been the one who had insisted on buying both the kids' mobile phones when she moved to Harlow’s Bend. So he could call them, he had said, then barely had.

“I’ve been calling his mobile. He’s not answering it.”

Callie’s gaze fell to the device, resting on the arm of the lounge chair. Austin, lost in his game, laughed as he turned a plastic steering wheel in both hands while staring at the plasma screen on the wall.

“Austin,” she called, placing her palm over the receiver. “Your dad’s on the phone.”

A look of annoyance flashed across his face but was quickly replaced by excitement as he processed why she had interrupted his play.

“I’ll be back,” he shot at Cody, before making his way to the kitchen to take the call.

Returning to her pot on the stove, Callie tried to block out Austin’s voice, which she noticed had taken on a much younger tone. She knew he missed his dad, even if he barely bothered being a dad anymore. Hell, she missed her dad, and she was a grown woman.

“Mmm, that smells amazing.” Cody’s big hands came to rest on her hips, and her eyes flashed to Austin, who was facing away from her. Even though the kids knew they were together, it still made her feel awkward.

“That would be the herbs.” She smiled up at him. “Grace picked them fresh from her little patch.”

Cody nuzzled his nose into her hair and nibbled at the soft spot just below her ear. “Yeah, that smells good, too,” he murmured.

“You’re