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

to the world, that’s my girl, and I love her. I want to wrap you in my arms and never let you go. Protect you. I want to stay in Harlow’s Bend and make it my home. I don’t want to leave. You make me want to stop moving, and I want to grow old with you. I want to be a granddad one day, to your children’s children. To our children.”

If you want to sell up and move back to the city, then I want that too. I want whatever makes you happy. I want to be your person. When you need someone, I want to be that someone.” He pulled their joined hands to his chest and placed them over his heart. “I think that means love. Don’t you?”

“I . . . I don’t know what to say,” Callie stammered out past the lump in her throat.

“Then, don’t say anything. Just kiss me. That’s all I need.”

Taking a step forward, Cody’s hand snaked around the back of her neck, pulling her closer, his warm lips finding hers. The taste of his morning coffee still lingering as she fell into him. He loved her. That was all she needed in the world.

“You’re staying?” Grace squealed and bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. “I knew you guys would work it out.”

“Well, it took a bit of convincing,” Callie chuckled, squeezing Cody’s hand.

“Are you alright with that, Austin?” Cody asked.

Austin shrugged his shoulders. “I guess.” A small smile tugged at the edges of his lips, giving away the fact he was trying to cover his cool façade.

The sound of tyres on the gravel had them all turning to see the new Mercedes as it snaked its way down the drive.

“Who’s that?” Callie asked, confused.

“It’s dad,” Austin cried, leaping from the veranda without using the steps as the car pulled to a halt in front of the house.

“Did you know he was coming?” she asked Grace, who gave her a blank stare.

The driver’s door opened, and Adam stepped out, wrapping his suit-clad arms around his son, before lifting a hand to wave at Grace.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” Austin squealed.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he said, leaning back into the car, as the passenger door opened and a woman stepped out. “You remember Leesa?” he asked.

Callie nodded and clung a little tighter to Cody’s hand. Leesa had been Adam’s secretary. The cliché of him hooking up with his secretary as soon as she was out of the picture hadn’t been lost on her.

“Hi Gracie,” Leesa smiled before nodding at Callie with a smirk.

“This is for you,” Adam beamed at their son before handing him a large box he had retrieved from the back seat.

Taking the box, Austin moved to rest it on the bonnet of his father’s car, and Callie couldn’t hold back the giggle as Adam quickly scooped it up and placed it on the ground. Lifting the lid, Austin retrieved a white ball of fluff.

“A puppy? You got me a puppy?”

“Well, it’s for you and Grace,” Adam corrected. “Do you like it?”

“It’s hardly a farm dog,” Cody mumbled into her hair, just loud enough for her to hear.

“Can we keep it here?” Austin asked excitedly.

“Of course,” Adam agreed. “There is no yard for it in my new apartment.”

“You moved?” Callie heard herself asking.

“Yes. Leesa and I got married last weekend, and we thought it might be nice to buy a new place. Together.” He smiled at the other woman. “Something new for the two of us.”

“And her kids,” Grace added.

“You got married?” she asked, surprised. “Last weekend?” When you dumped your son at the last minute, she wanted to add.

“We did,” an excited Leesa held up her left-hand sporting a massive glittering diamond.

“Well, congratulations. Obviously, that was more important than coming to see your kids,” she spat out bitterly.

“Why weren’t we invited?” Grace added.

“It was just a small affair,” Adam waved away her question as if it weren’t important.

“Were her kids there?”

“Of course, they were,” Leesa agreed, seemingly oblivious to the hurt she was causing.

Adam shuffled awkwardly. At least he had the decency to realise how uncomfortable the situation was.

“We . . .” he waved his hand to his new wife, “Leesa and I thought you guys might like to come and stay for the last week of your holidays?”

“No, thank you,” Grace blurted, gaining herself an evil look from her brother.

“Can I bring the puppy?” Austin asked.

“No,” Leesa snapped.

“Yes,” Adam corrected her. “But you will have to be responsible for taking it outside.”

Leesa stared at him, but he ignored her.

“Here, hold the pup, Grace. I’m gonna pack.” He dumped the dog in his sister’s arms.

“And you must be?” Adam closed the space between them and held out his hand to Cody.

“Cody,” he said, shaking her ex-husband's hand.

“What you do, Cody?”

“Whatever needs to be done.”

“He’s a cowboy,” Grace called out as she scratched the puppy's neck. “I think we should call it Yolanda.”

“A cowboy, huh?” Adam stifled a laugh.

“He’s moving in with us. He’s going to help me run the farm.” Callie smiled up at her man. She knew it would upset Adam, but she didn’t care.

“Um, Callie . . .” Adam’s eyes darted from left to right. “Can we have a word in private?”

“Why? There’s nothing you can’t say in front of Cody and Grace. Unless it’s something you don’t want your wife to hear?”

He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. “Okay. Do you think it’s wise to have someone move in here with you and the children?”

“I don’t see why not. You don’t seem to have a problem moving someone else in, and marrying them.”

“That’s different.”

“Different, how?” she goaded. He had always been that way. Felt the rules were different for him.

“It just is,” he spat. “Carrillo is worth a lot of money.”

“So you think Cody is using me? Is that what this is?” Her gaze flashed to Leesa, who leant against their brand new Mercedes picking