Texas Cowboy's Protection, - [books you need to read .TXT] 📗

Gina held her breath waiting for a response from Isaac. It was the first of many signs that she was starting to fall for him again. Hard. Another word came to mind. Trust. Damn. It was necessary for any relationship and especially an intimate one.

A very large part of her did trust Isaac. And then there was the small voice reminding her how much she’d been hurt by him before. She hadn’t totally been able to give her heart over to Des and yet losing him still caused the same amount of pain. Could she truly go there again with Isaac? With anyone?

“Yes. I would like very much to meet your daughter, Gina.”

Her heart practically started singing. “We can pick her up at my mom’s house.”

“Let’s do that.”

The rest of the ride over was spent in companionable silence. It was so easy to slip into a comfortable place with Isaac; a place she felt like she belonged, a place she’d only ever felt with him.

Was she playing her cards right in opening her heart to him again? Only time would tell, an annoying voice said. It also reminded her that sometimes people left her without planning to. And she wasn’t the only one who could get hurt.

Gina had to think of her daughter. Everly’s needs had to come first. No matter what else happened. The thought of Everly getting attached to a man and then losing him was too much. Her own father was gone, so there was no grandfather in the picture. If a male role model came into Everly’s life, Gina needed to be certain he’d stick around for the long haul. And who could promise that?

“I can run in if you want to stay out here and wait.”

“Whatever you want, Gina. Meeting your daughter is a big deal to me and I want you to be comfortable with how it goes down.” Those words calmed the panic rising in her chest. He accentuated them by covering her hand with his. A trill of awareness shocked her skin at the point of contact.

She smiled at him.

“You are beautiful no matter what you’re doing. But damn, that smile.” He touched the middle of his chest before leaning over to kiss her.

The sound of a vehicle pulling up behind them in the drive broke them apart. Isaac’s hand immediately dropped below the seat where she was certain there’d be a weapon as he craned his neck.

His hand came up, his smile perked up the minute he saw his brother Noah. Noah was the fourth-born of the seven brothers, a similar height and build as Isaac. And, as with all the Quinn brothers, hit that six-foot-three-inch mark.

Isaac hopped out of the truck and embraced his brother as Gina made her way out of the truck and around.

“Welcome back to Gunner, Isaac.” Another bear-hug happened before Noah gave Gina a hug. “I hear you are moving back to help out with your mother’s restaurant.”

“I am.”

“Good to have you home.” Noah had been two years behind Gina in school. She didn’t know him as well as Isaac’s twin, Liam.

“Thank you, Noah.” It seemed like a good time to duck in and check in on Everly. Gina’s nerves were still on edge from the possibility of the killer tracking her down. She couldn’t shake the feeling he’d return. “It’s good to see you again.”

Gina left the pair of brothers outside to talk. They moved onto the front porch as she opened the door and slipped inside the house.

“There’s my girl.” Gina dropped to the floor where Everly was sitting and playing with a few of her favorite toys. Her daughter was dressed in Gina’s favorite outfit, a light green polka dot dress. A piece of her strawberry-blond hair was clipped on top of her head. The little girl was everything that was good in the world.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Weber.” Gina wiped the moisture gathering in her eyes.

“Weren’t nothing.” She waved her arm. “She’s an angel.”

Hearing the hum of familiar male voices on the porch reassured Gina in ways she knew better than to allow. The warmth in her chest reminded her of sunny summer days, nights around a campfire at the lake where Isaac had stolen a few kisses. It was that, and about a million other things, she’d missed about Isaac when she and Des had become a couple in high school. Although, to be fair to her boyfriend she’d tried to block out those memories.

Even during her marriage to Des, she’d been the strong one. He’d always needed her help whether it be smoothing things over with one of his co-workers or boss or taking care of the million little tasks required to run a home. Her days had been filled with work, cleaning up around the house, post office runs and more trips to the grocery than she cared to count. She’d been head chef and chief bottle washer. She’d been accountant and nursemaid.

Looking back, it had been exhausting. Being tired had most likely been the reason she and Des had rarely had sex. When they had, she couldn’t say it was great. Of course, then she didn’t have anyone to compare it to. Still, sex with Des had felt perfunctory.

After last night, she was never more aware of just how mind-blowing sex could be. Which, she reasoned, had everything to do with Isaac. The man had skills. Serious skills. She thought about his hands on her. A small smile upturned the corners of her mouth.

“You have my cell if you need me. Call anytime, day or night.” Mrs. Weber was an absolute savior.

“Will do.” Gina thanked her babysitter and helped her collect the baby’s things. Gina shrugged the diaper bag over her shoulder and picked up her sweet girl, a child whose smile had a way of brightening even the darkest days.

The first time Gina had held her daughter, the world had shifted. That little girl had superpowers. She brought hope during a time in Gina’s life when sadness and loss had been a physical ache. Hopes of siblings and giving her daughter the large family that Gina had never had, had died with Des. Everly had the ability to make Gina believe that maybe, just maybe, life would turn out okay.

Gina picked up her little angel and positioned the baby on her hip. Technically, Everly was a toddler but she’d always be Gina’s baby.

“Mam-mam-mama.” Everly’s first word and sweet voice soothed Gina. Slobber ran down the little girl’s chin and she blew raspberries in the air. Two bottom teeth had come in so far. The others were trying to push through, which sometimes made for one cranky kiddo.

“Hey, noodle,” Gina said to a smiling angelic face. Now that she really thought about it, she hadn’t seen her daughter interact with many men. Her babysitters had always been grandmothers. Gina was curious how her daughter might react to a stranger of the male variety.

She took in a few calming breaths and looked to Mrs. Weber. “All set.”

Hushed voices quieted the minute the door opened.

“Morning, gentlemen.” Mrs. Weber held the door open and Gina, daughter on her hip, stepped out. For better or worse, Everly was about to meet a pair of Quinn men.

Isaac immediately took the door. She checked his expression…searching for a sign. She wanted to know what he thought of Everly.

He tipped his chin, smiled, and said, “Cute kid.”

Everly beamed up at him.

Gina was momentarily stunned but decided to go with