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

“I know Everly is perfectly fine and asleep in the next room. Gina stepped back from the hug. “I need to see her with my own eyes anyway.”

The older woman nodded before her blue gaze landed on Isaac. She let out a yelp. “How long has it been since I’ve laid eyes on Isaac Quinn? You’ve grown up, haven’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Isaac smiled. She’d always been able to tell him and Liam apart. In all these years since he’d been gone the woman hadn’t changed. There was at least one constant in Gunner. “But you haven’t aged a day.”

“I’ve certainly grown sideways.” She motioned toward her hips and clucked her tongue.

Gina returned, still favoring her left ankle as she entered the room.

Mrs. Weber turned to Gina, worry lines scored the older woman’s forehead. “Did they catch him?”

Gina shook her head. “Griff said he’d keep us posted.”

“He’s a great sheriff. He’ll put that awful man behind bars by nightfall.” Mrs. Weber made a tsk noise. “I made soup and sandwiches. Thought you might be hungry when you got home. I’ll just heat—”

“You’re a saint. You’ve been so kind already. Go home to your husband. You already missed your show because of me. Weren’t you two binge-watching one of those dramas?”

“It’s no trouble. That’s what people do. They pitch in and help each other out when needed.” Mrs. Weber waved her hand in the air like she was swatting a fly. “I figured it would be best if I stay for a while. My husband doesn’t mind. We agreed it’s best if you’re not alone right now. A baby can wear a person out on a good day—”

“I appreciate the offer. I do. So, please don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not alone.” Gina’s eyes shot toward Isaac in a plea for help. He nodded.

“That’s right,” Isaac said. “I’ll heat up the soup.” Before Mrs. Weber could put up an argument, he added, “Military taught me a thing or two about being in the kitchen.”

She put her hands up in defeat. “I’ll go. I can see you two have it under control.” She fixed her gaze on Gina. “Call if you need anything. I don’t mind coming back later.”

“I will. Thank you. But I’ll be fine. All I can think about is holding my daughter when she wakes.”

Mrs. Weber smiled. A look passed between them that only a mother would probably understand. Something Isaac had no personal knowledge. His mother had died a long time ago.

But, her neighbor had made a good point. Gina shouldn’t be by herself. Isaac had nieces and nephews but no children of his own. During his trips home on holidays, he’d seen what a handful the little ones could be. He’d been surprised at how something so little could require so much constant care.

And his brothers? Damned if they didn’t look exhausted at the end of a day. He’d marveled at how those tiny carpet crawlers could take a grown man down. All three of his brothers who had kids were hardly recognizable now.

None went out anymore. Okay, that Isaac could give them. But they didn’t go out after dark anymore it seemed. More reason why he’d decided a long time ago kids weren’t his scene. Becoming a father wasn’t high on his list of life goals.

Then again, neither was finally letting his guard down and falling for someone who’d ended up with a terminal diagnosis. Life had a twisted sense of humor.

“I’ll walk you outside.” Isaac followed Mrs. Weber to the door and stood on the porch until she pulled away in her sedan. He walked back inside before closing and locking the door.

“You don’t have to stay.” There was a distant look in Gina’s green eyes that she seemed eager to cover up. She excused herself to check on her daughter and returned a moment later looking satisfied the little girl was safe in her crib.

“I’ll go if you tell me to. No question there. But if it’s okay with you, I’d like to stick around.” Mrs. Weber was right. Gina didn’t need to be alone right now. She might still be in shock after this morning’s events and she might not want a guy she had a past with as her comfort. If she kicked him out, he’d convince her to let someone come and stay with her. “I understand if you don’t want me here.”

“It’s not that.” She seemed to pick up on him alluding to their past at the cabin. He didn’t want his presence to add to her discomfort. She’d been through enough already. “I don’t want to be a burden to you, Isaac.”

“You couldn’t be.” If that was the case, he wasn’t worried. Rather than debate the merits of him sticking around, he said, “Are you hungry?”

“My stomach feels queasy. I’m not sure I could eat anything to be honest.”

“I’ll heat up the soup. It might help settle things down.” He knew his way around the place. Nothing had changed. He waited for Gina’s approval before making a move toward the kitchen.

“That might work.”

“Let’s see what Mrs. Weber cooked up.” The open concept living room and kitchen made it easy to keep an eye on Gina as she limped over to the couch and settled down on the cushion. He walked past the row of unpacked boxes lined up like soldiers. A TV sat against one wall, unplugged. A tangle of wires next to it. “When did you move in?”

“A couple of days ago. Between caring for Everly and having my phone stuck to my ear while opening and closing accounts, I haven’t had much time to get this place set up.”

“That explains all the boxes.”

“Unpacking has been low on my list of priorities. I’d forgotten how big of a job moving was. Forget trying to move with a little one. But, hey, I might have this place put together in time for her to go college.” The attempt at humor wasn’t lost on him.

He smiled. “While I’m here, I could help out with a few things. At the very least get your TV hooked up.”

“You don’t have to do that. You’ve already done so much.”

“I want to.” Isaac wasn’t avoiding going home exactly, but seeing his old man wasn’t high on his list. He certainly didn’t mind delaying his homecoming a few hours. “Besides, it’ll give me something useful to do.”

He heated up the soup and cut the sandwich in half, figuring he’d be doing well to get her to eat a few bites.

“Is all this for me?” She eyed the plate with the loaded sandwich and the full bowl of soup as he set the food on the coffee table. “I can’t eat all this. You should get some for yourself. Take the other half of the sandwich. The least I can do is feed you.”

This wasn’t the time to think about how many meals they’d shared here in this very spot. Or the fact they’d shared their first kiss right here. “I ate on the plane.”

“At least get something to drink.” She started to get up.

“I got this, Gina. You don’t have to move. You should rest that ankle.” He hoped hospitality was the reason she’d sprung up from her seat so fast and not something else, like he made her uncomfortable in some way. The other possibility worth considering was Des. Had he expected her to jump every time he spoke? Des had a reputation in high school for smothering his girlfriends. A few had complained he’d become too controlling.

Gina had always been so strong-willed, Isaac figured she could handle herself with Des. If Isaac could go back, would he have made the same choice?

Regret was as useful as an ice tray in Alaska. He moved to the fridge. “You want something? Water? Tea?”

“Water sounds good. But, I—”

“Don’t have to lift a finger right now if you don’t want to.” He could appreciate her stubborn nature. He was guilty of the same.

“I should. You’re a guest in my home.”

He shot her an offended look. “I’d like to think we’re friends.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Sure.” He dragged out the ‘r’. “It’s fine. Mind if I make coffee? I could use a cup.”

“Go for it. That is unpacked. There are supplies right there on the counter.”

He popped a pod into the machine and then brought her a water bottle. Isaac didn’t want to notice how much more beautiful Gina had become. Motherhood looked good on her. She’d filled out a little more, had curves she didn’t used to in high school. Her new look fit her five-feet-six-inch frame perfectly. He didn’t want to notice how creamy her skin was or remember how much he’d liked kissing those cherry-colored lips.

“It’s good to see you, Isaac. It’s weird because I didn’t expect you back in Gunner.” Her voice sounded relaxed for the first time since seeing her this morning. It was probably being here with her daughter and not because of him. Although, part of him wanted to believe he had something to do with it.

“Yeah?” He picked up the fresh mug of coffee and took the first sip. Damn fine brew.

“You were always set on living as far from here as you could get. That’s all you ever talked about.”

“I think I accomplished that pretty well.” He chuckled as he claimed a spot on the loveseat in the living room next to the sofa. “A lot has changed since then anyway.”

“You seem so different now. So grown.”

“I could say the same.” She’d been married. Had a child. It didn’t get much more grown up than that.

“Nothing stays the same forever. I guess we were