Page 8 of Cowboy Elite 2: Mike

"Thank you." Liv's throat tightened. "That might be the nicest thing anyone's said to me in a long time."

Mike, still standing at the stove, watched the whole exchange. The way Liv looked at Charlotte, careful and kind, like the kid's opinion actually mattered. That wasn't something you faked.

He turned back to the griddle before anyone caught him staring.

By lunch, Liv's tray of lemon-lavender scones and chocolate croissants had been picked clean. She slipped out during cleanup, grabbed a glass of sweet tea, and found a spot on the porch where the shade stretched long and cool.

She pressed the cold glass to her forehead and tried to tamp down the odd flutter in her chest she felt every time Mike looked at her.

Which he did. A lot.

And why in the world was she returning those looks? Her life was a mess. She didn't have the time or the luxury to be eyeing sexy cowboys who could cook like nobody's business.

Heather wandered out a few minutes later, wiping her hands on a towel. A border collie pup trotted at her heels, tongue lolling.

"That was some show in there this morning," Heather said, nodding back toward the kitchen. "Mike doesn't let just anyone go head-to-head with his biscuits."

"He still seems mildly suspicious of me."

"He's suspicious of anyone who threatens his domain." Heather smiled. "Don't take it personal. Or maybe do. He only gets rattled when he likes someone."

Liv froze. Heather tilted her head, assessing in that quiet, steady way she had. Not pushing. Just… noticing.

"I appreciate the chance to work here," Liv said, shifting the subject fast. "It's been a long few months."

"You look like someone who needed to find her way out of something hard."

Liv stared down at her tea. "Something like that."

Heather crouched and scratched the pup's ears. "If you want to sit in on a training session later, you're welcome. Sometimes fresh air helps clear out the cobwebs."

"I'm better inside."

Heather didn't push. Just nodded. "Well, if you change your mind, just come on out to the barn. I have a training facility set up out there." She stood, snapped her fingers, and the pup fell in line behind her as she headed toward the barn.

Liv let out a breath. Started to head back inside.

Then she saw it.

A gray truck. Dust-caked. Sitting at the far bend in the road, just past the fence line.

The glass slipped in her hand. Sweet tea sloshed over her knuckles, cold and sticky, but she couldn't look away.

Too far to see the driver. Too still to be passing through.

Watching.

Her lungs seized. For a second, she couldn't pull in air. Couldn't move. Just stood there with tea dripping off her fingers and her pulse hammering in her ears.

Boot heels scuffed against wood behind her.

Liv spun, tea sloshing again, heart in her throat.

Mike stood in the doorway, dish towel slung over one shoulder. His eyes tracked past her to the road before he even spoke. "You good?"

"Yeah." Her voice came out thin. "Just the heat. I think I'm dehydrated."

His gaze came back to her face. Narrowed. Dropped to the full glass of tea in her hand, then back up. "You look pale."