Page 41 of The Cowboy Who Stayed

“Vivica?” Rhett says in the dark.

“Hmm?”

“Get some rest. Don’t let what happened tonight get in your head.”

We give each other a small peck on the lips, then Rhett’s folding his arm under his pillow to slip off to sleep.

I roll onto my side and try to do the same. It’s only seconds later that my phone buzzes from the nightstand. The screen lights up with a text from a number I recognize even at a glance.

It was good to see you tonight, Viv.

I meant what I said.

I’d love to get together while I’m in town.

I’ve missed you.

TWELVE

Rhett

Vivica Murphy is in my kitchen wearing my T-shirt, and I’m trying very hard to play off the fact that this is the best morning I’ve had in years.

She’s perched on the counter stool with her legs crossed and a mug of coffee between her hands, a sereneness about her that makes my heart flip.

After running into her ex-husband last night, I worried it would be another roadblock for us.

It was no coincidence Craig Gibson was in town, and judging by how he looked at his former flame, he still held a torch for her.

But we woke up and spooned. We fucking cuddled and talked about our day ahead.

Her ex-husband’s reappearance might’ve rattled her last night, but it seems Vivica still wants to explore things between us.

“You want eggs?” I ask. I stop in front of the fridge to pull out the carton. “I can do scrambled or over easy. Maybe an omelet if you’re feeling risky and don’t mind the possibility it’ll fall apart.”

She smiles over the rim of her mug. “You don’t have to cook for me.”

“I know I don’t have to, darling. I want to. Consider it a thank you for gracing me with the sight of you in my T-shirt.”

Her smile spreads to make way for the laugh she releases. “Do you ever stop flirting, or is that just your nature?”

“Take a wild guess.”

“You’re right. Why did I even bother asking?” She swallows another sip from her coffee before setting the mug down and sliding off the stool. “But the delicious coffee was more than enough. I’ve got to go. Full day ahead.”

“Ah, right, right. The pregnant heifer?”

“The one and the same. Ridge is even coming by to help with the delivery.”

“Knock it out of the park.” I step around the kitchen counter to meet her for a kiss.

She giggles against me, pushing her palm back against my chest and peering up at me with glittery dark eyes. “That might be the strangest way I’ve ever heard cattle parturition described.”

“Even if I knew what that meant, I wouldn’t know a damn thing about what you just said.”

“You act a lot slower than you actually are,” she says, stroking my jaw.

“Gotta admit, it was fun pulling that on your ex,” I confess. “The guy always so full of himself?”