Winning the Cowboy

by Emma St Clair

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I got pregnant when I was eighteen. A senior in high school. Still basically a kid.”

  Adele was busy doing math in her head. If Jem was seven months old and Kat had been pregnant for nine months when she was eighteen, that made her twenty. At most. That time where she was basically a kid hadn’t even been two years ago. “Wow. I guess you had to grow up a lot.”

  Kat sighed. “I did. Lots of reality hitting me at one time. Like, how people may be very pro-life but only on paper. If you’re a teenage girl who happens to be pregnant, they may want you to keep the baby, but they certainly will judge the heck out of you. And it’s not like I should have to justify myself, but it feels that way. Like, I don’t need to make an announcement at church that I slept with my boyfriend one time—ONE TIME—and knew it was a mistake even before I found out I was pregnant.

  “Not that Jem is a mistake. She is the light of my life. But my choice to sleep with my stupid ex—ugh. The point is that it shouldn’t be everyone and their mother’s business, but it feels that way. As though to receive help or pity, I’d need to air all my dirty laundry and the details of my life to justify my choices.”

  Hearing all that made Adele’s heart hurt, even though Kat said the words matter-of-factly, with no trace of bitterness. She didn’t know whether Kat meant her own family or people in her life. Either way, that had to make being a pregnant teen even harder. She could totally imagine the looks she got and the whispered conversations, especially at church.

  Kat’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. I just totally unloaded. I do that sometimes.”

  “No. It’s fine. I’m so sorry that happened. Please continue. I mean, if you want.”

  “My point was that yes, I grew up a lot in the last two years or so.” Kat waved a hand and took a sip of her drink, which looked like some kind of frozen coffee milkshake complete with whipped cream and sprinkles. “The tattoos are kind of my non-mom thing. When I need to feel independent, grown-up, and maybe a little rebellious, I get new ink. I don’t know if that makes sense. Some people drink or go to clubs. I get tattoos. You’re a Christian, right?”

  Adele nodded. She couldn’t remember if they had talked about this before or if it was just one of those things Kat recognized.

  Kat continued. “Sometimes in the Old Testament, they’d set up stones or altars to remember important events or things God had done. My tattoos are kind of like that too. Multipurpose. Wow. I’m talking your ear off. Sorry. I don’t get much adult conversation these days.”

  Adele smiled. “It’s nice. And actually … I’ve got a little problem. You’re an unbiased third party. Maybe I can talk your ear off?”

  Kat leaned forward with her elbows on the table. “Does it involve guys? Because I’m all over it if it does.”

  “Yep. Two guys. Twins.”

  Kat’s eyebrows shot up. “Girl. Do tell. I cannot wait to hear this.”

  Adele took a deep breath and then tried to give a quick rundown of her situation. Which was anything but quick, considering she felt like she had to trace things back to high school for context. Kat listened intently, her only movements to take sips of her drink.

  “I’m so confused. And I don’t want to mess up my friendships either,” Adele said. “So, what do you think?”

  Kat chuckled. “I’d say you’ve got a real twinlemma on your hands.” Adele stared blankly, and Kat raised one eyebrow. “Twin dilemma. Twinlemma. Anyway. I think the solution seems really simple.”

  “It does?”

  “Yep. You’re into them both, but it sounds like only one of them returns the feeling. I’d have to see y’all around each other, but I’d put money on Elton being into you.”

  “You think? But he’s always so …”

  “I know what you said: irritating. Annoying. But it’s that classic ‘pulling a girl’s pigtail’ thing.”

  Adele’s cheeks flushed, thinking of how it felt to have Elton running his hands through her hair.

  “It doesn’t matter. I like Easton.” She said the words firmly, as though keeping her voice steady would make the sentence true.

  “Okay.”

  “I know—would you want to see firsthand? I have to go out there tomorrow with Cilla for wedding planning stuff. Their farm has some beautiful photo ops. You could bring Jem. I bet Easton would love to show her the horses. Then you can tell me firsthand what you think.”

  “Really?” Kat’s face lit up. “I’d love that.”

  “Adele?”

  She turned at the rumbly voice behind her. The light coming in from the window made it hard to make out the features of the tall man standing just behind her chair. She blinked and looked up at him, as Kat whispered, “Now, that man looks like trouble.”

  It took a moment to recognize Elton’s lawyer. “Oh. Hi! You’re … um … Elton’s lawyer.”

  He laughed and took a seat at the empty table next to them. “Ben. Good to meet you again.”

  He held out his hand again, giving Adele the kind of smile that should really have a law against it. Not that it worked on Adele. Even if she hadn’t been stuck on Easton, Ben was way too much of a charmer. You didn’t trust that kind of man. And not just because he was a lawyer.

  Ben turned the brilliant smile on Kat, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he took in the pink hair and the tattoos. “Benedict Cotton. You can call me Ben.”

  “I’m Kat.”

  “Short for Katherine?”

  “Nope. And don’t even think about giving me a nickname.”

  Ben laughed, the sound low and smoky. “I wasn’t. But now I am.” Kat glared, and he laughed again, holding up both hands. “Okay then, just Kat.”

  Boy, was this man a flirt. And Adele had thought Elton was bad with the women! Her mind went back to the conversation with Cilla when they were sampling cake. She really hadn’t seen Elton with a woman in a long time. Maybe he had changed. Meanwhile, Ben looked like he would be willing to date her or Kat. Maybe both.

  “We’re actually having a business coffee.” Adele opened her laptop, which she hadn’t even turned on yet.

  Ben stood and smirked. “Right. I won’t mix business with pleasure.”

  Adele rolled her eyes, and Kat made a gagging sound. “Do lines like that actually work for you?”

  Ben only grinned. “I don’t kiss and tell. Maybe I’ll see you around, Kat. Are you friends with the Boyds as well?”

  Kat raised her eyebrows at Adele, who sighed. “Elton and Easton. The twins.”

  “Oh! No. But I’m going over there with Adele tomorrow, so I’ll get to meet them.”

  Ben rocked back on his heels. “Wonderful. I’ll be there as well.”

  “You will?” Adele asked.

  “Yes. I have to talk with my client about some details. Boring lawyer stuff. I’ll look forward to seeing you there.”

  With a last grin aimed at Kat, Ben disappeared out the door.

  “Watch out for that one,” Adele said.

  “Oh, you don’t need to tell me. I’ve got radar for bad men.” Kat sighed. “Doesn’t mean I’m immune to their charms, but I’m way too smart to actually fall. Look, but don’t touch. That’s my rule with guys like him. Too bad. He’s hot.”

  Adele did a little mental math, trying to figure out the age difference between Ben and Kat. Probably too much. She wrinkled her nose. “He makes me feel a little slimy.”

  Kat shot her a wicked grin. “He makes me feel something. But slimy is not it.”

  Taking a sip of her coffee, Adele asked, “What about Danny? You two seemed to hit it off the other day. Plus, he was good with Jem.”

  “Danny’s sweet. But I’m pretty sure he’s not looking for something serious, and I don’t do casual. For obvious reasons.”

  “Are you sure about Danny?”

  Kat rolled her eyes. “Positive. When he walked me to my car, he made it pretty clear what he’s interested in. And it’s not my brain or my moral virtue. Well. Maybe stealing my vi
rtue.”

  “Ew.” Adele hated to think of her photographer that way. He had always been so professional.

  As though she could see where Adele’s thoughts had taken her, Kat waved a hand. “He wasn’t rude or anything. Just a typical guy. I still like him, but I just saw through him. Enough about men. We need to work, woman! Let’s get you more dolla bills. Then tomorrow I’ll get to meet your twins and scare off the lawyer with Jem.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Adele

  Pulling into the Boyds’ driveway with Kat in tow, Adele saw the farm with fresh eyes. It was charming. The classic white farmhouse with a wraparound porch, the red barn of recent fight-club fame, and acres of fences surrounding green pastures.

  It also looked … worn. The house could have used a fresh coat of paint. Especially the trim around the eaves of the house. Mama Boyd’s roses had died a few years back and no one had bothered to landscape since. Without them, things looked a little too bare and stripped down. It looked like a house where people had simply given up.

  “So, this is where Cilla is having her wedding? It’s really cute,” Kat said.

  “She didn’t have much choice, thanks to me. But yeah. It’s got good bones. Needs some work to make it accessible for Cilla. Not to mention a little more …” Adele fought for the right word.

  “Feminine? It’s pretty obvious that two single dudes live here. Single for now.” Kat winked, and Adele wondered if she should have spilled her guts about her Easton problem. She barely knew Kat when it came down to it.

  Jem squealed happily from the backseat when Adele’s car dipped into a pothole. “Sorry,” she said. Paving the driveway was one more thing that needed to be done before the wedding.

  Kat glanced in the back at the rear-facing car seat she had strapped in before they left. Seeing Jem’s expression, Kat laughed. “I think she liked it. Didn’t you, big girl?”

  Adele parked in one of the two paved spots behind the house, leaving Cilla’s spot open. She had already texted that she would be late. Anita, her nightmare of a boss, had given her some kind of impossible task right when she was supposed to leave.

  Neither Danny nor the wedding planner were here yet either. Danny had agreed to be the photographer and was going to take some shots for Adele today while he checked out the light. The wedding planner wanted to finalize where they wanted the ceremony so the twins could start any modifications needed. The twins had modified the house and part of the driveway over the past few years, but otherwise, their property would be pretty difficult for Cilla to navigate in her chair.

  The reception would be in the big red barn. Easton’s old truck and Elton’s ridiculous Hummer were both parked next to it. Adele’s stomach fluttered, and she realized that she didn’t know if it was because she was excited to see Easton or Elton. Oh, this was really a mess. She was a mess.

  Kat unbuckled Jem and transferred her over to the stroller. Jem waved her fists and made happy gurgling sounds. The warm weather was still holding, which made this one of the balmiest winters they’d had in years. Adele wasn’t one to complain. Everyone else could keep their snow. She’d take short sleeves in February.

  “Should we wait for everyone?” Kat asked. “Or do you want to show me around first?”

  “Let’s go look at the barn.”

  “I can’t wait to see Jem’s reaction to the horses.”

  The stroller bumped and lurched over the gravel, which seemed to delight the little girl as much as running over the pothole had. She was going to grow up to be a women’s wrestler or a monster truck driver.

  “This barn actually doesn’t have the horses,” Adele said. “They’re at the back barn. We can go there next. And before you ask why they need two barns, I couldn’t tell you.”

  Kat chuckled. “Gotcha. Each twin has their own barn.”

  “Pretty much. Easton has the horse barn. This one would be Elton’s. Former hotbed of illegal activities.”

  Just before they crossed the entrance, the gravel driveway announced a new arrival, coming in hot. Adele and Kat turned as a silver BMW barreled toward them. Just when Adele was thinking they might need to duck into the barn to avoid being run over, it pulled to a stop next to Elton’s Hummer.

  Ben jumped out, smiling. “Ladies!” he called. He opened the back door and reached for his suit jacket, which was hanging up, then apparently thought better of it and left it. As he walked toward them, still grinning, he rolled up his shirt sleeves.

  “I’ll say this for the man,” Kat muttered. “He’s got nice forearms.”

  Adele had to agree. She didn’t quite understand the lawyer’s sudden ability to be everywhere, but he was at least easy on the eyes.

  He stopped just short of them, staring down at the stroller. “Oh. You have a baby.”

  “I do have a baby,” Kat said, giving Adele a knowing smirk.

  Adele wanted to laugh at Ben’s dumbfounded expression, but she wasn’t sure if it bothered Kat. She was probably accustomed to it by now, but could you ever really get used to people’s shocked reactions as a young, single mom?

  “Hello, baby.” Ben gave Jem a stiff wave. Clearly, the man did not spend a lot of time around children.

  Jem, smart girl that she was, ignored him and pointed to the barn. “Bababa!”

  “That’s right. Barn,” Kat said. She pushed the stroller ahead through the open barn door. Ben had not moved.

  “We’re doing an unofficial tour if you’d like to join us,” Adele said.

  Ben slid his hands into his pockets, his smile returning. “Love to.”

  The barn looked a lot different than it had a few weeks before, when Adele had spent the night picking up beer bottles. She located the light switch and the overhead halogen bulbs hummed to life. Kat looked up, wrinkling her nose.

  “Those will have to go. Definitely.”

  “Agreed. Maybe Christmas lights. Is that too cliché?”

  “Nah. Simple and pretty. Not to mention cheap. What’s Cilla’s aesthetic?”

  Adele laughed. “Cilla’s aesthetic is along the lines of ‘I care about the dude, not the details.’ That’s why she hired the wedding planner. And why she has me.”

  Ben wandered through the space, looking at everything as though this was the first time he’d ever been in a barn. Maybe it was.

  “This is the scene of the crime, huh?”

  “Yep. Looks pretty innocent in the light of day. Perfect for a wedding reception, don’t you think?”

  “Hm.” Ben gave a non-committal response and ran his hand over a saddle that had seen better days. Kat rolled her eyes when his back was turned. Adele could only shrug.

  Easton must have given the concrete a fresh coat of paint. The circle for the fighting ring was gone. It almost looked like it had back when they were in high school. Just without the horses. And the twin boys who used to sleep out here.

  Adele grinned back at Kat and started toward the back of the barn. “Want to see something wild?”

  “Obviously.”

  Ben said nothing but trailed behind them. Adele opened the door to Elton’s office, which had once upon a time been his bedroom. Kat pushed the stroller inside and immediately started looking at the walls. Ben stood next to her, though he seemed to be giving the stroller a wide berth.

  “This,” Adele said, following Kat inside. “Used to be Elton’s bedroom.”

  “His bedroom?”

  “Yep. Their parents knew how much they loved horses and converted the stalls on this side into bedrooms. The next one down was Easton’s.”

  Kat stopped by a framed photo of the twins from high school. “Wow. These are the twins? Who’s who? No—let me guess. Elton’s the one with the roguish smile?” She had chosen correctly, pointing to the boy with the slightly longer hair in the photo.

  Adele couldn’t help but smile. “Ding! Ding! Ding! Jackpot.”

  “They are so adorable. Are they like wine—getting better with age?”

  “Absolutely.”
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  “No less popular now with the ladies either,” Ben said.

  The comment made Adele’s stomach turn. “Did you know them back then?”

  “Nah. I met Davis in law school. But heard all about the exploits of his younger brothers.”

  “They didn’t get into any more trouble than Davis did. His reputation was pretty legendary,” Adele said. She didn’t know why she felt so defensive about the twins. Ben wasn’t saying anything bad, exactly, and probably not anything untrue. But his words rankled.

  As though sensing this, he walked back out to the main area of the barn. Adele felt her shoulders relax.

  Kat ran a fingertip around the edge of the picture frame. “I can see why you’re into Easton. Though, I’ll be honest—I’d take either one. They’re yummy.”

  Adele didn’t want to think about why Kat’s comment left her feeling so territorial and uncomfortable. But it absolutely did.

  Jem began fussing, so they left the office and headed back outside. Ben ambled along with them, hands in his pockets, quiet for once.

  Her phone buzzed with a text as they started out toward the horse barn. Adele frowned down at it.

  “Danny ran into a little traffic. And Cilla still hasn’t left the Wheels Up office. She said the wedding planner should be here in just a few. Sorry, Kat. I don’t want to waste your time.”

  “Don’t apologize. Not when coming early gets me that view. Oh. My. Sweet. Cowboy.”

  Adele glanced up to see what Kat was talking about and promptly dropped her phone.

  As much as she knew how handsome the twins were, it was kind of like seeing their farmhouse—she kind of forgot how they really looked to an outsider.

  There was no forgetting now.

  Mounted on a large horse, Easton rode toward them. A cowboy hat shaded most of his face, just revealing the hint of stubble over his strong jaw. He tipped the hat to them and nudged the horse into a faster gait.

  Adele’s pulse practically roared in her ears, and her mouth went dry. When he smiled, she thought she might need a paper bag to breathe into. That smile wasn’t the kind you gave to someone you just said “sure” to dating. It was a flirtatious smile. A claiming smile.