The Cowgirl's Forever Family

“It’s a rental,” Tyler explained impatiently and placed Cara in her car seat. It had stopped snowing by now, but the air was chilly and he didn’t want to keep her outside unnecessarily.

“License and registration,” she said again, tapping a booted heel. “Or I’ll have to get this vehicle towed.”

Was she serious? He didn’t like his chances of getting another rental car on a Saturday afternoon. Cedar River was either the most uptight town on the map or it had to be a joke. Or a scam. Just like the fake double-booked hotel room. He got a good look at her face and quickly realized he’d seen her before. Just like the blonde at the hotel.

The photo on the mantel.

“You know, Officer, you and your blonde accomplice will need to get better at this kind of subterfuge if you’re going to be truly convincing,” he said and handed over his license.

“What?”

“There’s a picture of you both on Brooke Laughton’s mantel. There was another woman in the photograph too...a curly haired brunette. What was her part in this plan?”

“I don’t know what you—”

“Tell Indigo Eyes she’ll have to do better than that,” he quipped.

The officer smiled, caught out and unapologetic. “It’s strange, I’ve known Brooke for twenty years and never realized her eyes were exactly that color.”

They were...and they’d been haunting him for twenty-four hours.

“Can I go now, Officer?” he asked.

She half smiled and handed back his license. “Well, we gave it a shot.”

“The other hotels?” he asked. “How did she manage that?”

“Her cousin Brant owns the Loose Moose—and he’s engaged to the curly haired brunette,” she explained. “And she knows the owner of Rusty’s. It’s a small town...and small town folk stick together.”

Yes, they certainly did. “What exactly is she after?”

“You,” the officer replied and hooked a thumb toward the back of the car. “And that cute baby. She wants you to stay at the ranch while you’re here. It’s not such a big ask, is it, Counselor?”

He nodded at her badge. “You know very well that in cases like this the less personal involvement, the better.”

“I know that people aren’t cases,” she replied hotly. “You’d know that, too, if you stopped thinking like a lawyer for a moment and thought like a human being. She’s a good person...she’s honest and loyal and has a heart as big as this state. Brooke wants to bond with her niece... You’d realize that was a good idea if you could get out of the way of your own ego and stop acting like you’re in the courtroom.”

It was quite the accusation and he was tempted to ask the redhead exactly what Brooke Laughton had told her. But he didn’t. Brooke had friends...allies...people willing to go to bat for her. It was admirable. He looked at the baby happily gurgling in the backseat and saw the same chin as her aunt’s. He had to do what was best for Cara...and was beginning to suspect that for the moment, Brooke Laughton was exactly that.

He watched the cop walk away and grinned a little. After getting into the car, he drove back to the hotel and checked out. Then he headed for her ranch.

* * *

Brooke was finishing up repairing the chicken run out the back of the stables when she heard a car pull up. She instinctively knew who it would be. Ash and Kayla had both given her a heads-up. She dropped the tools and walked around the building, eager to see Cara again. But not so eager to see Tyler Madden.

Because he’d be as mad as hell with her for starters.

And he had every right, if she were being honest with herself.

She shouldn’t have tried to swindle him into coming to the ranch. He was too smart for that kind of underhanded approach. And as much as she appreciated her friends coming to her aid, she suspected she’d made a bad situation worse.

She harrumphed under her breath and squared her shoulders when she spotted his car parked in her driveway. He was resting against the hood and had the baby in his arms. Cara was wrapped in a pink coat and blanket and had a fluffy hat on her head. Her cheeks were bright and against the backdrop of snow on the ground, the two of them made an enchanting picture. In jeans, boots and a dark wool jacket, Tyler Madden looked relaxed and way too gorgeous for her peace of mind. The dogs were jumping around, clearly delighted to see him again and not threatened in the least. Brooke stopped about ten feet from him and planted her hands on her hips.

“Um...hi there.”

He didn’t say a word. But he looked at her. Out of his suit he possessed a kind of innate confidence that unnerved her. It took her about two seconds to figure out she wasn’t immune to it. Or to him. She’d been under a rock for two years, off the grid when it came to men and dating and sex. But right then, in his low-riding jeans and with the baby on his hip, Tyler Madden was just about the sexiest and most attractive man she’d ever seen. And her hibernating libido was immediately kick-started out of its slumber.

She knew it was foolish. She didn’t know anything about him. He’d said he didn’t have children but he could certainly be married. Or at the very least have a girlfriend. She glanced at his left hand. It was bare. Still, plenty of married people didn’t wear rings.

“You wanted me,” he said, not moving, not doing anything other than keeping his blistering gaze connected with hers. “So, you have me.”

“I don’t know what you—”

“You know perfectly well,” he said, cutting her off. “Your friends both gave award-winning performances today. The cop also gave me an earful of advice and said you wanted me here...so, I’m here.”

Brooke’s breath caught. “It’s about Cara,” she said breathlessly, taking the need and the want out of the conversation. “And my friends—”

“Care about you,” he said, cutting her off. “Yes, I can see that they do.”

Shame crept up her neck. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have involved them in this. It’s complicated enough without—”

“I’ll stay.”

Brooke stilled instantly. “You’ll stay?”

He nodded. “You went to a lot of trouble to get me here. So, yes. I’ll stay. We’ll stay.”

It should have made her day. And part of her was delighted—but another part was nervous. She’d lived alone for two years and the prospect of sharing her home with a man, a stranger, tied her belly in knots.

This is about Cara...not him.

“You’re not angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“And you’ll stay for a week?” she asked.

He nodded again. “Have you heard from your brother?”

Unease pitted in her chest. “Not yet. But he’ll call... I know it.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Ignoring the cynicism in his voice, she stepped forward and held out her arms. Cara reached for her immediately and Tyler passed her over—hesitantly, Brooke could tell. She was such a placid, adorable baby and Brooke’s heart melted a little more each time she held her.

“Thank you for agreeing to this,” she said to Tyler. “If you want to get your things I’ll show you to your room.”

He pushed himself off the hood and walked around the car. He looked as good from the back as he did from the front and her wayward belly immediately did another loop-de-loop. She took a deep breath, ignored the feelings and headed inside.