Cowboy Seal Daddy

“Sorry.”

She waved off his apology. “It’s not your fault I was stupid enough to have unprotected sex with a married man.”

“I know you well enough—or, at least I think I do—to be sure you wouldn’t have been with him if you hadn’t loved him and not known about the wife.”

“True.”

“I saw you kiss him a few times. You seemed happy.” The sight of her with another guy initially set Wayne on edge. He and Paisley were friends. He wanted the best for her. Without personally vetting her new guy, Wayne couldn’t be sure he was good enough. Clearly, he hadn’t been, which pissed off Wayne even more. “How did you find out he was married?”

“After I told him about our baby, he told me he’d pay to have the problem go away.”

“Bastard!”

“Right? I told him I’d always wanted to be a mom and have a family. I thought the pregnancy was a surprise blessing. That’s when he announced that he and his wife had already been blessed three times, and he wasn’t interested in having another.”

“I assume he’s at least paying child support?”

“He said if I promise not to contact him or try talking to his wife, he’ll cover labor and delivery costs, but that’s it.”

Wayne snorted. “I’m no lawyer, but I don’t think he gets that choice.”

She began crying softly. “H-he made me feel so dirty. Like I’d done something wrong. I—I loved him, but now? I feel empty inside.”

“No. You did everything right, hon. Even better? In a few months, you’ll have a gorgeous son and all your pig of an ex will have is a child support bill.” It ate him up inside to see her so defeated.

“I don’t want the legal system involved. As much as I’ve been hurt, his wife would be devastated to know David had been fooling around. Never in a million years would I have dated a married man. He’s scum.”

“Agreed. You’re too good for him.”

“But what about you?” She turned to face him. “What in the world were you talking about earlier? Wanting to rent a wife?”

“It was a stupid idea. Sorry I brought it up. I’m especially sorry it upset you enough to make you sick.” He grappled to his feet, then knelt, scooping her into his arms.

“I can walk.”

“I’m sure you can.”

“And it wasn’t your bizarre question that made me sick, but thinking about those nasty gummy worms.”

He walked down the hall to her bedroom and set her on her unmade bed. After slipping off her pink Converse sneakers, getting her comfy by bunching pillows behind her and under her knees, he drew her floral comforter up to her neck. “Better?”

She nodded.

“I grabbed Sprite at the store. Want some on ice?”

“Yes, please.”

He returned to find her asleep.

Not wanting to leave her alone with her door unlocked, he made his steak, then found extreme winter games to watch on ESPN.

By the time he heard stirring from the bedroom, the sun had long since set.

Paisley wandered down the hall. More hair had escaped her ponytail than was in, and her dress looked more like a rumpled prison uniform than her usual classy style. Everything about her kicked Wayne’s protective streak into overdrive.

“Let me help you.” Up from the sofa, he guided her to where he’d been sitting, then plucked a faux fur throw from the back of the sofa to cover her.

“Thanks, but why are you still here?”

“I don’t have a key. What if I’d left you alone and killers or drug dealers strolled inside?”

She rolled her eyes. “Because we have so many of those in our gated community.”

“Hey—anything could happen. My job is all about safekeeping our American way of life.”

Laughing, she said, “Not to detract from your actual military service, but I’ve seen you and your buddies protecting—especially bikini models. Yeah...” She winked. “You all kept them super safe.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I...” The twinkle in her eyes told him she was not only feeling better, but sassy. It made her kooky hair extra adorable. “Did you ever get my beef jerky?”

“I see how it is—you’re just using me for meal delivery?”

“Wayne...” Something about his teasing question served as an instant vibe wrecker. Not a good sign for a guy in serious need of a favor.

He got her snack and poured her another Sprite before sitting across from her and muting the TV. He cleared his throat. “So earlier...”

“When you asked me to be your rental wife?” Eyebrows raised, she shook her head.

“I wasn’t going to bring it up again, but since you did, hear me out.” Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. “I haven’t told you—or pretty much anyone besides Logan—but my dad has cancer.”

“Oh no.” She dropped her piece of jerky back into the bag. “Wayne, I’m so sorry. Is he getting treatment?”

“That’s just it—he says he’s too far gone for that. I’ve drilled him for more details, but he refuses to talk about it. He doesn’t even want Mom to know, but I don’t understand how if he’s that sick, she hasn’t noticed. When I try broaching the subject with her, she tells me he seems tired, but is otherwise fine, Which makes no sense considering his doctors gave him...” His voice cracked with emotion, recalling how much time they’d spent together on the family ranch. It was the little things that now meant so much. Fishing together and building a tree house. The time his junior prom date bailed, so his dad took him camping instead, and told him he could be anything he set his mind to. Even when his marriage crashed and burned, his dad had helped stomp out the fire. “They gave him a couple months to live. He says his sole regret is not having grandkids.”

She gasped and covered her mouth, but then hugged her baby bump. “Which is where I come in? You want me to pretend this is your baby? That we’re together, so your father rests in peace?” Her gaze welled. “Wayne—that’s the sweetest thing ever. But I’ve met your parents lots of times. Surely they’d remember you and I are just friendly neighbors?”

“Exactly. Think about it. That’s what makes this whole plan perfect. What could be more natural than two friends falling for each other and having a baby?”

“Wayne—” She released a long, slow exhale. “You know I love you, but not that way.”

“That’s the best part. I feel the same. You’re a great girl, but—”

She frowned. “I’m not your type?”

“I was going to say I’m career military and blow shit up. You, on the other hand, spend your days making the world more beautiful with your design business.” Plus, Wayne’s divorce left him one hundred percent certain he didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to marry again. Give him a bomb over a bombshell of a woman any day. “You’re an amazing soul. Any man would be lucky to have you. But this engagement wouldn’t be real.”

“But what about your mom? She’s not dying. What happens when she wants to spend time with the baby after your dad passes?”