Texas Cowboy's Protection by - (best book clubs .txt) 📕

“Your father?” Gina stretched her leg out, gingerly placing her bad ankle on the coffee table. She leaned on the arm rest. It felt good to laugh today. It had been a really long time since she’d laughed.

Isaac nodded.

“Does this mean you’re not moving back?”

“Nothing has been decided.” It wasn’t the definitive answer she’d hoped for. Seeing him again, being here in the cabin with Isaac brought a flood of memories. It was probably too much to hope the two of them could be friends again. Deep down, she’d missed him more than she ever let herself own up to.

It was the quiet comfort she felt in his presence that she missed the most. The ease in the way they could talk to each other. Gina could be difficult to get to know. Her personality had a lot of layers and most people never got past the surface. She just never felt comfortable with others enough to let them see the real her.

Did she think they’d judge her harshly? Gina couldn’t answer that one way or the other. She’d been shy growing up. The nose-in-book type. Isaac, although very sharp, had always been athletic and popular like his brothers. He was from a large family that seemed to stick together thicker than thieves.

It was common knowledge the Quinn boys didn’t always see eye-to-eye but mess with one and they all came running. Gina could only imagine what it would be like to have that kind of support.

Looking back, she wondered if Des had become interested in dating her after Isaac had started to notice her. Isaac had been so popular, she’d believed he felt sorry for her since no one else wanted to be her lab partner in biology class. She and Isaac had never made their relationship official, but they had started spending a lot of time together. All signs had pointed toward going together.

And then, much to her disappointment and confusion, Isaac had retreated. Her suspicion had been confirmed, she’d been his pity-partner. The truth had been awful.

Des swooped in right after and asked her to go exclusive with him. She refused at first but he’d persisted. She’d accepted. And the rest, as they said, became history.

“Do you know what your father wants?”

“Not a clue.” Isaac seemed unphased. She liked how he seemed to take life in stride now. A contrast to the intense young person she’d known. Could be from his time in the service. There was a quiet assurance about him now. Gina told herself the only reason she noticed was because of the trauma she’d faced earlier and not because her stomach decided to do Olympic-grade somersaults with him this close again.

Icy fingers gripped her spine thinking about the man, his face, those eyes that would haunt her.

Thankfully, her daughter had been home and was safe in her own bed. She needed to remember to thank her mother later for setting her up with Mrs. Weber. Gina couldn’t begin to think what might’ve happened if she’d put Everly in the runner’s stroller and had taken her along.

“I’m guessing your brothers don’t know, either.”

“They would tell me if they did. Whatever it is, sounds big.”

“Well, then I feel really bad about you being here instead of the ranch.” She locked gazes with him and that familiar shot to the chest zapped her.

“It’s fine. Not everyone’s home yet. This is a busy season for those who are.” Did he feel that same current of electricity every time their eyes met? She could’ve sworn she saw something pass behind his eyes. She was probably seeing what she wanted instead of what was there—more sympathy.

“If you need to go, I’ll be okay.”

“Mrs. Weber was right a few minutes ago. You probably shouldn’t be alone today. And I’m going to get offended if you keep trying to kick me out.” He shot his best cocky grin.

It did the trick. She laughed. It also stirred a few other things up in addition to her sense of humor. “Is that right?”

The sound of a car driving up got him to his feet and to the window in a beat. Gina was standing next to him in the next second. Panic had a way of getting her body moving. The water helped ease her dry mouth, but her head pounded. She’d refused to take any pain relievers earlier because she wanted to be fully aware and capable when she took care of her daughter.

Being a single mother for the past year, she’d learned to depend on herself. There’d been no one else to share the load. Looking back, she’d done the lion’s share of the work during her marriage, which had prepared her more than realized.

Guilt struck thinking about her last conversation with him. They’d fought over him going out with his friends the Friday night before. She’d mentioned it would be nice if, during the pregnancy, he curtailed his guy’s nights. He’d blown up at her, saying the pregnancy was making her too controlling. Des had been so used to getting his way that when she finally spoke up he’d thrown a fit. He’d argued that she was the one changing and that he’d stayed the same.

It was true. She had changed. There was no use denying facts. Standing up for herself wasn’t something Gina was used to doing with Des. Her happy place had always been a quiet room with a book. As she got older, add a glass of wine or maybe a bubble bath and she was in heaven.

She hadn’t noticed how night and day she and Des had been until a few years into their marriage. By then, she’d made the commitment to go the long haul and couldn’t see herself going back on that promise. It had been easier to give into his way than to stand up to him and deal with his tantrums.

“What’s my mom doing here so early?” Gina checked the time. Wow. Was it already quarter to three? The restaurant closed after the lunch rush. “Guess it’s not that early. Everly will wake up any minute.”

Her mother knocked lightly before trying the door. Gina unlocked and then opened it. She found herself being pulled into a hug before she could get a word out.

“I’m okay, Mom.” Gina’s mother had a baker’s build, a soft round middle, graying hair and the same green eyes as Gina. At sixty-seven, the woman had the energy of a person half her age. Losing her husband had taken a visible toll. A once-bright smile had dulled. Gina kept waiting for her mother to bounce back. She kept busy now but seemed to be reverting back to a child in some of her mannerisms, and especially her need for attention.

“I needed to see with my own eyes.” Devastation and loss cloaked her mother now and her shoulders almost always hung.

Gina knew what it was like to lose a husband. Des had been too young, too alive. His life had ended too suddenly. Even with his faults, he’d been a decent person. A little spoiled and used to getting his way, but at his core he was a good human being. The sudden loss had been shocking.

With her father, he’d become sick. There’d been weeks of medical tests and the realization his health wasn’t improving. Then, he’d received the terminal diagnosis blow. She and her mother had had some time to adjust, not that they would’ve ever been ready for him to go. He’d been the rock of the family and she missed him every day.

Taking on all the responsibilities of the restaurant had kept her mother busy, and there was certainly some grace in that. But it was taking a toll. Mother used to joke that her husband had always been the heartbeat of the family and the soul of the restaurant. With him gone, it was as though someone had sucked all the air out of the room.

“Mom, it’s all right. I’m safe now.” Gina’s mother released her from the hug.

“I can’t lose you, too.” Tears streaming, she seemed to try to compose herself when she straightened her shoulders and refocused her gaze on Isaac. “You saved my daughter’s life.”

Her mother walked over to him and pulled him into an embrace. She wasn’t normally this affectionate and Gina realized how much hearing the news must’ve shaken her mother. She looked as though she was holding on for dear life.

“She saved herself. I’m just happy I showed when I did.” Isaac was being gracious. She didn’t know what she would’ve done without him there. A shiver racked her body thinking about what could’ve happened. The thought of never holding her daughter again nearly buckled