12-Alarm Cowboys (80 page)

“Did your friend put her mother in a home?”

She slowly shook her head. “No. Her mother gave the same arguments as Barry, but Jane couldn’t bear to leave her with strangers. One day, we arrived to find her mom had taken a whole bottle of pills…and never woke up.”

He sucked in a breath, unable to contemplate dealing with the tragedy.

Gwen swiped at the lone tear that slipped down her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you yesterday, but I know you would’ve refused to let Barry go to the home. And that he would try to take his life again if you didn’t listen. I couldn’t bear for you to go through what my friend did, Tanner. The guilt has eaten her alive. She turned to alcohol and drugs. I tried to get her clean. To keep her clean, but if you don’t want help, you won’t get it. I’ve had to learn to accept that.”

A sudden realization shot through him. He stepped closer and held her gaze. “When did her mom die?”

“Two years ago.”

The same time Gwen had started to turn her life around. These events were the catalyst.

“I tried to tell Jane it wasn’t her fault. That she had good intentions.”

He nodded, his heart going out to the kindhearted woman before him. She must’ve been worried sick for her friend. “What did she say?”

“She flipped me the bird and told me to fuck off. Then went out and got stoned.”

His chest tightened at all she’d gone through alone. “I’m so sorry,” he said, lifting a hand to brush away another tear.

“Me, too.” She shook, drawing in a ragged breath. “I stuck around for a whole year. She was in and out of rehab. But I finally realized
she
was the only one who could help herself, so I had to walk away.”

And she hated herself for it, too. He could tell by her tone. “You did the right thing.”

“I can’t help but feel I failed her.” She reached up to cover the hand he held to her face. “But I’m not going to fail you, Tanner. That is…if you still want me around.”

Hell yeah
.

“So much.” His heart pounded hard in his tight chest.

Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “I’m glad.”

He cupped her face with both hands, marveling at the inner beauty shining out of her eyes. “Thank you for being there for Barry. I’m so damn sorry I was such an ass about it. I just didn’t realize…”

“It’s okay.”

“No.” He shook his head hard. “It’s not. What you did…it meant the world to me.”

The most radiant smile lit her face and stole his breath.

“I’d do anything for you, Tanner Hathaway.” She leaned in and kissed him.

Her lips were warm, and sweet, and so damn tender he shook from the force of emotion he felt flowing between them. When they drew apart, she had tears in her eyes again.

He brushed the wetness from her cheeks with his thumbs. “I know. I feel it too, Gwen,” he told her, afraid to blink in case he was imagining the whole thing.

Or worse. Dreaming.

“You love me? Because that’s what I’m feeling,” she confessed. “I love you, and I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never felt this way before. I’ll probably suck at it. And make a mess of it. I don’t have a great track record. I tend to hurt those who care about me. And I don’t want to hurt you, Tanner. I don’t ever want to see the hurt in your eyes again. I—”

He kissed her this time, putting a stop to her words, showing her that he felt exactly the same and was more than happy to take his chances.

When they broke for air, he finally pulled her in close and held her tight, because, God, it felt so good to hold her. He needed to hold her. To keep her close.

“I love you, too.” He kissed her head. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

She drew back and shook her head, gaze dulling with self-loathing. “You deserve so much better than me—”

“Don’t say that.” He cupped her face and frowned. “Don’t ever say that again.
You
are exactly perfect for me, Gwen. You’re beautiful and kind. You know guilt and pain and the trials of turning your life around. I love that about you. You’re not
showroom
. You’re
used
. With bumps and dings to prove you’ve lived and learned. Just like me.” He set his forehead to hers. “You’re a gift. A sweet, beautiful, very precious gift.”

More tears spilled down her face. “Thank you.” She burrowed into him and sniffled near his ear. “And thanks for putting up with my tears. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think I’m broken.”

She felt so damn good pressed against him, he closed his eyes as he soaked in her calming presence.

“That’s why we fit together so well.” He opened his eyes as she drew back and gazed at him with so much love and support in her warm expression his chest ached.

“I promise I’ll always have your back, Tanner.” She reached up to lightly cup his face. “And together, we’ll help Barry get his personal things in order, and help him prepare to be admitted into the nursing home. We’ll make sure he’s never forgotten.”

His throat closed on that, and he hugged her tight. He was so damn blessed. Having someone by his side that understood what he was going through with his old friend humbled him. He truly was the luckiest man in the world.

He held her close, until he was able to find his voice. “Thanks, Gwen. I—”

First tones dropped from his pager and echoed through the barn, followed by that of his department, calling him to a garage fire.

“Sorry.” He drew back and sighed. “I’ve got to go.”

“I know.” Love warmed her gaze as she brushed his jaw with her thumb. “I’m not the only one who needs you.”

He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. “Will you be okay here? The house is open. I’m sorry, but I can’t drop you off at your cottage. The fire isn’t near town.”

She nodded. “I’ll call Caitlin. You go ahead. Just make sure you come back to me when you’re done.”

He pressed their entwined fingers to his chest. “I’ll always come back to you, Gwen.”

And he would, because she was worth coming back to. Worth fighting for. Worth loving. The only one to ever stick around, sneak under his skin, and get to know the real him. Accept the real him. She was the only one he’d ever cared enough to volunteer his heart.

The End

Sparks aren’t the only things to fly whenever a certain dark-haired cowboy is near Lacey and her smart mouth. Which is often, since her brother asked his guard buddy to watch over her while he is away. Too bad she wants more than the cowboy’s delicious, dark gaze on her.

Can the two find another way to show how they feel, or will words get in the way?

♥

Her Indulgent Cowboy

Harland County Series: Book Seven/Jesse

Coming early 2016

**♥**

**♥**

Phoebe’s temporary gig as a substitute music teacher at an elementary school is just what the burnt out, former Broadway star needs to regroup from a demanding, and lately, unsatisfying career. Exposing children to the magic of music has reawakened her love for the basics. The Poconos is a great place to find herself, and she was finding her frequent encounters with the handsome, single father of one of her students has reawakened a different type of passion.

But he’s made it clear he’s not looking for permanent, and for the first time in her life, she’s not looking for temporary. Maybe what his locked up, guarded heart needs is a little song.

♥

Wyne and Song

Citizen Soldier Series: Book Three/Ethan

Coming November 2015

**♥**

***

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www.donnamichaelsauthor.com

***

Harland County Series

Visit my
Harland County Series Page
at my website
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com
for release information and updates!

Prequel Book .05: Harland County Christmas-Novella

Book One: Her Fated Cowboy

Book Two: Her Unbridled Cowboy

Book Three: Her Uniform Cowboy

Book Four: Her Forever Cowboy

Book Five: Her Healing Cowboy

Book Six: Her Volunteer Cowboy-Novella

Coming soon:

Book Seven: Her Indulgent Cowboy

Become a
Cowboy Tamer!

Drop me a line at
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***

Cowboy-Fiancé

Honky Tonk Hearts Series with

The Wild Rose Press

by
Donna Michaels

**4 Star RT Magazine Review*&*NOR Reviewer Top Pick**

**Going Global! Now being translated into Japanese as a MANGA!**

Finn Brennan was used to his brother playing practical jokes, but this time he’d gone too far—sending him a
woman
as a ranch hand, and not just a woman, but a Marine.

When Lt. Camilla Walker’s CO asks her to help out at his family’s dude ranch until he returns from deployment, she never expected to be thrust into a mistaken engagement to his sexy, cowboy twin—a former Navy SEAL who
hates
the Corps.

The Corps took Finn’s father, his girlfriend and threatened his naval career. He’s worked hard for another shot at getting back to active duty and won’t let his brother’s prank interfere. The last thing he needs is the temptation of a headstrong, unyielding, hot Marine getting in the way.

COWBOY PAYBACK

(Brett’s story)

Coming Soon!

through The Wild Rose Press

***

Citizen Soldier Series

Guarding the hearts of the Pocono Valley

A Harland County Spinoff

Visit my
Citizen Soldier Series Page
at my website
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com
for release information and updates!

Book One: Wyne and Dine

Book Two: Wyne and Chocolate

Coming soon:

Book Three: Wyne and Song
(Rel. Nov. 2015)

***

Dangerous Curves Series

Guarding the hearts of the Pocono Valley

A Harland County Spinoff

Visit my
Dangerous Curves Series Page
at my website
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com
for release information and updates!

Book 1: Locke and Load

Rel. Sept, 9, 2015

Locke and Load

Former Naval Intelligence Officer Lt. Nicole Locke is asked to assist the local police in a murder investigation, and finds herself face-to-face with the only man she ever loved—the man she was forced to jilt in order to save his life.

Det. Cage Burnett vows to do whatever it takes to bring down his partner’s killer, even work with the woman who crushed his heart four years ago when she left him for another man. The dangerous investigation rekindles their desire, but when someone from Nikki’s past reappears and threatens Cage’s future, once again, Locke is loaded with determination to keep the man she loves alive at any cost.

***

Thanks for reading,

~Donna!

Novel #2 in the Poker Flat series

Lexi Post

‡

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.