A Real Cowboy Never Walks Away (Wyoming Rebels Book 4) by Stephanie Rowe

brought? Chaos at best. At worst, the loss of the foundation that was supporting her life.
    Because of Travis, she was tired, behind schedule, and obsessing over him. Yes, she knew it had been a mistake. But did that keep her from thinking about him? No, not in the slightest. She'd caught herself replaying little moments from the night dozens of times, grinning like a lovesick fool. A comment he'd made. The feel of his body against hers. His scent. The way he'd howled, pretending he was Bo.
    The man had howled for her.
    Was it any wonder she'd been unable to tear herself away from him? What man howled for a woman? None, as far as she knew.
    But a howl wasn't going to help her life, or even sustain her. See what men did? They endangered everything that mattered to her. She needed to get through this crazy week, and then back to a regular schedule and time to be a mom. Only a few days to go—
    The back door of her kitchen swung open. The sun silhouetted her visitor, showcasing a tall, broad-shouldered cowboy. Despite all her wisdom about how much trouble Travis was, it didn't keep her traitorous heart from leaping—
    "Pie delivery!" Chase Stockton's deep voice jerked her out of her reverie.
    It was Chase. Not Travis. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks, and she quickly set down her peeler as Chase walked into the kitchen, carrying three stacked trays of pies. He was wearing jeans and a cowboy hat, just like Travis. She realized he had the same bone structure in his face, and his piercing blue eyes—it was almost as if Travis was in her kitchen, staring at her. The resemblance was extraordinary, and her heart turned over.
    Chase frowned. "Where do you want them?"
    "Oh, right." She pointed to a table she'd set up against the back wall. "There would be great."
    "You got it." He set the trays down. "There are six blueberry, six raspberry and six apple. I have more in the truck. Be right back."
    Relief rushed through Lissa at the sight of all the pies. "Oh my gosh, Chase, you're amazing! How did you bake all these today?"
    He winked at her. "You said you needed pies, and you get pies. We've got three kitchens at the ranch now, so we used them all. It's about time Steen and Zane learned the Stockton secret to pies, so they all worked on it."
    She stared at him. "Your brothers baked too?"
    "Yep, and their kids, and their wives."
    Tears threatened as she watched Chase duck out the door. He'd corralled his entire family to bake pies for her? How could anyone be that nice? "I didn't mean for everyone to do it—"
    "It was so much fun." Mira, Chase's wife, walked in, holding their three-month-old baby. Mira's dark blond hair was loose, tumbling over her shoulders in wild curls. Despite the fact she was from the citified south, she was pure rancher's wife now, with cowboy boots, jeans, and even a plaid button-down shirt knotted at the waist. Their baby, J.J., was in a blue tee shirt and matching pants, sound asleep against Mira's shoulder. "The brothers still need to work on cementing their brotherly bond after all their time apart. There's nothing like pie to bring some overly testosteroned men together, right?"
    Lissa bit her lip. "I know but—"
    "Hey." Mira's face softened. "I know what it's like to be fighting battles on your own," she said gently. "So does everyone on that ranch. You can't really think that we wouldn't help out, would you? You were so nice to me when I first moved here, and I was looking for a job. Remember when you fed me that day I was so upset about Chase being such a bonehead?"
    Lissa smiled at the memory of Mira storming into her café, hungry, annoyed, and so in love, but completely clueless that she was. "I do."
    "So, it's our turn to help you." J.J. fussed in his sleep, and Mira nuzzled him, whispering gently to him.
    Lissa's heart tightened at the sight of the little boy. "He's so big," she whispered. "I can't believe how much he's grown."
    "I know." Mira beamed at her, and Lissa realized she didn't even look