Cowboy Love in Peril [Love: The Cowboy Way 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Luxie Ryder

always says they look like me. Maybe he can’t see himself in them the way we can?”
    Wade turned his gaze toward the mountain that was silently watching over them all, his face scarred with a sadness she hadn’t known him capable of. But when he turned to her and tried to smile, only managing to muster a weak imitation of his usual cocky grin, that was actually more of a grimace, Kimber realized he was trying to put on a brave face for her benefit. “He’s had a lot on his mind.”
    She blinked away a sting of tears, struggling to keep a grip on her emotions while her parents were so close by. “Maybe we should wait until Brandon is around to talk about this? He really should be here.”
    “Why?” Wade’s harsh tone made her jump. “Because the kids are none of my business any more, is that what you mean?”
    Kimber felt her knees threaten to give way as she reeled backward, like he’d reached out and slapped her. The tears she’d been keeping at bay overwhelmed her, and she turned to run, desperate to escape the evidence of his pain. His words hadn’t shocked her so much as having her worst fears realized had—that the day had finally come where her world would fall apart, and she would know for sure there was a price to pay for all the happiness they’d shared.
    “Wait!”
    Wade’s shout brought her to an abrupt stop. Hurt as she was, she knew Wade was hurting even more and she wasn’t about to make him chase her through the woods surrounding her family home in order to talk to her.
    “Fuck! I didn’t mean that, Kimber.” He took a step toward her, as if afraid she’d run again if he got too close. “I’m real sorry for what I said. It’s just the thought of losing you all terrifies me, ya know?”
    Kimber closed the distance between them, stunned by the raw emotion twisting his usually handsome features into a pained mask. “What could possibly happen that would ever make you lose us? The fact Brandon is probably the girls’ father doesn’t change how much they love you or how much I love you.”
    “I know, but think about it from my side. If I hadn’t forced Brandon to leave town, you two would probably have gotten married and had kids anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I didn’t manage to fuck up all our lives but that’s thanks to you and Brandon, not me.”
    “What are you saying? You can’t think we don’t love you...that we don’t need you?” Kimber looked at the rock of a man who she’d relied on, trusted, and damn near idolized since she was a teenager, and wondered what could happened to shake him to the core like this.
    “I’m saying, I don’t deserve you.” Wade put up a hand to stop her as she rushed to reassure him. “Let me finish, honey. I’m the luckiest son-of-a-bitch on the planet. I know that better than anyone. I’ve been arrogant, proud, and stupid my whole fucking life, yet you and Brandon still want me. Do you understand how it feels to get this much love, this much happiness, and know you haven’t done a damn thing to earn it?”
    Kimber couldn’t let him continue. She flung her arms around his neck, sobs wracking her body as she struggled to speak. He held her tight, stroking her hair and whispering apologies, his voice rough with emotion. When Kimber finally managed to stem the flow of tears enough that she could talk, she let go of him and pulled away, then punched him in the arm as hard as she could.
    “You’re right! You’ve always been arrogant, proud, and stupid, and you still are.” She stalked away from him, her hands clenching into fists as his words ran through her mind again. Kimber spun on her heel and stormed back over to Wade, screaming in frustration as she pushed against his chest as hard as she could, yet didn’t budge him an inch.
    Wade looked a little shocked by her attack at first, but then he cast his gaze away as he bit down on his lip, and she knew he was suppressing a grin. She put her hands on her hips, stunned that