The Cowboy Next Door by Brenda Minton

full-time.”
    â€œWhat events are you in?”
    â€œA little of everything. I mainly team rope. But every now and then I ride a bull.”
    â€œI want to ride a bull.” She hadn’t meant to sound like a silly girl, but his eyes widened and he shook his head.
    â€œMaybe you could try barrel racing?” He made the suggestion without looking at her.
    â€œOkay.”
    Anything. It was all a part of the dream package she’d created for herself. She wanted this life, with these people. For a long time she’d wanted love and acceptance.
    She’d found those things in Gibson. Now she wanted horsesand a farm of her own. Jay wouldn’t understand that dream; he’d always had those things.
    â€œLacey, we’re not that different. This has been my life, but I came home to reclaim what I left behind.”
    â€œAnd it cost you?”
    â€œIt cost me.” He slowed, and then eased back into a space next to another truck and trailer.
    â€œAre you team roping tonight?” She looked back, at the pricked ears of the horse in the trailer.
    â€œYeah, and I think I have to ride a bull. Cody signed me up. He says he needs a little competition from time to time.”
    â€œBecause Bailey is keeping him close to home.” She bit down on her bottom lip and looked out the window.
    The truck stopped, the trailer squeaking behind it, coming to a halt. The horse whinnied and other horses answered. From the pens behind the arena, cattle mooed, restless from being corralled for so long.
    Lacey breathed deep, loving it all. And the man next to her…she glanced in his direction. He was a surprise. He had invited her.
    And she had to process that information.
    Time to come back to earth, and to remember what it felt like to be hurt, to have her trust stomped on. Lacey unbuckled the baby and pulled her out of the seat, a good distraction because Rachel’s eyes were open and she smiled that baby half-smile. Drool trickled down her baby chin.
    â€œDo you think Corry will stay?” Jay had unbuckled his seat belt and he pulled the keys from the ignition of the truck.
    The question was one that Lacey had considered, but didn’t want to. It made her heart ache to think of Corry leaving, not knowing where she would take the baby. Lacey shrugged and pulled Rachel, cooing and soft, close to her.
    â€œI really don’t know. I don’t want to think about that.” She kissed the baby’s cheek. “But I guess I should.”
    â€œMaybe she’ll stay.”
    â€œShe won’t. She’s restless. She’s always been restless.”
    â€œI understand restless.” He stepped out of the truck.
    Lacey, baby in her arms and diaper bag over her shoulder, followed. She met up with him at the back of the trailer. The small glimpse into his life intrigued her. He’d never been open.
    â€œYou don’t seem restless.” She stood back as he opened the trailer and led the horse out. Not his horse, he’d explained, but one he was training. The animal was huge, with a golden-brown coat that glistened.
    He glanced at her, shrugging and then went back to the horse. He pulled a saddle out of the tack compartment of the trailer. Expertly tooled and polished, the leather practically glowed in the early evening light.
    The lights of the arena came on and Lacey knew that the bleachers would be filling up. But she couldn’t walk away because Jay had stories, just like everyone else.
    â€œHow could you be restless?” She pushed, forgetting for a moment that he was little more than a stranger.
    â€œWhy is that so unusual?” He had the saddle on the horse and was pulling the girth strap tight around the animal’s middle. The horse, a gentle giant, stood still, head low and ears pricked forward.
    â€œYou don’t seem restless.”
    â€œReally? And what makes you think you know anything about me?” He straightened, tall and all cowboy in