Free Count on a Cowboy by Patricia Thayer

is hard to resist.”
    She sat back and wiped off her hands with her napkin. “I wouldn’t know since cooking wasn’t Coralee’s strong suit.”
    “What was your mother good at?”
    “Singing. At one time she had a beautiful voice. And a lot of promise to make it big time.” She sighed. “So many things robbed her of her chance for the spotlight.”
    “Surely you don’t blame yourself for your mother’s failures.”
    She shook her head. “At first I used to, but no, Coralee made her own bad choices. And those years took a toll.”
    He found he wanted to hear more. “What about your father? Was he in your life?”
    Her eyes widened at his question, and she quickly shook her head.
    “That’s rough. It’s not easy being a single mother. I know after my parents divorced, my mother had to go to work. Everything changed.”
    “That had to be an adjustment for you.”
    “Not as bad as when she remarried.” He thought back to the day his mother had brought a man named Neal Brannigan to their apartment.
    “You have a stepfather?”
    He nodded. “We all lived together, along with my twin stepbrothers. One big happy family.”
    Her eyes widened. “Twins?”
    He nodded. “Believe me, Austin and Cullen were double trouble, and didn’t want much to do with me, either.”
    Her soft voice drew him back to the present. “I take it you didn’t get along.”
    He shrugged and took a drink of his beer, realizing it was warm. “At first, no. But by the time I left for the army, we developed a healthy respect for each other.”
    “At least you have a family.”
    His gaze locked on hers, and he couldn’t miss the sadness in her eyes. There was a nagging feeling that his life with the Brannigan brothers was a cakewalk compared to hers. What are your secrets, Brooke Harper? One thing for sure, he needed to remember why she came to Hidden Springs. She might be here to meet her sister, but at what cost to the Quinn family?
    * * *
    T HE DRIVE HOME was quiet, causing Brooke to feel a little nervous. Had she said too much? Should she have just told Trent the truth about Rory being her father? Would he even believe her now?
    She thought about the birth certificate tucked in the pocket of her suitcase. Coralee had named Rory Quinn as father to both her and Laurel. Sharing the same birthday with Laurel proved they were twins.
    “Have I bored you to death and you’ve fallen asleep?” Trent asked.
    She looked at him. “Just so full from the meal, it’s hard to breathe, let alone talk. And I’m enjoying the quiet.”
    Trent turned off the highway and through the gate. Without the truck’s headlights, the road would be pitch-black.
    “I’m sure this is quite a change from the bright lights you’re used to.”
    “It is. I mostly worked nights and went to school during the day, so this solid darkness is a little overwhelming to me. I’m glad you know where you’re going.”
    “I guess being raised out here I’m used to the darkness, but yeah, I like it better with moonlight.”
    There was something in his voice that made her ask, “I bet coming home is nice after being deployed overseas.”
    The road was bumpy, and Trent slowed the truck. “Yeah, it’s nice being back. I wished I’d come home more. I hadn’t seen my dad in a lot of years, and for that I’m ashamed. That’s something I’ll always regret. Wade Landry was a good man, and he deserved a better son.”
    She heard the emotion in his voice. “Oh, Trent, how can you say that? You were a young boy who had to leave here... Your parents’ divorce was hard on you, too.”
    “My dad used to write me letters when I was deployed, but he never said anything about being sick. I don’t think he even told Rory.” He stole a glance at her. “They were best friends.”
    “Your father probably didn’t want you to worry about him. You had a job to do, and being distracted by his illness might have put you in jeopardy.”
    Trent pulled up in front of the cabins and