Free Healing a Cowboy's Heart (Cowboy Dreamin' 2) by Sandy Sullivan Page A

worried. Ben never said he wanted to stay at Misha’s .
Whenever he did go over there, by the time she brought him back, he was
difficult to deal with for a few days afterward. Sometimes, it was like there
wasn’t any discipline at her house, which he figured was the case. “Why?”
    Ben
took off his clothes and climbed into the warm water Jeff had run into the tub.
“She lets me eat chocolate ice cream and watch Dora.”
    “You
do those things here too.”
    “How
come Mommy doesn’t love me?” Ben asked, playing with his truck absently in the
bubbles.
    “I’m
sure she does in her own way, Ben.”
    “She
never says it like you do . You always say you love
me.”
    “Because
I do, Ben. I love you very much.”
    “I
love you too, Daddy.”
    The
conversation drifted off into other topics, like his horse, when Grandma was
coming over and did he really have to go to bed. The normal things they talked
about almost every night.
    “Will
you read me a story, Daddy?”
    “Of
course, son. We’re still reading the Tommy the Train
book, right?”
    “Yes,”
Ben answered, climbing into the bed.
    Jeff
tucked the covers around his shoulders. The book they’d be reading sat on the
nightstand next to the bed. Jeff read five pages before he glanced at his son
to find him sound asleep. He put the book back on the stand, turned off the
light and closed the door as he walked out.
    He
found his mother on the couch with her knitting.
    “I
didn’t hear you come in.”
    “I
know. You were tucking Ben in. I heard you reading.”
    “Thanks
for coming over, Mom.”
    “You’re
welcome, honey. I know you need some time out. You need adult company. It’s
normal for a man your age.”
    “It’s
not a big deal.”
    “Sure
it is. I understand men’s needs. Just remember, we women have them too. Take
your time tonight. No hurry to be home. I’ll stay until the morning if you
want.”
    “Not
necessary. I’ll only be gone a couple of hours.”
    “Whatever
you want, Jeff.”
    He
grabbed his keys off the hook next to the door where he always kept them, put
on his cowboy hat and opened the door.
    “Tell
Terri hello for me.”
    “Mom?”
    “Yes,
dear.”
    He
shook his head. He knew better than to question how his mother knew things. “Never mind. Thanks.”
    “You’re
welcome.” She blew him a kiss as he shut the door behind him.
    Darkness
surrounded him. Stars winked overhead. No moon tonight to light the way but he
knew the land like the back of his hand. He hopped in his truck and drove the
two minutes it took to get from his cabin back to the main lodge area. He
wasn’t sure which cabin Terri was even in so he hoped she waited for him on the
porch.
    He
pulled down the driveway and stopped near the parking area for the guests.
Terri sat in a rocking chair on the porch of her cabin, directly in front of
where he parked. He took a deep breath, checked his wallet for condoms and then
stepped out.
    “Hey.”
    “Hi.
I wasn’t sure if you were going to show up or not.”
    “Why
wouldn’t I? The promise of great sex is a promise I don’t want to pass up.”
    “Yeah,
but I wasn’t sure you’d have someone to watch Ben tonight or a hundred other
reasons why you might have changed your mind.” She tucked a piece of hair
behind her ear as she rocked in the chair.
    Her
hair lay on her shoulders caressing them like a lover’s hand. He wanted to run
his fingers through the silky strands. Her green eyes sparkled behind her
glasses when she raked her gaze down his frame. It set him on fire to see the
lust in her eyes.
    He
held out his hand, waiting for her to take it into her grasp so he could pull
her into his arms. The porch light on her cabin outlined them for anyone to
see, but tonight, he didn’t care. Let them talk.
    “You
look so pretty sitting there.”
    She
took his hand and stood.
    “Thank
you. You look pretty handsome yourself you know.”
    “Shall
we go inside?”
    “Sure.”
    He
opened her cabin door, tugging her