Page 12 of Lost and Found Cowboy
“I can run Miss Gertie home,” Mack offered. “Then I can come back and get you. It’ll probably take me less than ten minutes.”
Lorna considered his offer. “Honestly, if Gertie is okay staying with me, I’d rather have you run back out to the ranch and get Max. I know Duke offered to let him spend the night, but I’d rather have him home and just let them enjoy the wedding and not have to worry about him.”
“Yeah, sure. I can absolutely do that.”
Gertie nodded. “I’m happy to stay and drive you home. Plus, I’ve got Izzy’s car seat in my car.”
“There’s a booster seat for Max in my car, which is still parked at the ranch. I’ll give you my keys and you can take my car.” Lorna looked around the exam room. “Actually, I just realized I don’t have my purse. I think I left it in the master bedroom where Leni was getting dressed. Can you grab it too? It’s light pink, and I’ve got a glittery pink and white tote bag, but I can grab that tomorrow if you can’t find it.”
Mack nodded. “So, pink purse and glittery pink bag. I can only hope your car is a hot pink minivan.”
“I wish.” She grinned, trying to imagine the tough cowboy driving a pink van. “You can move the booster into your truck, if you’d rather. It just buckles in.”
“I’ll probably move the seat, just so I’ll have my truck to get home, but my man card is secure enough that I can carry your purse, glitter and all. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“Just tell Duke and Ruby thank you for watching Max. I’ll text Leni what’s going on, but if she and Chevy haven’t left yet, tell them again that I’m sorry I’m missing the end of the reception.”
“Will do. And I’m sure they’ll understand.” He stepped forward and pulled her and the baby in her arms to him in a gentle hug. “I’m real glad Izzy is going to be okay. Notembarrassed to admit she had me scared there for a minute.” He dipped his head and pressed a kiss to the top of the baby’s head then flashed Lorna a grin before letting them both go. “Text me if you need anything else.”
He pulled the curtain closed behind him, and Lorna looked at Gertie as the sound of his boot heels faded.
The older woman fanned her face. “I think Izzy’s fever might be catching, because it’s suddenly very warm in here.”
Lorna laughed. “Stop.”
Gertie gave her a side eye. “That is one handsome man. And thoughtful too. Now, I’m even more sorry we interrupted your night. Looks like you might have been having wedding cakeanda cowboy for dessert.”
“We’re just friends,” Lorna told her, although she had a hard time meeting Gertie’s eye when she said it.
“Has anyone told him that?”
Chapter Six
Thirty minutes later, after assuring Duke and Ruby that Izzy was going to be okay and collecting all the glittery bags and one wired six-year-old who was hyped up on wedding cake and soda, Mack walked into Lorna’s yellow house at the end of Aspen Grove Lane.
The spacious two-story had been Lorna and Leni’s home growing up. Their mother had bought the house and moved the three of them to Woodland Hills after their father had walked out on them.
He knew Lorna and Max had moved back into the house with her mom after that jackass, Lyle, had taken off with his secretary and left his family behind. But then, during the middle of Lorna’s pregnancy, her mom remarried and moved to Florida with her new husband and had left Lorna the house for her and the kids.
The interior was spacious, an open concept with a big living room in the front and a sunny kitchen in the back. A flight of stairs in between led up to the four bedrooms on the second floor. A laundry room, office and small family room sat off to the side of the kitchen, and a large pergola-covered patio led into ahuge backyard with a view of the mountains and a creek that ran behind the house.
Lorna’s decorating style tended to be a lot of blues, whites, and grays intermixed with jam-packed bookcases, tons of throw pillows, a few plants, and masses of kid paraphernalia. The overstuffed couch had two baskets of unfolded laundry stacked in one corner, and toys littered the floor. The house smelled like vanilla candles with a hint of baby powder.
And Mack loved it.
He’d grown up in crappy apartments and trailer parks, and everything he’d owned fit into the two large duffle bags he was allowed to move from one shitty place to the next. He’d never had a yard to play in or shelves filled with books.
Lorna had created a home for her children here. Sure, it was messy, with toys scattered everywhere and dishes stacked in the sink, but he would bet there was food in the cupboards and milk in the refrigerator that hadn’t been expired for weeks.
“All right, bud, time for bed,” he told Max.
Lorna had already texted him detailed instructions on where to find pajamas for Max, his two favorite books, and to make sure he brushed his teeth before going to bed.
The little boy groaned—an exaggerated sound accompanied by a sigh too heavy for a six-year-old. “Do I have to?I’m not even tired. Can’t we do something fun?”
“We could spend a little time cleaning up in here. Make it a surprise for your mom?”
Max frowned. “Do you even know what fun means? Cleaning up isnotfun.”
