A Real Cowboy Never Says No by Stephanie Rowe Read Free Book Online

night of sex doesn't create that kind of bond. Just because AJ loved Chase doesn't mean that you would automatically love him. You've hated every boyfriend I've ever had, right? Love doesn't translate across third parties."
    "Yeah, true, but that's because you have singularly bad taste in men."
    Taylor wrinkled her nose. "This is about you, not me, and the fact you're having a thinly disguised emotional collapse. To be expected, of course, but marrying a hot cowboy is a bit of a permanent solution, you know? Although, as bad decisions go, I guess it could be worse, like throwing yourself off a cliff, for example. "
    Mira picked up a tape gun and dragged it across one of the few remaining boxes, locking away more of her past. "It's kind of a trial thing. For a year." She sliced the tape off, then grabbed a marker to jot a note about the contents on the side of it.
    "A year? What?" Taylor stood up, her hands on her hips. "This is completely unacceptable. I'm going to kidnap you. We're going to have a crazy girls' weekend and you'll realize that you can handle your life just fine, even though it kind of feels overwhelming right now." She held out her hand, and wiggled her fingers for Mira to take them. "Come on. Let's leave now. We'll be back in two days, enough time to finish clearing out the boxes before it goes on the market."
    "I'm pregnant." The words burst out of her mouth before she'd even decided to say them.
    Well, so much for not telling Taylor the truth. But just saying it felt like a thousand burdens had fallen off her shoulders.
    "What?" Taylor's mouth dropped open, and her hand fell limply to her side. "How could you possibly know already? It's been twenty-four hours since he left."
    God, here it came. Was she really going to tell her? Mira dragged another box over to her to tape it, avoiding Taylor's gaze. "Yeah, well, when my mom died last month, AJ came to town to see me. He stayed over."
    Taylor sank back onto the couch beside her. "You slept with AJ ? But you guys are completely platonic. Like siblings, though not actually siblings, for which I think we're both eternally grateful given the fact that he knocked you up. Dear God. How is this possible? There's no connection between you guys."
    "Was," Mira corrected. "And I know there was no romance between us. It was a one-night thing. We were both in bad shape, because you know how much he loved my mom. She was more his mom than his own mother was. We cried, we held each other, and then it just happened."
    "Oh, God." Taylor leaned forward, searching her face. "Was it good? Was it worth a ten-year dry spell?"
    "Eight years, and it was perfect, in the way that it was, but no, nothing really sexy about it." She still couldn't believe she'd been naked with him, but being held in his arms when the grief had been so overwhelming was a gift she'd never forget. Neither of them would have made it through that night alone.
    "Wow." Taylor rubbed her forehead. "It's AJ's baby, for sure? Did he know before he died?"
    "No. I just found out Wednesday morning."
    "Oh, God. On the morning of his funeral? " Taylor shook her head. "You know, AJ would probably have loved that timing. He'd want you to be looking toward the future instead of wallowing in the past. Can't you see him in heaven, cheering you on as you peed on a stick right before his funeral?"
    Mira managed a smile. "This is true. He would have enjoyed that."
    "Knowing AJ, he probably did it on purpose. He decided to leave behind a legacy, and figured you were the one woman with enough cojones to kick his dad's ass if he came after the kid. So, yay, girl power, I guess? Maybe you could get like an award or something?"
    This time, the laughter bubbled out. "You're insane, Taylor."
    "I know. It's my gift. But I'm guessing that since you discovered your MTB status after his skydiving accident, you weren't able to scrape any money from him? All to charity?"
    "Yep. And what's MTB status?"
    "Mother-to-be, of course. Hello, get