A Real Cowboy Rides a Motorcycle by Stephanie Rowe Read Free Book Online

can give him."
    Tears suddenly burned in Taylor's eyes, but she blinked them away. "I'm happy for you, Mira. I can't even tell you how happy that makes me. You deserve it."
    "But I didn't want to try either, any more than you do. I was forced to put myself out there, and I never would have if I hadn't had to. You and I have been hiding for years. It's time to stop. It's really, really good out in the sunshine."
    Taylor managed a smile. "But you're amazing, sweetie. Chase would be an idiot not to love you."
    "And you're not amazing, too?"
    Her smile faded. "We both know what I am." There was no need to spell it out. Her best friend knew all her secrets.
    Mira's chin jutted out, refusing to accept Taylor's claim. "The right guy won't care."
    "He won't care, until he does." She met Mira's gaze. "They always eventually care, and I'm not going to wait around for him to realize it. My work gives me the independence to live my life the way I want. I fit in relationships when I can, and get out in time."
    "That's no way to live." Mira sighed. "Don't go down this road with Zane. It has no future. He's not the kind of guy who even has the capacity to realize how amazing you are, let alone decide you're worth investing in."
    A little part of Taylor ached at Mira's words, a longing that she worked so hard to keep buried. "Then he's perfect for me, right? Some fun for a couple weeks, and then back to the grind for both of us."
    "No." Mira's fingers tightened on Taylor's knees. "Don't sell yourself short. At least pick a guy who might be able to step up. Choose someone who at least has the chance of surprising you."
    "In my experience, the surprises that men have to offer are never, ever good." Taylor sighed. "Listen, sweetie, this isn't about me. This is your time. I'm here to help you get ready for the wedding, or do your laundry or whatever you need." She nodded at Mira's massive belly. "You should be sitting around with your feet up, not worrying about me."
    Mira raised her brows. "I live on a ranch. No one sits around with their feet up. There's work to be done, my friend."
    Taylor finished tying her boots and stood up. "Then show me what to do. I'm ready to get busy." She held out her hand. Mira grasped it, and she hauled Mira to her feet. "Damn, girl, you're getting heavy. What do you have in there? A set of gym weights?"
    Mira laughed, her voice lifted in genuine happiness. "Feels like it sometimes. You want breakfast? I made muffins."
    "Your famous blueberry ones?" Taylor's mouth started to water.
    "One and the same."
    "I'm in." Taylor tucked her arm through Mira's as they walked toward the door. Despite their heavy conversation, her heart was lighter now than it had been. Even if Mira was about to become a wife and a mom, their bond was still the same. The only difference now was that Taylor didn't have to worry about Mira whenever she was traveling.
    And of course, there was the fact that whenever she went home, Mira was no longer there. She lived in Wyoming now, a thousand miles away from the town where Taylor called home. That was another difference, a huge one.
    This time with Mira wasn't real life anymore. This was just a quick vacation. No more girls' nights together, just brief visits that would be all they had to maintain their bond.
    Mira looked over at her as she pulled open the screen door. "What's wrong?"
    Taylor managed a smile. "Nothing at all. I'm good." She stepped back to allow Mira to waddle through, refusing to acknowledge her sadness about leaving the ranch. She was here for two weeks, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it, not worry about a future that wasn't here yet.
    And, as she followed Mira outside, she couldn't help but look around for Zane, to no avail. He was nowhere to be seen. She sighed, all too aware of the flash of disappointment that he wasn't around. Yes, she knew he wasn't the kind of man a girl would build a future with, but that was why she liked him. Zane was safe, as safe as a man