How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward Read Free Book Online

facts in Meg’s mind. “Even if I did get financing, I would have a hard time insuring the loan,” she continued, the final nail in the coffin. “With my medical history…”
    Clay put his hand on her knee, a gesture she was sure was meant to be reassuring, but his touch seemed to burn through her trousers right through to her skin. She bit down on her lip.
    â€œDon’t give up yet, Meg. When life puts up a roadblock, you have three choices.”
    â€œI do?” She lifted her head and met his gaze. The half smile was back and he patted her knee before removing his hand.
    â€œYou can give up, you can bust through it, or you can go around it.”
    â€œI don’t want to give up.”
    â€œThen don’t. It might take some time, but a way will come. You’ll see.”
    But she didn’t want to take her time. Time was too precious these days and she was hungry for everything. How could she explain that to him? She couldn’t, not without going into details about the last year. Details she wasn’t comfortable sharing and ones that she knew Clay wouldn’t be comfortable hearing. There was nothing like staring death in the eye to prompt a sense of urgency to live in the present.
    â€œI hope you’re right.”
    â€œOf course I am. You’re not a quitter, Meg.” He nudged her arm. “So you stopped for a chocolate fix?”
    â€œI shouldn’t have. Lord knows it doesn’t solve anything.” She brushed off his question but couldn’t help the tiny ray of hope that still glimmered. Clay didn’t have a solution, but he wasn’t simply nodding his head and saying sorry she’d failed. He believed in her, and he had no idea how much that meant at this moment.
    He laughed. “I’ve lived with a woman long enough to know that chocolate brownies can cure a lot of ills.”
    Meg smiled. His aunt Stacy. The woman had stepped in when Clay had been a boy and raised him as her own. Now she was getting a second chance at love and Meg thought it was lovely. “Well, maybe.” She nudged hiselbow back. “But eventually the brownie’s gone and reality is still there, staring you in the face.”
    â€œReality is, you only fail if you quit. So don’t quit.”
    She turned her head to study his face. It was utterly relaxed, showing a confidence in her that she didn’t necessarily feel in herself. She might have confusing feelings where Clay was concerned, but today she was glad he’d stopped. She’d needed the dose of no-nonsense optimism.
    â€œThanks,” she said quietly. “For the pep talk.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Lots of people will get behind you, you’ll see. Speaking of, did you see Jen inside?”
    â€œNo. She wasn’t in.”
    â€œShe’s not in the bakery as often these days, I hear.” He nodded at a neighbor passing by, then rested his elbows on his knees. “Andrew says he wishes she’d take it easier now that there’s a baby on the way. She has catering jobs booked right up until her due date he says. Stacy’s wedding is one of them.”
    â€œWhen’s Stacy’s big day?”
    Clay crossed an ankle over his knee. Lord, where did he get the energy? He couldn’t seem to sit still and it made Meg smile.
    â€œThree weeks. The second Saturday in April. She’s practically moved everything to Pincher Creek already.”
    Meg knew Stacy Gregory had reconnected with her high-school sweetheart and they were finally making a go of it. “It seems odd thinking of your place without her,” she said. For years it had been the two of them running the Gregory ranch. The thought of Clay alone in the rambling house left an empty feeling in Meg’s heart.
    â€œI won’t deny I’m going to miss her,” he admitted. “She’s all the family I’ve got. But I’m a big boy,” he replied with a low