The Cowboy's Saving Grace, an erotic western novella (Taming the Cowboy) by Emma Jay Read Free Book Online Page A

that Noah was still sleeping before he crossed to the front door. Behind him, the other bedroom door opened and he turned to see a dark-haired young woman emerge, presumably the roommate.
    “My alarm,” he explained, and slipped out the front door, hoping he could get back in.
    Once he reached the landing, he heard footsteps pounding on the pavement. Shit. Barefoot himself, he ran down the stairs and turned the corner, but whoever it had been was long gone, and his truck sat in a pool of broken glass.
    “Shit.” The asphalt bit into his soles and he stopped short just as he reached the edge of the shattered glass. His alarm still reverberated off the brick exterior of the apartment buildings, so he dug into his pocket and clicked the button on his keyring to silence it, before he vaulted into the bed. He peered into the back windshield to see the damage.
    Jesus. The steering column was broken open, wires were hanging out, glass was all over the driver’s seat. What the hell had they thought would happen? That they’d get away with a new truck? They couldn’t steal the stereo, and he’d taken his phone upstairs for this very reason. Idiots.
    “Here.”
    He pivoted to see the dark-haired roommate holding his phone up to him.
    “Grace thought you’d want to call the cops.”
    He’d kind of thought they’d show up on their own, but he took the phone anyway and dialed, then looked up at the apartment to see Grace leaning over the rail, wearing his shirt.
    “She didn’t want to leave Noah.”
    He nodded and turned his attention to the dispatcher on the phone.
    The air had a little bite to it as he sat in the bed of his truck and waited for the patrol car. The roommate and Grace had retreated into the apartment. About fifteen minutes passed before Grace came downstairs, dressed and carrying his shirt and boots. He dusted the bottoms of his feet off with his socks before pulling them on, then his boots, then his shirt.
    “How long does it usually take the cops to get here?” he growled.
    “I’ve never had to call them.”
    Because no one in his right mind would want her piece-of-shit car.
    “Is it bad?” She walked around to the driver’s side and winced at the damage.
    Now that he had shoes on, he could join her. He opened the door, careful in case he smudge fingerprints, and placed his key in the ignition. Nothing. No response. He swore and pulled out his phone again to place a call to the insurance company. Once the cops came, he was going to have to get it towed. God knew how long until it was fixed.
    “I’m so so sorry,” Grace said.
    He didn’t want to take his temper and frustration out on her, but if she didn’t live in such a shitty complex... He snapped his mouth shut.
    “You can go back inside. No sense both of us being cold.” He slid out of the truck and slammed the door shut, harder than necessary, and more safety glass rained onto the pavement.
    Grace winced.
    “Are you hurt?” he asked sharply.
    “I’m fine.” She hefted herself on the tailgate and he circled around to sit beside her. “Did they get anything?”
    “I don’t keep anything in there. I don’t like you staying here.”
    “Liam, I’m sorry this happened, but we’re fine.”
    “Tomorrow we’re going to look for another place for you.”
    “No. No, we’re not. I can’t leave Teresa. And I can’t afford better.”
    “You can if I help pay for it.”
    “We aren’t—I’m not ready for you to do that.”
    “Why not? He’s my kid, right? I want him safe.”
    Her head about snapped off her neck as she whipped around to glare at him. “Of course he is. Do you think I’d lie about something like that?”
    “My point,” he said slowly, aware he was being testy, “is that I want better for him. I don’t want him to live in a place where this happens.”
    “You think it doesn’t happen in places that cost twice as much? You’re overreacting. I keep him safe, Liam, I swear it.”
    He bit down on a retort. He