Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(120)

“Mmm. Okay.” She knew he’d keep his word because he wouldn’t want Ky to find them in bed together. She allowed herself to drift away.


Two sharp pokes on her arm startled her awake. Her gaze flew to the alarm clock.


Five thirty.


Dammit. It had happened again.


Two more insistent pokes and AJ moved her head to see mini-Cord, aka Ky—


wearing Superman pajamas, peering at her suspiciously. “Amy Jo? Hey, how come you’re havin’ a sleepover in my daddy’s bed?”


Crap. She elbowed Cord in the ribs.


“You coulda had a sleepover in my room.”


By Ky’s petulant expression he was upset because he considered her his friend, not his father’s friend. Her fingers automatically reached out to smooth Ky’s dark sleep-tousled hair. “No way, Jose. You snore.”


Ky smiled. “Daddy snores louder.”


“No kidding.”


“So did you move back for good? I shore missed you.” Ky hopped up on the bed, right next to her. “Are you gonna babysit me today? We could bake some of them cookies. And ride horses. Hey, wanna see the pitchers of the ocean—”


“Hang on, sport,” Cord said in a husky morning voice. “Let’s have breakfast before you go makin’ any plans.”


“Are you stayin’ for breakfast, Amy Jo?”


“I-I don’t know—”


“Please?” Two enthusiastic bounces. “Pleeeeaaase?”


She was such a sucker for this kid. “Okie-dokie, artichokie, but you’d better have a coffee cup out for me by the time I get down there.”


His face bloomed with a devilish grin that was pure bad-boy McKay. “I knew you would. You can even sit by me.” The look Ky sent his dad dared him to argue about seating arrangements.


“Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll meetcha downstairs?” Cord said.


“Okay.” Ky stood on the mattress and bounced twice before he hurled himself off the bed like a long jumper.


AJ gasped.


Cord sighed.


“Better’n last time, huh, Dad?” Ky’s little chest puffed up. “Pretty soon I’ll be able to make it all the way to the door.” He scampered out.


Before AJ could comment, Cord’s mouth was on hers for a deep kiss. He broke away and smiled. “Good mornin’. And before you worry about my son catchin’ us in bed, let me say it ain’t the end of the world.” He nuzzled her neck. “Makes me think maybe we oughta go public with this. Maybe we oughta get…married.”


A whack upside the head couldn’t have stunned her more than a marriage proposal.


From Cord McKay. First thing in the morning.


“What say we get hitched? We’re compatible—in bed and out. You know what it takes to be a rancher’s wife. You like my kid and he adores you. You’d be a great mother to him and any other kids we have.”


“And I have all my teeth and I can cook, too,” AJ snapped and jumped out of bed to scramble for her clothes.


“What?”


“I am not a goddamn broodmare, McKay.”


“Fine. Maybe the reasons don’t sound romantic, but why ain’t it a good idea? You love it here. This could be your new home. You already know the land and my family.