Home For a Cowboy Christmas(71)

“I wouldn’t call what I did overcoming it. It was a life-or-death situation. I chose life. Unfortunately, that meant I had to get close to the beast.”

Zane laughed at her comment. “However you see it, you survived.”

“I don’t remember much after you pulled me up on Brego.” And onto Zane’s lap with very strong, capable arms wrapped around her, but Cady wasn’t going to mention that part.

“You were pretty out of it. The cold was getting to you quickly. I tried to keep you talking so you wouldn’t sleep.”

She winced. “If I said anything disparaging, I apologize. Profusely.”

“You kept calling someone a bastard. I thought it was me, but I’m not sure because you also called Jared a bastard.”

Cady put her head in her hands for a moment. Then she looked up at Zane. “I must have been talking about David. He’s my boss.”

“The one who sent you out here?”

“I told you that, too?” she asked with wide eyes.

Zane wrinkled his nose and nodded. “I did get a few things out of you.”

She turned her mug around on the table as she looked at it. “And I mentioned Jared?”

“Yeah. The one who cheated on you.”

Cady looked into Zane’s beautiful eyes. “Damn. I told you that, too. He worked in my field, though at a different firm. We had lived together for three years when I surprised him at work and found him fucking one of his colleagues. That was right before Thanksgiving.”

“Ouch,” Zane said in a soft voice.

She shrugged and sat back in the chair while wrapping her cold hands around the mug to warm them. “I took the rest of the day off. I paid extra to have movers come that day and pack his stuff. Everything was at the curb by the time he decided to come home at six. He didn’t say anything to me, didn’t attempt to call after I found him or after I threw him out. I’ve not seen or talked to him since.”

“That’s probably for the best.”

“I would agree.”

Zane caught her gaze. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“I survived,” she said with a smile. “Or I am surviving it.”

“You’ll get through it and come out stronger on the other end.”





Chapter 4


He knew all about being deceived. Zane wished he didn’t, but there was no denying it.

“You’re nothing like I expected,” he told Cady.

She smiled as she lowered the mug to the table. “Hmm. I’m afraid to ask who you thought I’d be. I’m guessing it has to do with the city people remark.”

“Yeah, I deserve that,” he said with a grin.

Cady tugged the arms of his sweatshirt down to cover everything but the tips of her fingers. Then she lifted the mug to her lips again. “You certainly do.”

Zane liked that she didn’t hesitate to say what was on her mind. Was it because of her profession, or was that a personal trait? Oddly, he wanted to find out.

“What?” she asked with a frown.

He blinked. “What?”

“You’re staring. Is my hair sticking up again?”

“Your hair is fine.”

She reached up and smoothed her shoulder-length blond locks down anyway. “Then why are you staring?”

“I’m trying to figure you out.”

“Oh. Well, I can help you out there. I’m simple.”

“There isn’t a woman in the history of the world—past, present, or future—who is simple.”

She gave him a flat look. “That isn’t true. And I am simple.”

“Tell me how you think you’re simple,” he urged as he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.

“All right. If you insist.” Cady took another drink of the coffee and set a socked foot on the chair, her knee near her chin. “I treat people the way I want to be treated. I also love the way I want to be loved. It’s a Capricorn trait.”

Zane didn’t know what he expected to hear, but it wasn’t that. “You’re going off a zodiac?”

She rolled her eyes. “No. But it is a trait, and I am a Capricorn. Other traits of my particular zodiac that fit me to a T are hardworking, ambitious, responsible, stubborn, sensitive, and practical.”

“That doesn’t sound simple in the least.”

She grinned, shrugging. “I suppose you’ll tell me you’re simple.”

“Without a doubt.”

“Simpleminded?” she asked with an innocent look, then ruined it by smiling.

Zane laughed. “Good one.”

“Tell me how you’re simple.”

He thought about that before he said, “I’m honest, and expect honesty in kind. I don’t keep secrets, I’m not unfaithful, and if I have a problem, I talk about it instead of letting it fester until it rots me from the inside.”

“So, you treat people the way you want to be treated. And you love the way you want to be loved.”

He’d never thought about it that way, but she was right. “I suppose I do.”

Cady’s lips curved into a smile. “I would call that simple. Wouldn’t you?”