Page 110 of Cowboy Daddies

“I’m alive,” I joke. I don’t really know what to say yet.

“He busted up his arm pretty badly, and had a mild concussion, but he’s doing good.” Levi fills her in on my injuries, then we all fall silent.

“Thank you for the flowers,” she says at the same time I say, “I’m glad you came” and Levi says, “It’s good to see you.”

We all three laugh. Marci smiles weakly. “I was… worried. Watching you fall was…” She grimaces like she can’t bear to finish the sentence.

“I completely agree,” Levi tells her. “It scared the shit out of me and put some things in serious perspective.”

“Oh, like what?” Marci asks. Then she puts her hands up in front of her. “Don’t answer that. I don’t need to know. I wanted to say thank you. For the flowers, and for our date. It was enlightening. It really helped me in a lot of ways I’ll never be able to explain. But the rodeo thing is a little much for me. I didn’t realize how terrifying it was when someone you care about is out there. I don’t⁠—”

“I’m quitting the rodeo!” I blurt out, desperately trying to keep her from saying what I know is coming.

She stops short, her eyes meeting mine. “What?” She falters. “I can't ask you to do that.” But she’s coming closer, stepping all the way up to the bed and taking my hands.

“You didn’t,” I assure her. “Levi did. And he doesn’t ask for much. He isn’t usually the one to lay the rules down in this relationship.”

A hint of a smile tugs at her lips. “So I’ve noticed. But he did?”

“He did,” I confirm. “Because of you. Because of this town. Because of my injury. Because sometimes I get a little too wrapped up in my own plans and rituals and I need help getting out of my own way.”

Her eyes twinkle. “Does this mean Levi’s the Daddy now?”

“Not a chance,” I bite out. “It just means sometimes Daddies need to be taken care of too.” I meet her gaze, with my own full of intention. “I’m still waiting for you to call me Daddy, babygirl.”

She nods. It looks like she’s holding her breath. Finally she whispers, “But, will you be happy? I mean, can you give it up and be okay?”

That’s the million-dollar question. And there’s still a part of me that isn’t sure. But I don’t tell her that. Instead I say, “I had a good run. But I’ve been thinking about hanging up my hat for a while now. I told myself if I won here this past weekend, I would. I’d take it as a sign that we were supposed to be here and settle down.”

“But you didn’t win.” Marci states the obvious.

“It doesn’t matter.” Levi speaks with crystal-clear confidence. “Because we did win. We met you.”

She sucks in a breath and he steps up to her toes, wraps his hands around her waist, and pulls her close until their faces are almost touching. His lips lower to hers and it’s my turn to hold my breath, hoping she doesn’t push him away.

She doesn’t, and the kiss lands soft, sweet and purposeful. And lasting. I wait for them to come up for air and when they don’t, I pout.

“Hey, what about me?” They break apart with a laugh, and surround me, each of them dropping kisses all over my face. It’s normally the kind of mush I’m not big on but in this moment, it’s perfect.

“Does this mean you’ll take a chance on two reformed wayward cowboys?” I finally ask, my eyes full of hope.

Marci sputters a laugh, the corners of her eyes wet with unshed tears. “I think I have to,” she answers. “Because I really want to. And I kind of promised myself that I’d start doing more things for me.”

“Yes!” I cheer, pumping my good arm into the air with a victory whoop. Levi joins in and Marci tosses her head back and laughs.

Then she gets serious. “I had no idea how much my life would change a few days ago when the two of you walked into the diner. I never saw you coming. I never would have thought that two sexy young cowboys would make this old woman remember how to live.”

“Don’t call yourself an old woman,” Levi and I say in unison.

Marci’s eyes twinkle. “And just what are you gonna do about it?”

Chapter Fourteen

Levi

I rush around to the passenger side of the truck, open the door for Tripp and try to help him out. “Here, let me⁠—”

He jerks away, grumpy as ever, and I know it’s the pain talking. “I don’t need your help. If this is our new life, I’m not gonna gimp into it like an invalid.”