Page 187 of Cowboy Daddies

“For what?” Casey asked.

“For disturbing the peace,” Happy said. “Now, go.”

Casey glared up at him, then at Happy. When her gaze moved to Wyatt, her face softened and a defeated look replaced the glare. “Nice to meet you, small man-child. Sorry I can’t stay.”

Wyatt nodded. “Sorry my dad is being a poopface.”

“Dads can be like that.”

Jeb ground his teeth together.

Wyatt doesn’t mean it.

No, Wyatt was a child who was upset. However, this girl should know better. But Jeb managed to refrain from saying anything as Happy guided the girl away.

“Why’d you do that?” Wyatt asked him.

“Do what?”

“Get rid of my friend. Why don’t you want me to have friends?”

What the hell? Where did he get an idea like that from?

Jeb leaned down. “Wyatt, of course I want you to have friends. Why wouldn’t I?”

“You just called Happy to come take her away.” Wyatt scowled up at him. “You’re just mean! I don’t want no new nannies! And I don’t want you to be mean to my friends!”

Wyatt stomped off and Jeb sighed. He really wished that things could go back to the way they had been.

Jeb walked over to the sign with Elise’s name on it. “You should have been here, Elise. He needs you. But as usual, you were too selfish to think of anyone but yourself.”

Chapter Three

Casey stared down at the engine of her car with a groan.

What the hell?

Why wasn’t it starting?

Stupid freaking car.

Stupid freaking town.

Tears filled her eyes. It had been so humiliating to be escorted to her car by a bumbling, idiotic deputy sheriff.

Who the hell did that asshole, Jeb, think he was calling the cops on her?

He’d thought she was on drugs? Why? Because she’d offered his son candy?

All right, maybe she shouldn’t have done that. But he was the one who’d lost his kid. Wyatt was so cute. A mini version of his father, who was not cute.

Shit.

Who was she kidding?

She was lonely and when Wyatt had appeared, she’d just wanted someone to talk to. Pretty pathetic that she had to make friends with a kid to stave off her loneliness. And she probably shouldn’t have been hanging around a playground. It was just that she’d loved swings ever since she was a little kid.

Let’s face it, you still act like a kid.