DONNA ALWARD - The Cowboy's Convenient Bride

Gramps gave Tanner a long look, then a quick nod and calmly cut another bite of pie with the edge of his fork.

The waitress came over with a coffee and doughnut for Tanner, and he thanked her with a wink and a smile.

“You’re not working out at the ranch today?” Laura asked.

“I had to make a run in to the hardware store. I was going to grab a coffee to go, but I saw you and thought I’d see how you made out after the other day.” He shrugged. “At least the weather’s improved. Much more spring-like.”

He looked over at her half-empty glass. “Chocolate milk?”

She grinned. “What can I say? I’m a kid at heart.”

“Speaking of kids...” He peered around her shoulder at Rowan. “Wow. She’s cute.”

“Thanks.” Laura looked down at Rowan and a familiar wave of love washed over her. “She’s been an angel all day, so I’m waiting for things to go south really soon. We’ve been to Great Falls to the hospital to visit my grandmother, and then went to a couple of appointments. Babies have a way of letting you know when they’ve had enough.”

“I bet. Your grandmother—is she okay?”

“She’s had a lung infection, but we hope she’ll be out of the hospital on the weekend. Gramp’s been staying with us in the meantime.”

“Laura’s been taking good care of me,” Gramps said, pushing his pie plate away. He patted his belly. “That was a good piece of pie. Maybe I should have another.”

Laura felt a flush infuse her cheeks. “You’re just saying that because I can hardly boil water. I wouldn’t let you starve, Gramps.”

He grinned and picked up his tea. “Honey, I know that. You got your looks from your grandmother. But you didn’t get her cooking skills. That’s just a fact.”

He looked so amiable that Laura couldn’t be mad—though she was embarrassed. Particularly when Tanner chuckled beside her.

Rowan wriggled in her arms and Laura looked down. “We should probably get going soon,” she said. “Dragging her from pillar to post today means she hasn’t had her regular sleep or feeding schedule. This could get ugly.” She aimed a stern look at Charlie. “She has the Jessup temper.”

Tanner laughed and Gramps sent her a look of approval. But then Tanner peeked over at Rowan, and Laura suddenly felt uncomfortable. Sure, there was a lot of Jessup in Ro, but Tanner was probably looking for bits of Gavin. He was nice to her, but he probably thought the same as everyone else. Plus, he was connected to Maddy through Cole. And while Maddy and Cole knew the truth, no one else did. Besides her lawyer, they were the only people she’d trusted in all of Gibson, and that was only because her conscience couldn’t take it anymore.

Tanner’s face remained relaxed and pleasant, though, and she gave Ro a little bounce on her knee. The baby giggled and then shoved a fist into her mouth, sucking on her fingers. A sure sign she was getting hungry.

“Are you almost ready, Gramps?” Laura tried to urge him along. But Gramps had either forgotten the urgency of small babies or was determined not to be rushed, because he shifted in his seat and lifted his teacup. “Just a bit of tea left. I won’t be long.”

The noises from Ro chewing on her fist got louder and Laura smiled weakly at Tanner as he bit into his doughnut. A familiar tingling started and Laura realized it had been nearly four hours since Ro’s last feeding. No, no, no, she chanted in her head. But Rowan started to squirm and cry, nuzzling her face towards Laura’s shoulder. And when Laura looked down, she was sure her face burned with instant embarrassment.

“Damn,” she whispered, staring at twin splotches on her shirt. She’d worn a light blue cotton blouse, and there was no mistaking the wet spots. Sometimes breast-feeding was not completely convenient.

It would be the better part of twenty minutes by the time they paid the bill, she got everyone in the car and they drove home. And if she were alone, she’d discreetly slide to the corner of the booth, drape a flannel receiving blanket over her shoulder and do what was necessary. But Gramps wasn’t comfortable with it at home, and she was certain he’d make a big fuss about it in public.

“What’s the... Oh.” Tanner’s voice was soft beside her. Rowan started crying in earnest and people started looking over. To her frustration, Gramps poured more tea into his cup from the small silver pot.

“I can go. If you...that is...”

She shook her head and motioned toward Gramps. Thankfully, Tanner understood.

“I see. Give me two minutes.”

He scooted out of the booth and went to the counter. A moment later, he returned with a young, pretty waitress behind him.

“Tanner says you could use some privacy for a few minutes.” The words were said kindly. “Come with me.”

“You’re sure? I don’t want to inconvenience you...”

“Don’t be silly.” She raised an eyebrow and her gaze dropped to Laura’s shirt. “The sooner the better from the looks of it.”

Laura was pretty practical when it came to nursing, but she had to admit that this moment was pretty humiliating. She grabbed the diaper bag and slid out of the booth. “Thanks,” she whispered to Tanner as she passed by him, and he flashed her a smile.

The waitress led her to an office in the back. “This is Joe’s office,” she said. “But he’s not in today, so you won’t be interrupted.”

“Thank you so much, Miss...”

“Shoot. Just call me Chelsea.” She grinned. “My big sister has two kids and believe me, I understand.”

She closed the door behind her with a quiet click. Rowan was frantically rubbing against Laura’s shirt, and with a sigh, Laura sat on a saggy sofa and got Ro settled.

Several minutes later, she tucked everything back into place. Ro had eaten, burped, and was now sleeping peacefully in the crook of Laura’s arm. But Laura was anything but peaceful. Her grandfather was still out in the diner, probably irritated beyond belief at being kept waiting. She really should pack up and get him home.

She was putting the flannel cloth back into the diaper bag when a soft tap sounded on the door. “Come in,” she called quietly. She expected it to be Chelsea, so she was surprised to see Tanner poke his head inside.

“Is everything okay in here?”

She laughed. “I’m put back together, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He stepped inside, and she laughed again at the relief that relaxed his facial muscles. “Chelsea mentioned that...” His cheeks colored. “Well. That you might want a different shirt. I went to the department store and bought you something,” he said, and she thought he looked rather bashful admitting it. He handed her a small bag.

She reached inside and took out a black T-shirt in what appeared to be the right size. “Chelsea said that?”

He nodded. “Yeah. She’s a nice girl. She...well, never mind. She said a medium would probably fit you.”

“You bought me a shirt?”

“Well, your other one was... You know.”

“Stained with breast milk?”

He blushed deeper.

She sighed. “Tanner, that was really sweet of you. I’m sorry if I was too blunt. I honestly think that once you have a baby you kind of give up on maintaining any sense of dignity. Stuff just happens.” The wonder of being a mom was sometimes tempered with a direct hit to a woman’s vanity.

He smiled. “Hell, Laura, I was in the ambulance that day. I think that ship sailed a long time ago.”

Yes, he had been. He’d held her hand, breathed with her, checked on her progress. Just as any ambulance attendant would have. Except...she vaguely remembered pleading with him to stay with her. She’d felt so alone, so afraid, so...adrift. Without an anchor to keep her steady and hold her fast. And he’d stayed, she remembered. He’d held her hand and encouraged her to push and told her how great she was doing.

Then he’d disappeared. He’d done his job and gone above and beyond, but that was all it was. His job.

Buying her a T-shirt was not his job. And neither was boosting her car or finding her a private spot to nurse her baby. Tanner wasn’t just a good EMT. He was a good man, too.

“This really was very thoughtful.” She met his gaze. “And I should get out there. My grandfather is probably having a canary by now.”

“I actually looked after that, too. He was grumbling, so I told him to head home. I told him I’d bring you along when you were ready.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I hope he didn’t lie when he said he still has his license.”

“He does. But he only drives in Gibson. Ever since his accident last year, he doesn’t like going on the highways or driving in the city.”

“Which is why you went to the hospital today.”

“Exactly. He’s aged a lot since the accident. And he relies so much on my gram that I thought it would just be easier having him at my place for a few weeks.”

He must have sensed some hesitation in her voice, because he raised his eyebrows. “And has it been? Easier?”

She sighed. “I wish. I feel pretty inadequate most of the time. Suzie Homemaker I’m not.”

“Charlie’s old school. Hell, you’re supporting yourself and your kid. You can’t do everything.”

She knew he meant the words to be encouraging, but instead she ended up feeling a familiar dissatisfaction. This wasn’t what she’d wanted her life to look like. How had she gotten so off track?

“Anyway, if you’re ready to go, I’ll drive the two of you home.”

Laura swallowed. Gramps was probably put out by the whole thing and now she’d ended up inconveniencing Tanner, too, who probably had things to do. “I’ll be right out. I just need to change.” She pushed herself up off the couch, but the busted springs meant it took her three tries. By the end of it, she was trying not to laugh, because Rowan was peaceful in her arms and Laura didn’t want to disturb her.

“Here,” he said gently, and reached for Rowan. “I’ll hold her. And I’ll turn around.”

As carefully as if he were holding glass, he took Rowan and tucked her into his arms. She looked so small there. Small and safe.

Just as he’d promised, he turned his back to her. Laura quickly unbuttoned her blouse, took the tag off the T-shirt and pulled it over her head. It was a little too big, but she was okay with that. The soft cotton was comfortable, and the black wouldn’t show any lingering moisture. She wondered if he’d thought of that when he picked it out. She doubted it. Guys weren’t generally that astute.

But then, Tanner was different. She’d known that for a long time.

“Thanks,” she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “The shirt’s great. Where’s the receipt? I’d like to pay you back.”

Tanner turned back around, his eyebrows puckered in the middle. “Pay me back? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a cheap shirt. An emergency shirt.” Again the impish gleam lit his eyes. “Come on. My truck’s out front.”

“Can I ask one more favor?” It was late in the afternoon. Laura had planned to be home earlier, and was tired from the running around. She really needed to put in a couple of hours on the computer tonight. “Could we make a quick stop at the grocery store? I think I’ll grab one of those rotisserie chickens from the deli section.”

He chuckled, and she sent him a dark look. “Not one word about my cooking.”

She took Rowan from him and then swung the diaper bag over her shoulder.

“You’re really good to him, you know. He loves you a lot. I could tell.”

Laura knew it was true, and sometimes it was the only thing that kept her in Gibson. “He and Gram have been very good to me, too.” She wanted to say how grateful she was that they’d never thrown the rumors in her face, but she didn’t want to open that can of worms with Tanner. “It’s the least I can do. That’s not to say I won’t try to save my sanity where I can.” She grinned. “And save him from an ulcer.”