Claimed by the Cowboy (Sons of Chance #3) - Vicki Lewis Thompson Page 0,3

sort of penance, I guess. Thought I didn’t deserve to be happy.”

She bowed her head for a moment. When she looked at him, her gaze was direct. “I’m driving you home. Stay right here while I put my shirt on and get my wallet and keys.”

“Josie, I can—”

“Do it, Jack! Let’s stop the bullshit and do the sensible thing for once! I didn’t kick you out of bed ten months ago, but I damned sure won’t let you drive home tonight. I won’t have it on my conscience.”

She was fired up, and he couldn’t say he blamed her. After all, he was the one who had knocked on her door. Gabe had suggested it, but he hadn’t twisted Jack’s arm. Once again, Jack knew who was to blame for this disaster. “All right,” he said. “I’ll wait here until you get back.”

“Let me drive him home,” Alex said once Josie came inside and announced her intentions. “You shouldn’t be dealing with that jerk.”

“I appreciate your protectiveness, but better me than you.” Josie smiled at him. She loved having Alex here, although she hated his reason for coming.

His divorce from Crystal had become final this week, and Alex had taken unused vacation time to get some perspective on the situation. Josie was happy to give him the hide-a-bed for as long as he needed it, but she didn’t like seeing her brother in pain. Crystal had initiated the proceedings, and Alex still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

“What if I promise not to rough him up?” Alex said.

Josie laughed as she headed into the bedroom to change out of her bathrobe. “I wouldn’t believe you. You should have seen yourself once you knew who he was. You all but pawed the ground.”

Alex followed her down the short hallway. “Have you forgotten how miserable you were when he pulled the plug on the relationship?”

“No, I haven’t forgotten.” She turned and looked at her blond Adonis of a brother. Crystal was an idiot who’d never appreciated him. “Tell me this, Alex. If you thought there was a chance to start over with Crystal, would you take it?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know. We’ve said some things that can’t be unsaid.”

“Same with me and Jack. But we meant a lot to each other once.”

“Be careful, sis.”

“I will.” And she would be, she vowed as she went into her bedroom to exchange her robe for the western shirt she’d thrown on the bed. Ten months ago, when she’d been more gullible, Jack had been capable of cutting her off at the knees. She was stronger now. And she had the advantage, because he’d come to her.

Then again, he was slightly drunk and his guard was down. Ever since the painful phone call announcing Jonathan’s death and the end of their relationship, Jack had avoided the Spirits and Spurs. Josie had run into him a few times in town, and he’d remained polite but distant. He wasn’t that way now, but he could be again.

In fact, she could count on it. Jack didn’t like to be vulnerable, and he’d shown himself to be vulnerable tonight. He didn’t want her driving him home, but she’d played her trump card by reminding him that his dad had been killed behind the wheel.

She’d played that trump card willingly. Jack might be able to navigate the rural two-lane between Shoshone and the Last Chance Ranch, but she wasn’t going to take that chance. If anything happened to Jack…

Grabbing her wallet, her cell phone, and the keys to her Bronco, she headed down the hall.

Alex stood and tossed aside the magazine he’d been reading. “I’m going. Mom and Dad told me to keep an eye on you while I was out here, and this certainly qualifies.”

“You’re not going.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“I’m perfectly safe, Alex. Jack may have broken my heart, but he’d never harm me. Underneath all that bluster is a very gentle soul.”

Alex snorted. “So I noticed when he assaulted me.”

“That was a mistake.”

“Oh, it was a mistake, all right. Now he’s on my list.”

“Please don’t judge him by tonight. He’s not that kind of guy.”

“What kind of guy is he?”

“Confused. His mom left when he was three. He pretends it was no big deal, but I think it colors everything.”

Alex gazed at her. “You’re still in love with him.”

Josie opened her mouth to protest, but she knew it would be a lie. She’d tried to stop loving Jack, but she hadn’t had much luck. She’d meshed with him in a way