Page 49 of Kayla's Cowboy

“Just wishing I could connect with Alex,” he said softly, not wanting to be overheard.

She hesitated. “Remember, it hasn’t been that long since he learned about you. It would be a big adjustment for anyone, much less a teenager.”

“But I’m his father.”

“That doesn’t guarantee you’ll have anything in common with your children, or that you’ll be able to relate to them.”

As if he didn’t know that already—Morgan was the perfect example. Yet they’d been close once; after the divorce, he’d even wondered if Marcy had felt left out part of the time.

“Has Alex ever gone through a phase where he was angry and wouldn’t communicate?”

Kayla made a face. “His phases are subtle, and whenever Curtis throws himself full tilt into a new romance, both the kids go through grouchy periods. I try to tell Curtis that he needs to be more balanced, but it doesn’t seem to help.”

“Do you and your ex talk often?”

“Often enough. He shows up whenever things go south in his life. I usually go to dinner with him, listen to his woes and send him off. He has a short attention span and it doesn’t take long before he forgets his latest failure and moves on to something new.”

“You have an unusual relationship for a divorced couple, almost as if you still love him.”

She stiffened. “I stopped loving Curtis that way a long time ago. It isn’t that I hate him, but he’s like a puppy, always looking for a new best friend.”

Jackson wanted to look into Kayla’s eyes to gauge her emotions, but she jumped up and poured two cups of coffee.

“Wow, an old stove-top percolator,” she observed, handing one to him. “Who’d have thought they still made them?”

“I’m not sure they do. This one used to belong to my mom and dad.”

Her brow creased as she sat down. “That reminds me, your parents are another issue we haven’t discussed very much.”

“There isn’t much to discuss. Mostly they’re trying to be patient until I’ve gotten to know Alex better.”

Kayla tapped a finger on her cup. “What have they said about all this?”

“That they should have taught me more about birth control in high school, but they’re thrilled to have a second grandchild.”

“Just Morgan and Alex? I thought you had other siblings.”

“There are five of us altogether, including the two cousins that my parents raised.”

“Whoa. Five grown children and only two grandkids?”

Jackson cleared his throat. “The others blame me, saying they got scared off after seeing me become a parent so young. None of them have even gotten married.”

A wry smile played around Kayla’s mouth. “There may be more to that excuse, no matter what they say.”

“Maybe they just haven’t met the right people yet,” he suggested.

“I can’t believe you’re throwing out the true-love card.”

Jackson ignored the red herring. “Do you think Alex will agree to meet my folks?”

“You want me to be honest?”

“Yes,” he told her, his muscles clenching.

“I think you’re the only person he has trouble with.” She stopped and seemed to be going through a mental argument. “Just...just stop trying so hard. Relax and let things happen naturally.”

Jackson sighed. Like it or lump it, she was right. He’d been pushing Alex, even when he didn’t think that was what he’d been doing.

Kayla sipped her coffee and gagged. “Yikes. I didn’t know anyone could make coffee so strong. Is this how cowboys make it?”

“It’s camp coffee.”

“Well, it’s too much for me.” She pushed her cup aside and stood. “I need a shower. See you later.”

Watching her walk to her tent was a queer sort of torture, but Jackson kept his gaze fixed on her anyway. He breathed easier when she’d collected fresh clothes and left for the facilities, though he was grateful he was still wearing sweatpants rather than his more close-fitting Levi’s.

Maybe he should take a shower, too...a cold one.

* * *

MORGAN BURROWED DEEPER into her sleeping bag. Just for today, she wouldn’t get up and run. After they’d looked at the stars with DeeDee, she and Alex had texted each other for hours. Now her phone was dead, but that was okay. Elizabeth would let her charge it in the RV.

Sheesh, she didn’t know why her dad didn’t want to camp with an RV or trailer or something. It made everything easier.

She hadn’t been sure she’d get along with a geek like Alex. He didn’t ride horses, had never set foot on a ranch and couldn’t rope a cow if his life depended on it. But it was neat that he wasn’t embarrassed about not being able to do that stuff, even when she called him a nerd. In a way, he fit his life better than she fit hers.