How did this happen?

Bowie sat in the corner booth at Maisey’s, waiting for Cannon and his father. Never for one moment in the last eight years did he think he’d be this happy. Although he missed Brandy in many ways, there was more to what he’d found with Katie. She had life experiences that forced her to value the small stuff.

She woke up every morning ready to conquer the world. Her outlook was positive and infectious.

“You want some coffee?” Maisey walked over with the pot swinging in her hands.

“Need some coffee is more like it.” Bowie overturned the clean cup on the table and slid it toward the edge.

“Late night?”

Bowie laughed. “Early morning.” Knowing they wouldn’t be sleeping together the next few nights, he and Katie had stayed up making love. It was silly to change their routine because of her parents. They were consenting adults, but he loved her enough to make the sacrifice.

Katie emphasized the point that her very Southern parents wouldn’t be happy about the sleeping arrangements.

“Oh, to be young again.” She poured coffee to the brim and slid into the booth across from him. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Anything.” Bowie took his first sip and waited for Maisey to continue. He’d never known her to be shy about much, but he saw the vulnerability in her expression. The way she got smaller with each second she waited. “What’s up, Maisey?”

“I’m in love with your father, and I want to make sure you’re okay with that,” she blurted.

“You’re in love with my father? That’s amazing. You know the Bishop men aren’t easy to love.”

“Maybe not, but you’re worth the effort. Your dad’s a good man. More so since he’s not drinking. I know it’s been a tough time for all of you, but I wanted his boys’ blessings before I told him.”

“You told me you loved him before you told him?”

She wiggled in her seat. “I wanted to make sure it was okay to love him.”

Bowie reached his hand over and touched Maisey’s arm. Although she was seated, she looked ready to bolt with her legs facing the middle of the restaurant and her hand still gripping the coffee pot.

“You love who you love. I want my dad to be happy, and he seems happy now that he’s with you. I’m sure he would love to know how you feel.”

She relaxed against the booth. “Things going well for you and Katie?”

“Well” didn’t begin to explain what happened between him and Katie. “She’s special.”

“Are the rumors true?”

He knew the town would be abuzz about the whole heart thing. It was something people would ask about until the novelty of it wore off. He hoped something more exciting would come up and grab people’s attention. For the last several weeks, he’d been busy at the shop and Katie had been swamped at the bakery. They were a true love story better suited for television.

“It’s all true, but then you know that because you’re in love with my father.”

She lifted her chin. “I believe it’s important to fact-check.”

“I agree. Facts are important. Here are a few for you. Katie has a donor heart, but it doesn’t matter to me who it belonged to; it’s in Katie’s chest, so it’s hers. She changed my life with her love. I’ve been given a second chance at happiness. I’d be stupid to pass that up.”

“Sounds like you’re in love, too.” She rocked forward and stood.

“That’s a fact.”

As Maisey walked away, the door opened and Ben and Cannon walked inside. Since Bowie took up most of the seat, his father and brother sat across from him.

“Are you nervous, son?” Ben turned over a mug and nodded toward Maisey, who was on her way back with a full pot of coffee.

It didn’t pass Bowie’s attention when his dad reached out and wrapped his arm possessively around Maisey’s waist. He watched his father’s expression go soft the minute she looked down at him, and he wondered if he got that same goofy look on his face when Katie was nearby.

“Not really. I’m not sleeping with her parents.”

Cannon laughed. “From what I hear, you’re not sleeping with her either.” He pushed his empty mug toward Maisey.

“From the way we look, no one is getting sleep.” Ben waggled his eyebrows and gave Maisey a pat on the bottom.

She ignored the gesture. “Breakfast special for all of you?”

The three men nodded before she walked away.

Bowie picked up his knife and playfully pointed it at his brother. “If the bed and breakfast had an empty room, they’d be staying there.”

“You could have put them at the house, and Dad could have babysat.”

Ben shook his head. “The only thing I’m babysitting is that three-legged dog of Sage’s. He’s about all I can handle.”

“Wait until you get some grandkids.”

It wasn’t public knowledge he and Katie would never have children, so Bowie tried not to react. He would have loved to have a family with her, but it wasn’t in the cards. He turned to his father. “Speaking of babysitting, are you good with holding my present for Katie until tomorrow?”

He hoped she liked the puppy he adopted for her. She’d mentioned more than once that she wanted a chocolate Labrador someday. She was never allowed a dog when she was little. He wanted to help her cross off that item from her bucket list. He’d found the fur ball at the humane society in Gold Gulch. That he’d rescued the animal would make little Bishop special. According to Katie, everything and everyone deserved a second chance.

“I’m good. He’s locked in the bathroom right now. The little shit got out this morning and ran into the lake. It might be July second, but the water is still cold.”

Bowie found it hard to believe he was sitting across from his brother and his father and all three were planning new futures.

“What about you?” He turned to Cannon. “You got kids on the radar?”

By the look on Cannon’s face, a person would have thought he’d been asked to douse himself in gas and light himself on fire. “Oh no, I think I’ll wait on that. I like the idea of practicing until we get our routine perfect.” He fidgeted with his napkin, which was odd because Cannon was not the nervous type. “I did want to ask you something, though.”

There were a lot of people asking Bowie questions this morning. “It’s okay if you love her,” he said.

“I’m not asking your permission to love her. That’s a done deal.” He tore at his napkin until it lay in shreds in front of him. “I put that headboard at the dry goods store on consignment, but I should have asked you if you minded if I sold it.” Cannon lowered his head.

“Dude, that headboard was a masterpiece. It should be in a museum. I think it’s great that you have it for sale.”

“You do?”

Bowie nodded. He’d seen it the week before when Katie dragged him in to buy more soap and honey from Abby. She wanted his opinion on scent, but he didn’t care whether she smelled like strawberries or mango as long as she was with him and naked.

“What are you going to buy with the money if you sell it?”

“Money?” Dalton said as he approached the table. “I’ll take your money.” He put a plate of bacon, eggs and pancakes in front of each of the three men. Behind him, he reached for a chair and pulled it up to the table. “Who’s got money?”

“Not a damn one of us,” Ben said. “One thing I’ve learned over the years is, you never need more than enough. We’ve got enough.”

“Once my disability rating comes in, I should start getting a check from here on out,” Bowie said.

“You’re getting a disability check?” Dalton asked. “What part of you is disabled, outside of your brain?” He looked at Cannon and Ben. “You two, as well. You’re a bunch of wusses for letting women get under your skin.”

Cannon coughed on his bacon. “Says the man who went to jail for a woman he didn’t know.”

Dalton gave them a what-can-I-say shrug. “I’ll protect a woman any day of the week, but fall in love …”

“You will, and when it happens, it’s like a Mack truck colliding with your heart and brain at once.”

Dalton looked around the diner. It was filled with locals, but not one single girl was in sight. “You took all the single women in town worth dating.” He eyed Ben. “Not that I’d date my mom. That would be all kinds of wrong.”

“Things in Aspen Cove are changing. You never know who might show up next,” Cannon replied.

Ben swallowed his pancake and took a drink of coffee. “I don’t think Bea owned any other property. Doc owns the empty shops on Main Street, so I wouldn’t be expecting another pink envelope to steer a woman your way.”

Dalton gripped the table. “That’s my point. The pickings are slim, and those who are around stay clear of me. Who wants to date a felon?”

Bowie couldn’t hide his amusement. It was true Dalton had killed a man, but there were extenuating circumstances. “Any woman who can’t see the poetry in what you did doesn’t deserve you. You did time for a woman you didn’t know. You protected and most likely saved her life. If I were a woman, I’d be asking what you’d do to protect what was yours.”

“I’d give everything to protect what was mine,” Dalton said.

Bowie patted his friend on the back. “A good woman will know that.”

“Speaking of women.” Dalton looked between Cannon and Bowie. “Where are yours?”

“Copper Creek,” Cannon answered.

“Another Target run?” Dalton reached over and swiped Bowie’s last piece of bacon.

Bowie was too slow and couldn’t nab it back before Dalton devoured it. “Nope, a parent pick-up run. Katie’s parents flew in this morning, and she and Sage went to pick them up.”

“She hiding you?” Dalton asked.

“No. Since she’s been hiding from them for months, she knew they would fuss over her and probably do a fair amount of complaining. She didn’t want me to see that side of her parents. Worried that my first impression wouldn’t be positive. In fact, she worried herself sick. Sage went along because I asked her to go. I wasn’t invited to the homecoming, but I wanted Katie to have moral support.”

“That girl domesticated you with efficiency.” Dalton lifted his eyes in a challenge to say otherwise.

“Screw you. Your time is coming.” Bowie pushed his empty plate to the center of the table.

“Not likely anytime soon.” Dalton looked around the diner again. “I better get back to the kitchen.” He rose and left the table.

“The plan is still to meet at the bar at five, right?” Cannon stole his father’s napkin and wiped his mouth.

“That’s the last I heard,” Ben said.

Cannon laughed. “Dude, you’re meeting the parents. That’s huge.”

He was right. It was huge. Meeting the parents was almost like buying a ring. Something he’d considered over the last two weeks. Instead, he bought a puppy.