He’s bound by an Oath. The dust settles. The promise stands.
Seth always vowed to protect his best friend’s family, but he never imagined it would mean marrying CeCe. She’s grieving, devoted to the memory of the man she loved, and raising a son who still asks for his father. This marriage isn’t about love—it’s about keeping a promise.
Feelings Won’t Stay Buried
But honor has a way of testing even the strongest hearts.
He’s Bound by an Oath
CeCe can’t fall for Seth. She won’t. She loved her husband, and love like that doesn’t come twice—does it? But as the days pass and Seth proves to be everything her son needs, everything she needs, the walls around her heart begin to crack.
She never expected to love again. He never expected to hope.
A Cowboy’s Marriage of Convenience
The door cracked an inch, and the heavily lashed eyes that drifted through his dreams peered through the opening.
She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door wider.
“Seth.” She spoke his name sweetly, spinning the sound into a song. Her full mouth spreading into a tentative smile, she stepped back. With a sweep of her hand, she welcomed him inside. Once he stepped in, she closed the door and locked it.
He glanced around the studio apartment at her six-year-old son, Tommy. The tow-headed youngster with missing front teeth stood in the corner, an army of toy soldiers arranged around his feet. He was at home—not at school. Was it summer break?
He wouldn’t abandon her.
“Hey, tiger, how’s it going?” Seth strode to Tommy and extended his hand.
“Fine, sir.” The flatness in Tommy’s voice made Seth’s chest tighten.
The boy had always been energetic and laughing. The hesitancy in Tommy’s eyes made Seth wonder what sort of things the child had seen since he and his mother moved into their new home.
“The last day of school was yesterday,” CeCe, speaking into the hushed softness, answered his unasked question. “I was going to take him to the park, but …”
Tommy looked at her with wide, surprised eyes.
Seth’s teeth set. What was the park in this neighborhood like? He shoved out the dark thoughts creeping into his mind.
“I tried to call your cell phone number, but I got a message that it had been disconnected.” Seth studied her pale face.
“I … I need to make a payment. Then I start a new job on Saturday, and then I’ll start … I plan to ask for an advance on my next paycheck. After that, everything will be fine.”
*A Cowboy’s Marriage of Convenience* by Laura Haley-McNeil is a story of honor, devotion, and the kind of love that sneaks up when you least expect it.
📖 *Available Now!*
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