I bite the inside of my cheek. “You two are early. Did something come up?”
January’s lips press into a line.
Stanford shoves his hand into his pocket. “We wanted to get started.”
I clap my hands and hop off the counter. “All right. Show me those skills.”
I didn’t say it to be flirty, but January’s pale brows draw together. She’s afraid to lose him the way she got him.
I grab Durban’s forearm. It’s like wrapping my fingers around warm steel. His muscles flex under my touch. “We’ll finish this later?”
His dark gaze pins mine. “Absolutely.”
CHAPTER NINE
Durban
I’m at my desk when Lane pops in. “Hey, did you get the email?—”
“Yes.” I stab at the keyboard. I know he expected a reply, but I am cranky that he has to remind me about it. We’re testing a new ordering system, and I was supposed to do it yesterday. But I had to leave early in a third attempt to meet with Campbell and do... something. Fuck. Anything.
But Stanford Cockblocker Baldwin must watch for me because he keeps dragging his increasingly frustrated fiancée down to the tack room early.
“Bro.” Lane pushes all the way into my office and drops into a chair across from my desk. He’s in jeans and a white T-shirt with a flannel over it. Standard distillery wear when we all raise cattle on the side. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. Just busy.”
He takes his black Foster House ball cap off andflops it on his knee. “You’re uptight as hell. Does it have anything to do with you jetting outta here early all week?”
“That’s for the wedding.”
He rubs the scruff on his chin. “I don’t mean to pry?—”
“Yeah, you do.”
He flashes an unrepentant smile. “How’s the wedding going?”
“Good.” I have no idea. All I know is that I haven’t gotten to touch Campbell yet.
“Sounds like it,” he says wryly, then shrugs. “I know none of us cares about what’s going on at Hawthorne unless it affects Jamison. And now Campbell too.” His gaze is steady on me. “You heading up there early again?”
He’s sniffing for information that isn’t any of his business. I like Lane, and I’ve gotten to know him and Cruz well over the last few years, but I keep my private life private. “Not today. It’s raining, so I’m sure she’ll have to shift to entertaining them all indoors.”
“Helluva wedding celebration.” He shakes his head. “I’d rather have something like Myles and Wynter. All the Baileys. Family, fun, and food. Then we’re done and living our lives.”
“Nothing fancy,” I agree. “But I might feel differently if I didn’t know the couple’s trying to justify the hurt they caused or rub it in Campbell’s face.”
“It’s bullshit. How’s she holding up?”
I steeple my fingers. “She said Stanford has complained about how big Hailstorm is, being stiff after riding, and almost falling off when he was riding double with January.”
“Oof. And he won’t give up?”
I shake my head grimly. “Campbell tries to talk to him about taking more time, or giving January her own horse, and they could ride side by side, but he wants his way.”
“I’d ask what either woman saw in him, but Cruz and I are here. Proof our dad could talk our mama up one side and down another.” He taps his fingers on the armrest of the chair. “Makes me glad to share a last name with Myles. From what I’ve heard, his dad was a good one.”
“You don’t have the same— Sorry. None of my business.” I stop any personal life talk before it happens, so I won’t stomp into someone else’s. The town knows the Hennessy backstory and how we were carted off to foster care. They’ve heard things about my mother, and when they ask for more, I shut it down.
