The driver called to her. “You’re going the wrong way, ma’am!”
“Thanks, but I’m on a mission!” she shouted back.
“Come ride with us!” yelled one of the men in the hot tub. “We’ve got room and we’ve got beer!” He lifted a can to prove it.
“That’s not classy, Eli,” said a chubby man sitting next to him. “I can offer you a can of excellent wine if you would care to join us?”
She walked backwards for a few paces. “No, but thanks for the offer. Enjoy the parade.”
“We will!” the first man called out, saluting her with his beer.
She hurried on, all thoughts of the Polar Bear Club vanishing as she passed the final entry in the parade, a street sweeper, and walked through the open gate of the high school parking lot. Her pulse was elevated, like she’d been running rather than walking.
When Luis came back to the staging area, he’d be with the rest of his family. Would he introduce her to them? If so, how? As a fellow horse trainer he’d met at a clinic five years ago? A good friend from the past?
Only one way to find out.
She had no trouble locating two large goose-neck horse trailers hitched to trucks sporting the Laughing Creek logo. Propping her hips against the fender of the nearest LCR truck, she settled in to wait.
Chapter Three
When Luis spotted Jordan in the staging areas, he instinctively pulled back on the reins. Then he took a breath and nudged Scout forward into the high school parking lot.
She stood next to his truck talking to Adam and Tracy. Seeing her riled him up something fierce.
Greta glanced over her shoulder. “Anybody know who that blonde lady is?”
“Nope,” Zay and Rio said in unison.
Monty eyed him. “How about you, bro?”
He spoke just loud enough for Monty to hear. “Jordan Sterling. Met her at a clinic years ago.”
“She’s a friend of Luis’s!” Monty called out to the others. Then he lowered his voice. “Figured you knew her. You don’t usually stare at random strangers, let alone tip your hat. Did you know she was coming?”
“Yes, at least that she planned to. I didn’t mention it because I figured it was no big deal.”
“Tell that to someone who didn’t see your reaction to spotting her. Or the way you tipped your hat. Looks like the lady took it as an invitation.”
“She waved. I couldn’t just ignore her.”
“She waved because you turned to take another look.”
He sighed. “Yeah, I did.” He was so screwed. “Adam’s gotta wonder what the heck’s going on.”
“Just play it cool. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks.” Now Monty was aware this meeting had tied him in knots. Would his family see that? Probably. Would Jordan? Yep.
His brothers and sisters congregated around Jordan. The Dazzling Damsels, thankfully, had their own crowd of fans to keep them busy and his mom was involved with that hubbub. But sooner or later she’d notice her family gathered around a stranger and come to investigate. He needed to get ahead of that.
He glanced at Monty. “Here goes nothin’.” Swinging out of the saddle and dropping the reins to the ground, he approached the knot of people. “Hey, you made it!”
Adam looked his way. “There he is. Did I miss you mentioning you had a friend coming in this weekend?”
“No. I didn’t tell anyone. Sorry.” And now he really wished he had. He could have avoided the curious looks he was getting from his siblings.
He avoided all of them, meeting Jordan’s gaze. The warmth in her blue eyes was a sucker punch that left him breathless. Just like the first time. Nothing had changed. He wanted her more than ever. And it looked like she wanted him, too.
