She was saying something. He had to force himself to concentrate on her words and not the tempting curve of her lips.
“No apology necessary. You and I both know traveling with a horse makes travel plans unpredictable. I could have been held up in Missoula if I’d had issues with Fudge.”
“Is he here?” He surveyed the parking lot, as if she might have ridden him down from Missoula and left him tied to the fence while she watched the parade.
“I stabled him up in Missoula. They had a spot for my trailer, too. Easier that way.”
“I wish we’d known,” Claudie said. “You could have saved yourself some money and trailered him out to the ranch.” Her quick glance in his direction was clear. He should’ve made that offer.
“That’s incredibly generous, but dropping in on a person I haven’t seen in five years and expecting his family to provide a place for me and my horse seems?—”
“Perfectly normal to us.” The chiding look Mila sent him was even sharper than Claudie’s. “You could go get him right now, but I’d hate for you to miss out on the festivities.”
Hey, he could redeem himself and buy some necessary breathing room in the process. Jordan was even more potent than she’d been five years ago. “Let me fetch him. Just call them and then write me a note I can give to whoever’s in charge.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t. My trailer’s set up for a gooseneck connection and?—”
“So’s mine.” He gestured to it. “Or I could take your truck if you wouldn’t mind. Seriously, that’s the answer. I couldn’t go right this minute, since I need to get our horses back to the ranch. But after that I?—”
“That’s very sweet, but I wouldn’t consider it. This is your town’s celebration and you should be here to enjoy it.” Her jaw firmed the way it had when she’d told him it would be better if they called it quits.
“Even more reason. You’ve never been here on the Fourth and I’ve seen every one since I was five. I can afford to miss a little of it. I’ll be happy to run up there.” It would give her a chance to get to know his family a bit, and he’d have time to figure out what he wanted to do about the attraction sparking between them.
“Thanks, but I can’t accept. Please stay and have fun.”
“Speaking of that.” Adam checked the time on his phone. “Trace and I need to take off. We promised to help set up the dunking booth so it’s ready by noon. We only came back here to load Banjo and Moonlight, so we’d better get to it.”
“We’ll take care of your horses.” Zay grinned. “We don’t want you to miss a second of your allotted time in that booth.”
“Gee, thanks.” Adam made a face. “I’m counting on you guys to pay your five bucks and waste all three pitches.”
“That’s the plan, big brother.” Rio deadpanned his comment.
“Sure is.” Mila smiled. “Right, Claudie?”
“You are so right, sis.”
Greta pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.
Preoccupied by Jordan’s arrival, Luis had forgotten Adam had volunteered for dunking booth duty. It was tradition for the mayor, the high school principal and the chief of their volunteer fire department to trade off time in the booth.
Their dad used to do it every year he’d served as mayor, and they’d all taken great delight in nailing him. Now it was Adam’s turn.
“Okay, then, we’re outta here.” Adam touched the brim of his hat. “Thanks for taking care of Banjo and Moonlight.”
“Better stop at the dunking booth first thing,” Tracy called over her shoulder. “He’ll only be there two hours.”
“Two very long hours.” Adam let out a sigh as they walked away holding hands.
Mila gazed after them. “They’re adorable.” Then she turned back to the group. “Time to gather up Mom, Grandma and the aunties.”
“What for?” Clearly he was missing something else he was supposed to know about.
“Claudie, Greta and I are heading back to town for the meeting with the out-of-town H&H supporters and they all want to come. We’re gathering at the Raccoon for drinks and snacks before things get rolling on the square. Jordan, you’re coming, right?”
“I was planning to.”
“I remember now.” Luis worked like hell to focus as his peripheral vision recorded the flutter of Jordan’s eyelashes, the rise and fall of her chest, the pink flush on her cheeks. “Am I supposed to be there?”
