Lily looks at me in surprise, but Tristan was pretty amused when he found out that she’d talked Ellis’ old riding master into smuggling them over state lines. Supposedly the old guy doesn’t like many people, and has firm views on riders deserving horses, and not the other way around. The fact that he bought Lily a horse – and then personally escorted it to Colorado – goes a long way to proving that he’s also fallen under my angel’s spell.
“Tell me more,” Rosie demands, locking her arm with Lily’s as they start towards the stables, an amiable Doc in tow.
“Well, Ellis bought him a horse,” Lily explains. “Moondance is gorgeous. An Appaloosa with a really impressive pedigree.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, nudging Lily gently in the back. “Why don’t you tell them about his stablemate, LeeLee?”
I can feel Lily blushing all the way through the bond. “Well, he also bought a beautiful Morgan. She’s such a good girl, and has that classic Arabian elegance about her.”
I’m not sure if Lily is aware of how in love she sounds, but Rosie clearly hears it, because she waggles her brows. “Well, that’s what I call an impressive courting gift.”
We’ve come in eyeshot of the new additions to the barn, Leo standing atop a hay bale so he can pet Moondance’s nose. But Lily stops short, the tips of her ears going a glorious pink. “Um. No… It’s not like that.”
“Oh, my girl.” Rosie pats her cheek, then turns to study the horses with admiring eyes. “That looks like a great big dollop of love standing there to me.”
While Lily stares at her, Leo grins and waves from atop his perch. “Are you talking about me, Grammy?”
“You bet I am!” Rosie calls, striding over to greet him. “Not sure why you’re standing on that bale, though, when you’ve shot up another five inches since I saw you!”
“Notfiveinches,” he argues, but you can see he’s pleased as punch as he glances at the lanky kid next to him.
“Must be the mountain air,” Doc says with a wag of his moustache. “It’s definitely put a pretty glow in your momma’s cheeks.”
Leo drags his gaze away from his horse long enough to shrug. “That’s probably the long nap she just took with dad and the other guys.”
The lanky kid coughs into his hand, while Doc swallows a snort, and Rosie swivels towards us with the devil dancing in her eyes. “Oh, do tell, pretty momma...”
Lily has gone the color of beetroot juice, and I’m pretty sure she mutters something along the lines ofkill me nowas I snake an arm around her waist.
I feel bad for her, of course, but there's no way I can hide the glee in my voice as I lean down and whisper in her very pink ear, “Sorry, sweetheart, but I have to agree with Rosie. Ranch life definitely seems to agree with you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – LILY
I can’t get Logan’s whispered taunt out of my head for the rest of the day.
And he has a point, even if it was kind of made at my expense. I mean, who wouldn't love to live on a ranch with your own private lake, a nest under the stars, and mountain air that smells like butterscotch mingled with rich, dark cherries?
Correction.
It’s only thehousethat smells like cherries, especially since Otley is never more than a dozen paces away from me at any time. Something Rosie has no qualms about pointing out as we sip a fancy cocktail on the deck and watch Otley stride around the kitchen like a mage weaving a powerful spell.
“He’s quite handsome for a stalker,” Rosie muses, as she swirls her straw through the mint in her mojito. “I mean, romance books always paint them as tall, dark, and sexy, when they’re really just weirdos lurking in alleyways with bad haircuts. But Otley James actuallyisattractive. If you’re into men with ash blond hair, storm cloud eyes, and square jaws, I mean.”
I lean forward to wave the olive from my martini in her face. “Hello! You do remember I’m mated to Logan, right?”
“And a lovely big bite it is,” Rosie hums, patting my knee. “But let’s face it. Logan Sawyer was the original stalker. Did you know he dislocated his arm hanging out his window, trying to get a peek at you in your homecoming gown?”
I blink at her. “That’s not true.”
Rosie snorts. “I have x-ray evidence. And if you still don’t believe me, ask yourself - are you boinking the town quack, or am I?”
“God, please don’t use that word.”
“Okay.Medical professional,” she quips, her eyes shining with typical Rosie glee. “Okay, I’ll stop needling you, but then you need to admit what's right in front of your face. This ranch is crawling with eligible men who hover around you like you’re the queen bee.” She gives a pointed nod in Tristan’s direction, who is setting the table in the dining room and is thankfully separated from us by a thick panel of glass. “Take that pretty beta, for instance. Anyone would think you two have known each other for years, not weeks.”
I bite my lip, because she’s right. I’ve been drawn to Tristan since the first day I met him, and in different circumstances, I’d definitely have considered him a perfect catch. “It’s complicated.” She snorts and I frown. “This media stuff hasn’t been easy for him, either. But he’s only been kind and helpful to me, when plenty of others in his position would have tried to run me out of town.”
“Hmm.” Rosie taps her nails on her cocktail glass. “Well, luckily forallof you, you don’t have to choose.”
