It feels strange watching the guys practice without participating. I only have a few minutes until my next meeting. Gary was so adamant about keeping everything a secret that we didn’t start meeting with current business associates until after the papers were signed. That means there is a lot to do in a little bit of time. The Millers can stay in the house as long as they want as far as I’m concerned, so they’ve been gracious enough to work with me and help me along with the transition.
“How’s Gray doing?” he asks after a few of the practice rides have been completed.
“He’s doing really well considering. He’s home. Was told if he takes it easy and completes his follow-up appointments, he’ll be back to normal before he knows it.”
“Good,” Hayden says without taking his eyes off the next rider.
Hayden is a good man. He takes care of those he’s close to. He’s one of the few people I’ll ask for help when I need it. Since he’s lived on a ranch his entire life, I know he can take care of it without me having to explain in great detail how each thing should be done. And I’ve gone to help him in a pinch as well.
Even though we don’t typically get along and things have been—well—strained since what feels like forever, Grayson is one of the only other people I would extend that kind of trust. He might not think twice about trying to beat the shit out of me, but he’d never take it out on my animals or an innocent bystander. We may seem like enemies, but brothers are forever.
As I stand at the gate enjoying the last few minutes of freedom I have before my next meeting, I feel someone’s eyes on me. The hairs on my neck stand up as I scan the barn with my eyes. Finally, in the far corner, I see a familiar figure with her arms crossed. I can’t make out her expression and she turns away as soon as my eyes begin to focus. After only a couple steps toward the barn, I change my mind and turn back. I can’t chase her here. I let out a deep sigh of resignation.
“Alright, Hayden. I’ll see you around.”
I have a few minutes before my meeting, but I know if I stand here in view of the barn and stables for much longer, I’ll end up storming in there to demand Joy speak to me. This pull I’ve always felt between us only seems to grow stronger the longer she avoids me.
Before I reach the steps leading to the office portion of the main house, Gary steps out onto the porch. His long, silver hair brushes across his shoulders when he folds his arms and looks at me.
“Already wishing you were out there with them instead of stuck going to meetings with me all day?” He pauses to laugh. “Well, it’s too late, you already bought the place. This is your life now.”
I look from Gary’s ripped jeans to the missing sleeves of his T-shirt and realize I probably don’t need to walk around this place in Polo shirts and my nice jeans every day. Gary and Rhonda have always been down-to-earth, so it’s a safe assumption that they do business with similar types of people. So far, every meeting we’ve gone to has been relaxed and informal. It’s a lot of work, for sure, but since I already own a ranch, most of this isn’t new.
“It’s not that bad,” I say with a short laugh. “At least I still see the people I’ve been spending my summers with all these years.”
Gary nods in agreement. “It’s hard work, but it doesn’t feel like it when you’re having a good time. Especially when you’re young. We’re getting tired, and the look on Rhonda’s face when I told her I was ready to retire and move to the Southwest makes it all worth it. And we can do that since we know this place is in good hands.”
Pride swells in my chest, and I look at the older man across from me for a long moment before I speak. “That means a lot. Thanks. I’ll take care of this place.”
“I know. Anyway, Rhonda sent me after you. She wants us to have some lunch before the next meeting.”
I raise an eyebrow. Rhonda is always trying to feed me and make sure I don’t need coffee or iced tea or whatever it is she has on hand. But the next meeting is set to start in about five minutes. It’s just a conference call, but still. I can’t exactly hold a conversation with a mouth full of food.
“Do we have time for that?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He gives me a nod before leading the way inside. “The call got moved back thirty minutes. I sent you a text.”
I didn’t even check my phone while I was outside taking a breather. I watched a few practice rides and chatted with a few people. I pull it out with hope that maybe I missed a text from Joy as well, but there’s only the message from Gary. Joy takes up all my free thoughts. I would take her yelling at me over avoiding me. She has a few more days to avoid me before I end the silent feud. I’m not going to send her a bunch of texts or call her phone nonstop. But I will talk to her here if I have to.
Chapter 26
Joy
Ican’tbelieveIamthis fucking drunk on a Tuesday. It’s River’s fault. Now that Grayson is doing much better, River is back to being pissed at him because, of course, he doesn’t want to listen to her and take it easy. And since I’ve been avoiding Tate, I didn’t have any reason not to go out for a drink when she offered. As I struggle to focus on the words across my phone screen, I’m kind of wishing I had said no.
“Rayna or Wyatt will come get us. I’m seventy percent sure I texted her and asked her to,” I slur. “Don’t look at me like that, this is your fault.”
We both burst into a fit of giggles before I restart the same conversation we’ve had at least thirty times tonight. “I just can’t believe Tate didn’t tell me. I can’t fuck my boss.”
“Sure, you can. You already did. But what am I going to do about Gray and his stupid, stubborn ass? I mean, I get why he’s pissed. If anything, he has more reason to be angry than you do. You haven’t been seeing Tate for long. Tate is Gray’s brother. He should have told him. Butstill.”
“He should have told us both. And now he wants to talk, like it’s not too late.” I roll my eyes as I finish the last of my drink.
The past two weeks have been a blur. I don’t even remember what I wanted to say to Tate when I chased after him. I keep thinking about what he said. Just because things have changed, it doesn’t mean they have changed for the worse. We got involved before I had any idea he was buying the place. And I believed him when he told me he didn’t think about it from that angle. That’s why I’ve been avoiding him. I know if he talks to me and brings reason and logic to the situation, I won’t be able to resist. I’m not sure Iwantto resist, and that’s what’s so damn scary. I can’t trust my own judgment after I spent all those years in a relationship oblivious to the fact that it was headed nowhere.
“Darlin’, you didn’t have to go through all this trouble just to see me.”
The hairs rise on the back of my neck as the familiar voice washes over me. The voice I’ve been avoiding since we knew for certain Gray was going to be okay. Slowly, to avoid making the room spin, I turn around and lock eyes with Tate. He looks good. Too good. He’s wearing a pair of well-loved jeans and a blue and gray flannel shirt. His hair is damp as it hangs beneath his hat, and I have to fight to keep from running my fingers through his curls.
