“Yep.” Bertie nodded sagely. “And I made a special mix for me and Billy and Aunt Cassidy because we don’t like it hot. Do you like it hot, because if you don’t you can share with me, Billy and Aunt Cassidy. There’s plenty.”
“I’m happy with hot,” I told her.
“Great, because I’m hungry.” She then zoomed off yelling to her mom that I liked hot.
I could feel Wilder’s gaze on me, like it was a physical touch. I looked and he was smiling, and it was kind of soppy, like I was a cute little puppy or something.
“What?”
“You know tacos are my favorite meal.”
“Well, yeah.” I shrugged. “You told me once.”
His mouth was on mine in an instant as he pulled me against him, holding on tight to my hips. He tasted like warmth and promises, his hands firm and anchoring me to him. It was most definitely not a kiss to have before a family dinner.
“Excuse me.”
We pulled apart to see Gunner in the kitchen doorway. He was grinning with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Sorry.” Glancing at Wilder I saw him wipe his bottom lip with his thumb as he smirked at his brother.
“No problem but can I grab a word with you.”
My heart skipped a beat, sure that this was the point where he fired me for keeping my friendship with Nate a secret.
“Don’t worry,” he aimed at Wilder whose eyes were narrowed, “I’ll get her back to you safe and sound.”
“You okay?” Wilder put a hand on my shoulder, his voice, his touch reassuring me.
“Sure. You go.”
As he walked past Gunner he pointed a finger at him but didn’t say anything. Gunner just barked out a laugh and walked toward the office.
“Come on, let’s go in here.”
Following him I shoved my shaking hands into my jeans’ pockets, wondering where I could afford to take Dreamy if I did get fired. Maybe Nate’s dad would let me keep him on their smallholding.
“Okay, we should get this out of the way,” Gunner said as he rested his ass against the huge desk. “Nate Jenkins is a huge ass elephant that I don’t want in the room while I’m eating my tacos.”
“I’m so sorry, Gunner. I honestly didn’t plan any of it or come here because Nate asked me to. I wanted Dreamy to be in the best place, and this isthebest place. You’rethebest trainer there is and when I found out Nate was responsible for the development, because it’s not like we talk business all the time, he mostly ribs me about stupid things I did as a kid or questions me about my love life, like my brothers do, so I was shocked and I?—”
“Tally,” Gunner cried. “Slow down and take a breath. I’m not mad. Not that you know him, a little disappointed that you didn’t tell me, but I understand why you didn’t. You’re right I am the best trainer there is, and these are the best training facilities, so why would you jeopardize that? I wouldn’t if I were you. Once you’d been here a while you could have said. I thought we had a good relationship. Trusted each other.” His shoulders sagged.
“We do and I do, implicitly. I was just scared that you might fire me. I guess I’d kept it a secret for so long I knew it would look bad. And for the record Nate and my brothers told me I should have said something right away. As soon as Nate realized where I was working he told me that under no circumstances were we to discuss The Last Creek Ranch in any capacity.” I picked at some loose skin on my thumb watching Gunner as he pushed off the desk.
“Don’t keep anything from me again, not something important.” I gave him a nod of promise. “As for Nate, well he’s a good man, he’s proved thatwith everything he’s done for the camp and the wedding barn. And, so far, he’s stuck to his word about the changes he’s made to the development.” He stood in front of me and smiled. “And even if he hadn’t, Tally, that’s not on you. You’re good at your job, damn good, so I’m not going to fire you over someone else’s misdemeanors, even if he’s like a brother to you. Okay, we good?”
“Absolutely.” It felt liberating that there were no more secrets between us. A heavy load no longer on my shoulders.
“Excellent. And you should know, Bernard Kennedy emailed over Dreamy’s papers about an hour ago.”
My heart leapt. “He did?”
“He did. Congratulations, Tally, you have yourself a million dollar racehorse.”
More relief and that combined with everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, had hot tears crawling down my cheeks. I swiped at them, taking in a thankful breath. “He’s all mine?”
“Yep, Tally, he’s all yours.” Gunner smiled, with the same warmth that made him such a good trainer, patient, kind and without judgment. “Right, now let’s go eat tacos.”
