Dane couldn’t help grinning as Lexi moved from one stall to the other. She really loved horses. When they reached the stall holding a dappled-gray mare and her light-gray colt, Lexi actually squeed.
“He’s so cute!” she said, immediately leaning over one of the side rails to gently glide her hand over the colt’s withers.
Momma mare eyed Lexi suspiciously but must have figured she wasn’t a danger to her offspring because she went back to her oats.
Dane rested his forearms on the edge of the stall door. He’d seen the colt a few times now and noticed that his coat was getting a little darker with each visit. The horse would probably be the same color as his mother soon. “This little fella is Smoke.”
Lexi smiled. “Appropriate name since he’s gray.”
“True, but Jax and Skye named him Smoke because he was born right after the barn that used to stand on this same spot was burned to the ground by some psychopath who was obsessed with Skye. In fact, Jax and I could still smell the smoke in the air as we helped his mom, Lulu, give birth to him.”
Lexi’s eyes widened. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with saying something like that and not telling me the rest of the story. What the heck happened?”
Dane chuckled. “Okay. Why don’t we take Lulu and Smoke for a walk while we talk?”
Lexi glanced down at her sleeveless dress and low-heeled shoes. “Sandals out in the pasture?”
“Sure. Pay attention to where you’re stepping and you’ll be fine.”
He got a halter and lead lines on the two horses then let Lexi take Smoke as they headed for the main pasture. As they walked, he told her about the man who’d tried to kill Skye—and him—by burning the old barn down around them.
“He was a friend from New York? What kind of man does something that crazy?” Lexi slanted him a look. “How badly were you hurt?”
“Not too bad,” he said, trying to downplay how much danger he’d been in during the whole situation. “The guy knocked me out, that’s all.”
Lexi frowned. “That’s all?”
He grinned. “I have a hard head.” When she gave him a skeptical look, he added, “It was one of those weird once-in-a-lifetime type of things. It’s a safe bet to say that nothing like that is ever going to happen again.”
Lexi didn’t look too sure about that, so Dane steered the conversation in another direction.
“Since you love horses I’m surprised you don’t have one.”
She shrugged. “I’d love a horse, but I don’t have anywhere to keep one.”
“I’m sure Jax and Skye would be willing to let you stable him—or her—here.”
Lexi considered that. “You really think so?”
“Sure,” Dane smiled. “They board horses all the time.”
“Huh.” She ran her free hand affectionately down Smoke’s neck. “You know, I might think about that.”
Dane and Lexi were brushing the two horses down a little while later when Jax walked into the barn.
“I think I’m in love with Smoke.” Lexi smiled at Jax. “If he’d fit in my apartment, I’d take him home with me tonight.”
Jax chuckled. “I think Lulu might have something to say about that. But maybe if you can fit both of them in your place?”
She made a face. “Probably not.”
“Well, you can visit Smoke as much as you want then,” Jax said. “Skye wanted to know if you wanted to help pick something out for dinner. Dane will eat anything she makes, but she thought you might have a few special requests.”
Lexi shook her head. “Not really, but I’ll go in anyway.” She patted Smoke on the neck and said she’d see him later then gave Dane a kiss. “Have fun.”
“You and Lexi look good together,” Jax said after she left. He picked up a brush and ran it over Smoke’s flanks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so comfortable with a woman before.”
Dane grinned. “Yeah, I know. I’m not sure what it is about Lexi, but we click.”
