Riley nodded as she stepped away. "I see Emily gave you the same counsel she gave me."
"Yeah, but I think you're picking up on it quicker than I am."
Daniel was filthy,sun-burned, and exhausted by the time they finished branding, vaccinating, and dehorning hundreds of calves. It had been a grueling day, but working alongside Riley made all the hard work worth it.
She was still by his side as they turned their horses back into the corral after reuniting the calves with their mothers. She'd worked ashard as any of the rest of them today, and she was filthy too, but she looked radiant and beautiful. He’d had a hard time taking his eyes off her most of the day, especially while she and Misty separated the calves from their mothers. She knew how to handle a horse, and she did it with grace and poise.
He hadn’t stopped thinking about that kiss all day. Sure, it was only a peck on the cheek, but what did she mean by it? He suspected she did it simply to distract him. And boy, did it work.
The little thoughts he'd had here and there about possibly getting back together with Riley blossomed into full-blown fantasies. He had to keep reminding himself not to get carried away. She deserved a better man than him. She shouldn't saddle herself to a recovering alcoholic who had a sordid past.
He fell into step beside her as they walked toward the back of the big house. All he wanted was a hot shower, food, and his bed. And a few minutes alone with Riley.
Their steps slowed as they approached the back of the house.
She tucked her hands into her back pockets. "So...I guess I'll see you at dinner in a little bit?"
He looked more closely at her. Why was she suddenly acting nervous?
"Yeah, I'll be over after I get cleaned up."
"Okay, do you...uh...do you want to maybe do something tonight?"
He recalled how she'd repeatedly invited him to hang out in the evenings three years ago and how that had led to them dating.
"Something...like what?" He said the words slowly, with caution.
She rocked up on her toes as she shrugged. "Maybe we could watch a movie or something."
He'd probably fall asleep on her, but he couldn't think of a better way to spend the evening than by Riley's side, even though he shouldn't encourage a relationship between them.
Before he could answer, however, Crew and Brody stepped out of the stables and walked their direction.
"Riley." Crew stopped a few yards away and kicked at a rock with the toe of his boot.
Daniel stepped forward, half blocking Riley, fists balled.
"Relax, Slim." Crew held his hands out in a pacifying gesture. "I just want to apologize to Riley for what I said this morning." He looked back at Riley. "I should never have disrespected you like that."
"No, you shouldn't have." Daniel's tone was hard.
Riley put a hand on his arm. "Thank you, Crew."
"I've never seen anyone handle a horse like you do. Or work as hard as you. You're something else."
He turned to walk away, but Brody put his hand out. "Crew and me are going to Scooter's tonight. You guys wanna join us?"
"No thanks." Daniel didn't even need to think twice about the invitation.
He avoided Scooters like the plague nowadays. He used to love going to the modern-day diner and dance hall with old-west saloon vibes, but most people went there for the alcohol and dancing rather than the food. It was too much of a temptation for him.
Riley grabbed Daniel's arm and grinned at him. A glimmer of light filled her eyes, causing his breath to hitch. It was the first real glimpse he'd seen of the old Riley since she came home.
"We should go. It's been ages since we've been dancing together."
It had been years since they'd danced together, and he wanted nothing more than to dance with Riley again, even in his exhausted state. He'd felt horrible for refusing when she, Paige, and Damon begged him to go dancing with them when they were all home for Jake and Emily's wedding last year. He'd only been sober for a couple of months and knew he couldn't tempt himself that way.
And I fell off the wagon less than a month later anyway.
