I bit my lip, glancing over to where Jesse and Bailey rode together with the guests, deep in conversation.
‘Yeah, I got that,’ I said. ‘And the second?’
Cole paused, straightening up as he rolled his broad shoulders back.
‘That man has a heart so damn big that there ain’t a challenge or a setback in this world that will stop him doing something for the people he loves.’ His stare was intense, a frown appearing on his brow. ‘So as I see it, it’s our job to go with it and see if we can’t help him out. Make sure he’s got a soft landing if he falls.’
I felt his message loud and clear, knowing that we weren’t talking about rodeo any more.
‘I don’t want him to fall in the first place,’ I murmured, dipping my head, running my hand over Penny’s soft neck. ‘He deserves better.’
Cole was silent for a few seconds, leaving enough space that I wondered if he’d heard me.
‘We get what we need,’ he said softly, eyes fixed on Lottie up ahead.
I nodded, dwelling on the implication as we crossed into the familiar meadow below the ranch. Through the fir trees, the main house glowed on the ridge above. The rest of the ride was quiet as night gathered around us, the impending darkness mirrored in my mind.
CHAPTER12
HESTIA
The day of the rodeo was another scorcher, and everyone else was up and out before the sun had a chance to slow things down. My daily routine now started and ended with Luci, although Jesse had offered to take over her morning feed, predicting – correctly – that having to get up at 6 a.m.andbe coherentandoutdoors would be intensely painful for me.
Not wanting to give princess vibes, I’d taken over cleaning and prepping the tack he needed for guest rides. He hadn’t asked, but a quick dig for information from Lottie had revealed the process and I’d just got stuck in, with a few pointers from Bailey.
His response had been fucking adorable. Genuine surprise flickering through his eyes, telling me I didn’t have to, that he understood I wasn’t a morning person.
‘I wanted to,’ I’d replied; then, as his expression became unbearably soft, ‘Besides, I’ve seen the state of the tack. And I’m willing to bet I’ve had more experience with leather than you.’
He’d roared at my suggestive eyebrows, a sound imprinted on me, repeating now in my mind as I smiled into a bowl of granola. It was barely 9 a.m. but I was alone in the kitchen, trying not to replay the whole thing over and over.
My phone rang.
It was Cal. His name was like a slap, jolting me from the safe haven of my thoughts. Bracing myself for combat, the edge of his words still sharp from last time – hell, from the last six months – I finished my mouthful and picked up.
‘This is going to cost a fortune,’ I said, suddenly aware that my tone was already hard, defences raised. ‘I thought we agreed to stick to email from now on?’
‘I’m fine, thanks for asking,’ Cal spat, moving in and out of range of the microphone. ‘I’m just between clients and I had five minutes so I thought it’d be quicker this way.’
‘Okay, okay,’ I sighed, putting him on speaker and carrying on with my breakfast. ‘What’s up?’
Apparently placated at a chance to offload, he delved into his issues, general ramblings about the studio and even a mention of a new relationship; someone called Becca. The same frustrated, claustrophobic feelings that had threatened to bury me back home before I arrived here rose all over again. Resting my elbow on the table, chin in my hand, I was dragged back into his erratic current, stupefied into barely moving as footsteps approached and entered behind me.
I turned to see Jesse, frowning as he met my gaze. He gestured towards the door as though asking if he should leave.
Shaking my head, I mouthed, ‘Five minutes.’ He nodded slowly, poorly disguised concern across his face as he took a mug from the cupboard and poured himself a coffee from the pot. Then, with a glance at me noting the absence of a coffee on the table, he poured a second.
‘. . . So what do you think I should do?’ Cal was asking, and I realized I’d totally zoned out.
‘Whatever you want,’ I replied, my tone flat as Jesse brought the coffee over. ‘Thanks,’ I murmured, attempting a half-smile but knowing it was more of a grimace.
It was Cal’s turn to sigh.
‘Sorry, am I getting in the way of your holiday plans while I try and keepourbusiness running?’
On the point of turning away, Jesse stopped, coming back to face me as he leant against the counter. I could feel my anger rising, drowning the sensible voice that told me not to go there, not to fall back into our usual cycle.
It was like riding a fucking bike.
