"Brennon is leaving," I tell him when we both come to a stop in front of each other.
"I noticed." He glances back over his shoulder. "Care to share how you managed that?"
I shrug. "Easy. I told him he was banned. Starting now."
"And he just listened to you?" His mouth quirks and I find myself appreciating how amused he is. Because he's not worried I handled it wrong. He trusts that I took care of it. His interest in how I did it, is purely for entertainment purposes.
"He did." I nod. "I had a lot to say."
His head tilts to the side, lip curling in a mischievous way. "I might have heard some of it when I came out here to look for you."
I gasp. "You were checking up on me? Like you thought I couldn't handle myself?"
"I came out here to look for you like maybe it's my job to have your back. Because we're partners." He taps my nose with the tip his finger. "And I'm the best damn person you know." He grins.
"God," I groan, grabbing his arm to swing him toward the barn and the arena. "I'm never going to hear the end of that now, am I?"
He chuckles. "It's unlikely."
But he doesn't tease me further. Only walks beside me, playfully bumping me with his shoulder every few steps, while we both laugh quietly. Not because anything is particularly funny. I think it's relief more than anything. A comfort. Because somehow, this thing I thought was so volatile between us, turned out to be the most solid thing in my life.
Jovi is the most solid thing in my life.
And I don't hate it. Don't hate him. Not at all.
JOVI
If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I might never have believed it. Liz. She didn't just defend the business, she defended me. Determinator Liz showed up on my behalf.
Trent always had my back same as I had his, but the way Liz went at Brennan, the ferocity in her voice, hell,Iwas scared of her.
I don't know what the fuck we're doing anymore, or if there's a chance we'll ever be more than we are right now. Partners. For the business. For the kids. Maybe that's all we should be. Maybe tempting fate after everything that's already gone to shit and been lost is too great a risk. Or maybe all the loss is precisely the reason we should risk it.
I don't know. But for now, I'm going to revel in the feeling of being inside her circle, one of hers. The people she'd stop the world for.
"She really got video footage of Nika getting injured before he ran her out of the box?" Cas asks as he comes into the tack room behind me, putting up the last of the bridles we used tonight. Cas has been helping out more and more around here. And if I can get the business to turn the sort of profit soon that I think it will, I'm considering asking him to come on in some official capacity here. I know he’s got his own place he’s building, but it’ll be a while yet before it’s up and running.
"And it's not the first time she caught him putting Nika in a dangerous situation either," I tell him, still marveling at her brilliance.
I had no idea she'd taken it upon herself to start collecting data against him. When she filled me in between rides tonight, all I could do was grin at her like a complete idiot.
The high of hearing her tale had me riding better than ever. Everything felt so in sync. Me and the horses. Me and Liz.
"I think it's safe to say he won't be making any threats against Serendipity again anytime soon." Or ever, if Liz has anything to say about it.
"Well, I'm gonna do my part to keep spreading the word about the work you do out here. Maybe we can't shut him down completely, but I'll do whatever I can to keep other horses out of his care."
I nod. "I wish there was more we could do."
He leans against a rack of saddle blankets, facing me as he folds his arms in front of his chest, and crosses one boot over his ankle. "I have a feeling your woman ain't done with him yet."
I grin. It's automatic. And I'm not sorry about it. Though I do correct him. "She's not my woman, but I think you might be right. The way she was going on about it, she may well still be searching for an angle to get at him."
I wish she'd apply even half this much outrage on her own behalf. The fact she was willing to fold to Tammy—the fact Tammy had the gall to come after her, to make those threats—when she knew what it would mean, knew where Liz was vulnerable and where to hit her to make her break.
I shake my head. "You gonna hang around for a bit more?" I ask him, backing up toward the door.
"Nope." He pushes off from where he's been leaning against the rack. "All done here and ready to get my boy." He rubs both hands together. "It's Friday s'mores night."
