Page 67 of Holding Penalty

Hallie’s reaction has a strange feeling rolling through my stomach.

“It’s not a big deal, right?”

A devious smile twirls on my sister’s lips. “You brought it up, you tell me.”

I sigh. “Everyone randomly has things they hang onto for years and years for no real reason, don’t they?”

Hallie shrugs, walking with me again. “Sure, I guess.”

“That’s the most likely explanation. He just didn’t want to throw away a perfectly good mug, even if he had no sentimental attachment to it.”

Hallie makes a thoughtful sound next to me. “Sure, it’s a possible explanation. I don’t think it’s the most likely one, though.”

I have a feeling I’m going to regret asking. “What’s the most likely explanation, then?”

“The most likely explanation for why he kept the first thing you ever gave him for almost ten years? It might just be because your husband likes you.”

31

PIPER

Athought hits me when Nash and I are both home one day.

“Does the petting zoo have horses?” I ask while Nash is putting some groceries he went out to buy into the refrigerator.

Nash shrugs, the big muscles on his back popping with the motion. “Sure. Why?”

“Can we go see them? Maybe I can try to ride one?”

Nash turns around, resting on the wooden countertop and pointing an amused look at me. “You want to ride a horse?”

I tilt my shoulder. “Well, since there are no cowboys around …”

Nash breathes a laugh, a mixture of amusement and bemusement in his expression. And maybe a hint of heat in his amber eyes at my suggestive joke. “Sure, why not? Let’s go.”

I’ve always thought horses were pretty, and I just finished a cowboy romance book that included a lot of horse-riding scenes. It would be fun to pet one, maybe try to sit on one and see if I can handle it trotting around.

We get into Nash’s truck, and while we drive the short way down the road to the petting zoo’s entrance, I make a point of finding the local country station on Nash’s radio, for the vibes. I could swear Nash hums along to one of the tunes, but when I call him on it, he denies it.

When we park and approach the entrance, I’m caught off guard by how the employees react when they see Nash. Their expressions brighten, smiles unfurl on their faces, and they all rush to greet him.

He hardly ever comes to the zoo, at least as far as I know. Why do they like him so much? I can’t help but wonder. Are they just excited to be working for a famous hockey player?

Nash talks to one of the employees, Marco, and Marco takes us to the horse stables. While Marco is getting a horse ready, another worker, who’s dressed like he’s a manager, comes to talk to Nash.

“I told you, Hank, I trust your judgment. You don’t need to run decisions like this by me,” Nash is telling him, having stepped aside to talk.

“I know, Mr. Miller, but this purchase will change the quarterly budget quite a bit. I’d just feel better if you took a look at it and I got your direct approval.”

I can tell Nash wants to sigh, but he bottles it up and nods. “Fine, fine.” He turns to me. “Piper, I have to run to the office real quick. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Sure,” I answer. “No problem.”

While Nash is gone, Marco emerges from the stable, and I gasp when I see the gorgeous horse he’s leading behind him.

The horse’s coat is a glossy chestnut, and her neighs are like purrs as Marco gently leads her towards me.

“She’s beautiful,” I breathe, stepping forward to run my hand against her coat. “She? He?”