And that scared the shit out of me more than anythin' else.
Three hours,two Gatorades, and one shower later, I was brushin' out my horse, Speed, on Wild Acre Ranch. I made a beeline for the barn as soon as I pulled up, hopin' not to catch a glimpse of Sassy.
I knew she was stayin' with Rhett up at the main house for the time being, until she found somethin' more permanent.
Wasn't my place to tell either of them that she should make her temporary accommodations her more permanent ones, too.
They'd figure it out on their own; I didn't need to meddle. Didn't want to neither.
The wound was too fresh, despite the fact that I hadmoved on.
My head was a jumble.
The more time that passed between the hot-as-hell encounter I had with my mystery girl last night, the more I questioned my rash decision to bring her back to my place.
There was a lot at stake here—my friendships with Rhett and Sassy, my job.
My heart.
If history told me anythin', it was that I was a relationship guy.
Not once had I ever thought of playin' the field or hookin' up with strangers. For a decade plus, I'd been content to be a boyfriend. A fiancé. I was happy.
Until I wasn't. Until my eyes were pried wide and my chest flayed open.
So I was brushin' my horse.
Then, I was gonna see about that dog.
The crunch of boots over hay had me wincing. Coulda been any number of ranch hands or cowboys sneakin' up on me, but for some reason, I knew I wouldn't be that lucky.
"Hey, Bro."
Rhett's deep voice all but startled my damn horse. "Whoa," I said low with an easy pat to Speed's rump. "You're okay, bud."
Rhett chuckled. "Sorry. Wasn't tryin' to get you kicked, I swear."
I looked over my shoulder and deadpanned, "Sure ya weren't."
Rhett hovered awkwardly behind me while I finished, then followed me to my truck as I stowed all my supplies. I'd given Speed the full treatment this morning—pulled shoes, fresh fronts, cleaned-up hinds, hoof oil and the whole damn routine—to steady my mind. Since it was Sunday, I didn't have any clients to see, so I used this time to care for my own horse. Mom, Luke, and my Dad's horses, too, though Dad's mare, Maribel, hadn't been out in ages.
"Need somethin'?" I asked as I met Rhett's eyes.
"Got a new ranch hand starting today."
Fuckin' finally. Ever since Rhett's dad had made the brilliant decision to try to prove he was still twenty-five and fell off his horse in the process, breakin' his leg, the ranch was drowning.
"Yeah? Where'd you find him?"
"Posted on Facebook and he reached out."
Facebook. Jesus.That how we were hirin' cowboys these days? "Have you met?"
"Nah, only texted."
I blinked. "Not even talked on the phone?"
"Nope."
