“Just thought I’d make some breakfast for my siblings. You could say thank you.”
“Thanks for eating my food instead of your own?”
“We’re family. It’s our food. And you’re welcome. Besides, I’ve missed you all. We haven’t had much chance tocatch up since I got home. How’s everything going? Are you still dating Cassie?”
My sister’s sharp laugh rings out. “Oh, you are so out of the loop. I can’t believe you asked that?”
I twist around to see Caleb with a stormy look on his face, but he doesn’t say a word.
“She broke up with him.” Shayla walks over to snatch a potato out of the frying pan, blowing on it for a minute to cool it down before popping it in her mouth, and then swearing when it’s still too hot.
I swat at her hand. “Sorry about that, man. What happened?”
He just grunts in response.
“Hasn’t anyone told you it’s good to talk about your feelings?” I turn to my sister. “Grab us some plates.”
“Say please.”
“How about ‘now’?”
“Manners. I thought Mom taught you better than that.” Her teasing smile slips from her face and that mask is back. The one she wears too often now.
“She did. But the rules don’t apply when your ungrateful siblings don’t even appreciate the breakfast you’re making for them.”
“Whatever.” She drops the stack of plates on the counter with an alarming clatter, then walks away. “I’m not really that hungry anyway. I don’t usually eat breakfast.”
I ignore her, serving up plates for both of them.
Caleb raises an eyebrow. “You not eating?”
I glance toward the door and back. “I’m good.”
“You waiting for something?” he asks, taking the plate from me.
“Nothing big. Aura’s coming over for another lesson, then I’ve got to check on Millie. She’s about ready to go. Wouldn’t be surprised if she had her little one today, but I’m hoping she at least has the decency to do it during the day.” I wouldn’t be surprised if the mare went into labor in the middle of the night. But I’d really like to be there for her, since it’s her first time. “We need to get some cameras set up in the foaling barn.”
Shayla apparently isn’t willing to commit to her anti-breakfast claim, scooping up some eggs. “She’ll be fine. But I can tell you’re just trying to distract us. You nervous about the star coming over? I should have known you wouldn’t listen to my advice.”
“What advice?” Caleb asks.
The doorbell saves me from answering any more questions. Blink barks, and I jump up from my seat. “I should get that.”
A soft breeze picks up her long black hair when I open the door, and I resist the urge to brush it off her face. She’s carrying two cups from Leonora’s and looks as beautiful as ever, but there are dark shadows under her eyes as if she didn’t sleep well.
“You look tired.”
Her neutral expression turns to a frown. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s rude to tell someone they look tired, especially a woman? You’re basically implying I look like shit.”
There it is. Didn’t take long to insert my boot directly into my mouth. “Impossible, you’re gorgeous. But I’m sorry.”
She jerks back a bit, then nods as if she accepts my apology. “Not sure you deserve this coffee.”
The sweet scent drifts over from the cup she’s pulled back toward her body.
“Probably not. But I’m sure you’re going to give it to your riding teacher anyway, or I might find out that Flash is too busy for a ride today, and then I’d have to swap you over to one of the other horses. We’ve got a few future barrel champs in the herd. I’m sure they’ll be right about your speed.”
Her brown eyes widen. “Fine. Take it.” She shoves the cup into my chest, and I take a long satisfying sip.
