Page 90 of Ethan

He smiled the whole way back to the house.

Naomi was in the kitchen when he got back to the house, standing at the counter eating an apple and reading something on her phone. She looked up when he came in.

“Did you find Johnny?”

“I did.” He poured himself a fresh cup of coffee and leaned against the counter.

She looked at him. “What happened?”

“Nothing.” He took a sip. “Found him in the storage room.”

“And?”

“Serena was in there with him.”

She stared at him for a second, then her face broke into a wide smile. “Finally.”

“That was my reaction.”

“What did you say?”

“Asked if the equipment was reorganized.” He kept his expression straight. “Told them to carry on.”

Naomi burst out laughing, the kind that bent her forward over the counter, and he watched her and thought he could spend the rest of his life listening to that sound and never get tired of it.

“Poor Serena,” she managed.

“She’ll survive.”

Naomi straightened up, still smiling, and looked at him. “You’re not going to make it weird for them?”

“Why would I? They’re grown adults.” He set his cup down. “Besides, I’m in no position to say anything about employees getting involved.”

She gave him a look. “Is that what I am? An employee?”

“Among other things.” He crossed to her and tipped her chin up and kissed her once. “Speaking of which.”

“That was a terrible transition.”

“The competition is in three weeks,” he said. “You think you’re ready?”

The smile that crossed her face was different. Quieter and more certain.

“Vader’s ready,” she said. “And so am I.”

He looked at her for a moment, this woman who’d shown up on his property with nothing but her skill and her stubbornness and had proceeded to turn everything upside down in the best possible way.

“Good,” he said. “Because my whole family is coming to watch.”

Her eyes went wide. “Ethan—”

“They wouldn’t miss it.” He picked up his cup. “Neither would I.”

****

Three weeks later Naomi sat astride Vader, the gelding shifting beneath her like he was ready to go whether she was or not.

The arena in Butte was packed, the stands loud with fans, the smell of dirt and livestock and popcorn hanging in the air. She’d been in arenas like this her whole life and her heart was still hammering.