Page 52 of The CEO and the Mountain Man

I narrowed my eyes at my son. “He left because he didn’t want to make things awkward. For you. I have no such hangups. I can go there if you want. Open PDA. Long, loving looks.Nicknames.”

River brought his mug to his lips and paused. Shivered. “Please don’t. I couldn’t … No.”

I grinned. “So, you get to enjoy pool time while me and all the parents are taking an advanced horse safety course with Grumpy Jake in advance of the short trail ride and the overnight.”

River snorted into his coffee. “Grumpy Jake?”

“Don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“Oh, I’m telling everyone.”

“PDA, River.” I popped my brows. “With tongue.”

He shivered again. “You drive a hard bargain.”

I congratulated myself on not answering something along the lines ofthat’s what Beau said,but River still managed to look horrified.

“Gross, Dad.”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“Yourfacesaid everything.”

I winked, and he dry-heaved as he stood up from the table. “I take it back.”

“Take what back? There are no takebacks.”

“Everything. I don’t thank you for dragging me out here. I don’t thank you for giving me the opportunity to spend quality time with Miguel. In fact, this whole thing with him is probably going to break my heart, and it’ll be your fault.”

Suddenly, all the feel-good ribbing left the room. We stared dolefully at each other.

“Well, son, you and I get to go back to Chicago brokenhearted together.”

“Yay.”

Chapter 14

Clark

“Word around town is that you’ve been calling me Grumpy Jake,” Jake said as he showed us how to hoist an injured rider onto a horse.

I pressed my lips together, not sure what to say.

“I’m not grumpy. I’m quiet.”

Quietly grumpy, maybe.

Also, it meant Beau had been blabbing.

I fidgeted with the doohickey on the horse’s saddle for a few seconds, and Jake nudged me with his elbow. “Beau is a good guy. I know you’re just here for a little bit, but if you could please not treat my friend like a throwaway, I’d appreciate it.”

I think I preferred Grumpy Jake to Serious Jake.

“I would never do that,” I said quietly, making sure we were still out of earshot of the other parents.

One of thesteers made its way through a hole in the fence, and the result was pandemonium. Cows were all up and downthe main drive, and we got to see what a real roundup looked like.

All hands were on deck, including Stevie, who looked like she was having the time of her life. Watching Beau help drive the cattle back into their corral was something to see. River made fun of my slack jaw, but I ignored him because he was equally taken by Miguel on his horse, hair loose and flying behind him.