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He shot her a single, hard look. “Leave it alone.”
“Yeah, that’s gonna happen,” she said with a laugh as she swung her hair back from her face. “You know Mom and I were worried about you when Sasha took off.”
He did know that, and it didn’t make him feel any better to recognize it. Sure, he’d taken it hard, but anyone would have. He remembered his family trying to make him see that Sasha leaving was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. But he hadn’t been willing to admit that then.
“Yeah, so?”
“Naomi was the one you turned to back then.”
“I know that, too.” He remembered how Naomi had drawn him out of the dark fury that had held him in a grip for weeks after the woman he thought he’d loved left with another man. She’d stuck by him no matter what he’d done to make her leave. She’d stayed to be insulted when he was rude to her.
Naomi had just flat refused to leave him alone to brood. Instead, she’d dragged him out to the movies, to dinner, to picnics. He’d remembered how to laugh because of her. And eventually, he’d admitted that it hadn’t been Sasha he had missed, but the idea of her. Of a wife. Family.
“But you’re still holding on to what Sasha made you feel, Toby.”
“The hell I am.” He brushed that aside, stepped back and opened the stall door so his sister could exit. When she was out, he closed and locked the door behind her.
Sunlight speared through the open stable door to form a slash of pale gold along the center aisle. The scent of hay and horses was thick in the air, but it didn’t
give Toby the sense of peace it usually did. Hell, there was never peace when Scarlett was on a tear.
“You don’t even realize it,” his sister said, “but ever since that woman, you’ve looked at everyone else like you’re just waiting for them to turn on you. To prove themselves dishonest. Untrustworthy.”
He shifted uneasily. He was long since over Sasha, but the lesson she’d taught him had remained fresh. “So being cautious is wrong?”
“That’s not cautious, Toby,” she said, laying one hand on his chest. “That’s cowardly.”
“Oh, thanks very much.” He turned and headed for the next stall, opening it for her and holding it even when she didn’t step inside.
“What would you call it if someone refused to care again because they might get hurt? Refused to trust again because they might be let down?”
He wanted to say careful, but he was afraid she had a point.
“Naomi loves you.”
“How the hell do you know that?” he demanded. “She only told me last night.”
“And you let her leave anyway?” Scarlett’s eyes went wide in astonishment. “God, you really are an idiot. Of course she loves you. She always has. If you weren’t such a stubborn male, you would have noticed it on your own.”
She walked into the stall and slammed the door closed behind her.
“Love wasn’t part of our deal,” he argued, even knowing it was weak.
“Love isn’t a bargain, Toby. It’s a gift. One you just returned.” She shook her head again and turned away to do another physical on the next mare. “Idiot.”
Toby watched her but stopped listening to her frustrated muttering. He had a feeling it wasn’t real flattering to him anyway. And maybe he didn’t deserve flattery. Maybe he was the idiot his sister had called him.
And maybe, he thought in disgust, he’d tossed aside something he should have been fighting for.
* * *
When her cell phone rang, Naomi grabbed it, hoping to see Toby’s name on her screen, and felt a swift stab of disappointment when it wasn’t him. She answered on a sigh. “Hi, Cecelia.”
Her friend started talking in a rush. “Naomi, you remember that guy Gio you told me and Simone about when you came home from that big fashion show?”
Naomi rolled her eyes and dropped into a chair. Curling her feet up underneath her, she said wryly, “Yes, I remember him.” Just saw him yesterday, she wanted to add but didn’t. “What about him?”
“I was watching that gossip channel on cable just now, and he’s all over it.” Cecelia paused for dramatic effect. “Can I just say wow? You didn’t tell us how pretty he is.”
