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“I remember Black Pearl,” she whispered, stroking Pearl’s all white nose. “I admired your mother’s horsemanship. She always encouraged me in my riding.” Her gaze darted toward him, perhaps checking for his reaction to a conversation about his mom.
He realized he wanted to hear what she had to say, however. His own store of memories about his parents was far too limited, and often overshadowed by the argument he’d had with them the last time they’d spoken.
Your siblings look up to you, Drake. You need to set a better example...
“Did she?” Drake prompted her, scratching behind Pearl’s ear when Fleur’s hand fell away.
She nodded. “I was never as good as Emma because we didn’t have horses at our house in Dallas. But your mom always picked out a calm animal for me to ride and gave me new confidence.”
Fleur’s smile lit her entire face, the memory clearly a good one for her. He couldn’t recall ever seeing that happy light in her eyes before. Not even when she’d been engaged to his brother.
The thought gave him pause, as he wondered if life had been tougher for her than he’d realized.
“I’m glad to know that about my mother, although it doesn’t surprise me to hear.” Clearing his throat, he put aside his own memories to focus on her. “Were you coming to the house? I’m not sure if Emma’s around, but you’re...welcome either way.”
He couldn’t help the halting words. He and Fleur had been opposing forces for too long. And Colin had insisted Fleur was the only one who could fill Drake in on the blanks in his mind about her broken engagement.
“I did plan to bring these to your sister.” She lifted a yellow tea towel laid over the willow basket she carried to show him the sweets within. “I wanted to apologize for my hasty words and let her know I would cater her reception if she still has need of my services.”
“If I promise I never told Emma otherwise, can I try one of these?” His hand hovered over the cookies as he inhaled the scent of almond and butter.
“They’repolvorones, and thank you, Drake. Keeping quiet about my mean side in front of your sister deserves a reward. Please take one.”
Her soft voice and conciliatory words stirred something inside him, and he shoved it ruthlessly aside to focus on the cookies.
Helping himself, he bit into one. They were delicious, like everything else she made. “Oh wow. You didn’t have these at the memorial or I would have remembered.”
Another smile from her as she tucked the yellow linen around the baked goods again.
“I’ve been fine-tuning the recipe all week, and I’m really happy with this version.”
“They’re amazing. Better than anything we offer at the Cowboy Kitchen.” He recalled that she needed a job, a job he hadn’t been able to convince her to take at the restaurant he now owned. “You should consider selling them there.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You don’t think the cook would be opposed to having baked goods brought in from outside?”
Drake shrugged. “Can’t hurt to ask.” He polished off the rest before gesturing to Pearl. “And we can ride back to the house.” He gestured to his horse.
“Oh, that’s okay. I’m fine to walk.” Her gaze darted between him and the animal.
Then high splotches of color appeared on her cheeks. That hint of awareness made him all the more determined to convince her.
“This is a day of olive branches, after all,” he pressed.
Her gray eyes moved over the horse before darting back to him.
“You trust Pearl with two riders?”
“Yes, and she trusts me.” Plus the house was less than a mile away. He wouldn’t expect the animal to carry the extra weight for any real distance.
His words seemed to have the desired effect because she stepped closer, passing him the basket so she could mount.
He clipped the basket into a carabiner hook on the saddlebag, then held the reins while Fleur put a boot in the stirrup. She hoisted herself up, smooth and easy, like she belonged on horseback. Of course, despite the hard time he’d given Fleur about being a rodeo pageant queen, they didn’t choose just anyone to represent the sport. The best were excellent horsewomen.
“Do you want to be in front?” She sat straight in the middle of the saddle, her legs bare and tanned to the tops of her cowboy boots.
“You take the reins.” He already knew she rode well. Hell, his mother had given her a stamp of approval. “I’ll ride behind.”
Pearl would have headed home now even without a hand on the reins. Besides, Drake couldn’t deny the desire to feel Fleur in his arms just this once. He knew her well enough to suspect the truce between them wouldn’t last, so this could be the only chance he ever had.
