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Kendall went around to the other side of the horse. They were getting into a routine, and every day Evelyn bugged her for details. And each day she had no idea what to say. “We’re sex and no entanglements, and we like it that way.”
“That only works for so long.”
“We have until we get to New York.”
The saddle slid toward Evelyn, and she hefted it with ease. She slapped it in its holder. “Wait, what?”
Kendall cringed. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
“Yes, I think you did.”
No, she really hadn’t. Crap. “It’s complicated. If I tried to explain it to you, there would be more questions.”
“I’m good at complicated.”
Kendall snorted. “No, you’re not. You like simple. That’s why you like horses better than people.”
“You”—Evelyn pointed a finger at her—“are way too perceptive. But I really am good at complications. I just don’t choose to get involved most of the time.”
“Why would you get involved with me, then?”
“Because Ilikeyou.”
Kendall choked out a laugh and sniffed at the same time. She tipped her head back to stop the sudden tears. She was good until Evelyn had shown honest concern. There were so few people in her life she’d allowed to get close enough to notice when she was having a bad day.
“But if there are tears, then we don’t get to talk anymore.”
Kendall flipped a bucket and plopped down on it. “Crying doesn’t solve anything. I’m just breaking the cardinal rule of a fling.” She sniffed again and patted her eyes with the backs of her hands. “I always sucked at rules.”
“Ah, so this wasn’t supposed to be anything serious with Oscar?”
Kendall couldn’t help a small smile. Everyone had taken to her nickname for Shane. He was stern with the men and didn’t try to make friends. It was his job to be the hammer, and he was good at it.
And she ached for that smile that was imperceptible to anyone but her.
“We’re business partners—though it doesn’t seem like it. Thanks to a ridiculous will, Shane and I are co-owners in a bed-and-breakfast. The plan was to make it across the country and figure out if we’re going to sell the house and split the profits or run the place together.”
“That sounds very clinical for something that can’t possibly be that simple.”
“It’s not. God, even saying it out loud sounds ludicrous.”
Evelyn crouched in front of her. “Just tell me, honey.”
She hadn’t told anyone, hadn’t really faced just how much change there would be when they got home. She’d been so stupid to think she could go on having a fun road trip with him when she got home and everything in her life would change.
Maybe she really did think she could convince him to share the B and B and start a life.
Maybe she was an idiot.
“My father died a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, honey.” Evelyn covered her hands. Kendall relaxed under her touch.
“It hurt Shane more than it affected me. Lawrence hadn’t been my father since I was five. But he raised Shane like a son.”
Evelyn stood and pushed a bucket of water in front of her. “We’ll rub down Porthos, and you can tell me everything.”
Kendall nodded. “My father left when I was a kid. I never knew why, just that he up and left one day. And then it was just me and my mom.” She’d been young enough that adjusting hadn’t changed her life, and missing Larry had faded over time.
