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I swallowed at how impressed I was, though, not wanting to seem like I was drooling over the way she was way punchier than she let on. “I’ll be ready to go in just a second.”
She nodded, standing there and stroking Freddy’s face, getting to know him. “He’s a super pretty guy.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, quickly brushing Beamer down and tossing the saddle pad on him. “He’s eleven this year. It’s about time for him to be retired, honestly, but I just can’t let him go. I always figured that I would pass him along to my kid someday or something.”
Her face shifted, though I couldn’t read the expression on it. “That would be cool to pass a horse down.” Her voice was soft but not necessarily emotional—if anything, it was a little flat. “My dad had a horse that he was supposed to pass down to my sister, but he didn’t do it—he sold it for drug money.”
Oof. That’s rough.
“That’s awful. I’m real sorry about that—about everything you’ve had to go through. I know you don’t want my sympathy, but I just think every kid should get to grow up in a family that loves them. My dad is a real piece of work some days, but it was a walk in the park compared to your house.”
She shrugged, sticking her boot in the stirrup and mounting up. “It is what it is. I had to play the cards I was dealt. Not everyone can be billionaire ranch babies.”
“Nope,” I grunted, following suit. Beamer was ready to go, and immediately began dancing beneath me as I made sure the food I had packed was secured in the saddle bags.
“Lead the way,” Cheyenne gestured for me to go.
I nodded but didn’t budge, taking in the sight of her on Freddy. She looked like an angel on him, looking breathtaking in her white t-shirt and faded blue jeans. The woman could make anything look amazing.
And I was there for it.
She cleared her throat, raising an eyebrow at me, and I reined Beamer around, thankful to be facing away from her as my cheeks went red. I led the way out of the barn and down the alleyway to the horse pasture gate. Beamer was already sinking well over his hooves in the mud, the soggy conditions of the alley predicting what the pasture was going to be like.
“We’re gonna have to take it slow,” I said to her as I swung the gate open for us. “I don’t want either of us falling.”
“And we might be eating those sandwiches horseback, because I am not sitting in a mudhole,” Cheyenne teased, trotting through the gate.
“I thought you didn’t care about all that?” I led the way down the fence line, the two of us falling in step beside each other.
“I don’t mind getting dirty, but that doesn’t mean that I enjoy sitting in the mud to eat a meal.”
“Touché, so what do you think of the ranch?” I asked her, finding myself somewhat apprehensive as she went silent for a few long moments.
Her eyes scanned the rolling hills in front of us, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as they landed on the herd of horses. “I think that it might just be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen—other than the museum of a house. It’s gorgeous, but it’s not really my style.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I think we’ve covered that already. If I ever find someone who won’t take me for all I’m worth, I intend to build my own house on the other side of the property—kind of over where the hunting cabin is.”
She turned to look at me, her eyes studying my face. “What kind of house would you want to build?”
“A farmhouse, like the kind you see in the movies,” I admitted carefully, preparing for her to laugh—like most people did. “I don’t want something over the top. I just want something that feels like home.”
“I think that sounds like a dream.” She smiled at me, and it damn near melted my heart right in my chest. “If I wanted to have a family, I think that’s what I’d want—given that I had the money for it,” she added with a laugh. Her tone was devoid of humor, and I saw that it didn’t reach her eyes, either.
“So…” I paused, trying to be thoughtful before speaking, “…you say you don’t want a family because of your parents, but your sister has a family, right? And she’s happy?”
“Well, yeah,” she said, her lips pursing. “I guess Leia is happy with her family and their daughter... But I just—it’s just such a risk. Most of the time, people are attracted to the same kind of people they were raised by.”
“So you don’t trust yourself?”
“I mean, I slept with you,” she countered, her tone shifting to teasing.
I rolled my eyes at her. “I would be offended if that wasn’t such a good comeback. I swear you’re the wittiest woman I’ve ever met.”
“Thanks.” Her smile grew larger as she flashed those perfect teeth at me. “I’m actually really flattered by that.”
“Of course, you are. It’ll be weird when you leave,” I blurted out, not realizing what I had said until Cheyenne’s mouth dropped open. “I just mean because I’ve gotten used to you being on the other side of my room—”
“Itwillbe weird when I leave,” she cut me off, her face softening. “I’ve really enjoyed staying here... withyou.” The admission coming from Cheyenne—the tough, reserved woman, made my heart squeeze.
