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Considering what had gone on, and not gone on, between them, their status had more of a “loosey-goosey limbo” feel to it.
Then, her phone buzzed.
And everything changed.
Alana’s heart tapped out a little dance and her stomach fluttered when she saw Egan’s name on the screen. Loralee must have seen it, too, because she huffed loud and long enough to extinguish a whole bunch of birthday candles. Alana turned the phone so her aunt wouldn’t be able to see the message and the photo Egan had sent.
Good thing, too, because this was as private as private got.
I’ve been trying to convince myself that I should spare you the gossip and leave you the hell alone. I’m failing big-time. If you’re not busy, I can come by your place later.
Beneath those joyful, mood-lifting words was a picture that spelled out the rest of his sentiment.
A photo of a jumbo box of condoms.
EGANHURRIEDINTOhis bathroom at the ranch to take the fastest shower in history, just enough to wash away the stench of the horses and the barn. Then, while he dressed, he tried to tamp down all the things that were making him feel like a randy teenager.
The heat and need for Alana were there. Man, were they. But even though he wasn’t going to try to talk himself out of seeing her, he wanted his brain to fully understand that this could be a mistake. So far, he was failing at that, and it was the reason he’d ended up sending Alana that photo of the condoms.
Exactly as a randy teenager would do.
Still, he had to smile at her response—three rows of thumbs-up—at his suggestion of coming to her place. Yeah, it would spin even more gossip, but Egan was almost past the point of caring. Almost. He thought maybe a night with Alana might even rid him of thealmost.
Grabbing his phone, he hurried out of his bedroom but then slowed when he saw the door of his dad’s room open. Egan came to a full stop after seeing his dad not in his usual sitting area but rather standing at the window.
Egan cleared his throat, making his presence known, and his dad glanced at him from over his shoulder before motioning for Egan to join him. Egan did, and he soon saw what had gotten his father’s attention. One of the trainers was working with an Andalusian mare in the front pasture.
“Remi used to name all the horses, remember?” his dad asked. “I miss her doing that.”
Egan smiled because he’d missed his dad talking about anything ranch-related. “The hands give some of them names. But yeah, Remi’s were better.”
His sister had usually gone with characters in her favorite books, and she did have a knack for matching the name with personalities of the horses. That’s how they’d ended up with a Hermione, Bella, Voldemort and Primrose.
Even though Egan had been in a hurry to get to Alana’s, he mentally slowed himself down. “Would you like me to have the hands bring more horses into the front pasture so you can watch them? Or I can walk with you outside so you can better see them.”
“No,” his dad said, but he didn’t jump straight into that denial. It seemed to Egan that he gave it a little thought. “Maybell mentioned that you got your leave extended.” He glanced at Egan, their eyes meeting for only a second before he returned his attention to the window.
“I did, and once my leave is up, I’ll commute for a while.”
His dad nodded. “And I understand you saw Audrey.”
With everything else going on, Egan hadn’t given that chance meeting much thought, but he should have. Audrey’s plans impacted his dad, which meant in turn they had an impact on him, too.
“Yes, I saw her at the base,” Egan said, and he waited to see how his dad would respond to that. He didn’t want to spill about Audrey’s possible assignment if she hadn’t gotten around to telling him.
“I know about the job she’s up for in Germany,” his dad volunteered. While he didn’t voice any disappointment or disapproval about that, Egan thought he heard some in the weary breath his dad dragged in. “I also know what’s going on with Tilly and Alana.”
Egan frowned, again debating how much to say. He went with a noncommittal “Oh?”
His dad did more than glance this time. He gave Egan a full look, studying his eyes. “Tilly did an interview with Parker at the newspaper, and the big papers in San Antonio and even a couple in Austin have picked up the story. Reporters are going out to Tilly’s to do a more thorough interview.”
Egan’s frown deepened, and the worry came. “Did Tilly bad-mouth Alana in the interview?”
“No,” his dad said. “She didn’t bad-mouth you, either. According to Maybell and Effie, Tilly took a different approach and told the interviewer that the life celebration was going to bemightyhard for her and Jack’s still-grieving widow, that Alana and she would almost certainly shed some tears over their heart-crushing loss.”
“Good grief,” Egan muttered.
His dad made a sound of agreement. “But Tilly added that she believes the event will celebrate Jack and remind Alana just how much she loves and misses her soulmate.”
