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Somehow,Duke and I procured enough ingredients to make decent tacos. Not my best work, but if Blake said they were her favorite, then I wanted that to be what she had. When I cooked for her again, I would be sure to wow her with my skills.
Duke chopped the tomato and lettuce, while I sautéed the ground meat.
“Dude, stop checking your phone. It’s been two minutes since the last time you checked.”
Duke’s gravelly voice had me glancing in his direction. He could try to hide it all he wanted, but the more he got worked up, the more of a grouch he was. He was waiting on pins and needles for Abbey to come home just as much as I was.
He was right though. I glanced at the clock on the oven and only another minute had passed. The sun still had an hour before it fully set and the darkness crept in, but my insides felt itchy knowing she was out there alone. Nothing could get to her while on the ranch, but she didn’t know the place, and what if she got lost on her way to the house?
The distant sound of barking straightened my spine, and I wiped my hands on a dish towel before making my way to the front door.
Jax came bounding in as soon as the door opened. Before Abbey made it inside, Jax zoomed back outside and circled her, barking happily. His yaps and her laugher made my chest tighten. It was important that whoever stayed with us—a temporary guest or the woman who completed our family—had to get along with and love Jax.
Duke and I had only taken Jax in a few months prior, but he was just as much a part of the family as either of us were. He’d done a lot for Duke, pulling him from his PTSD episodes, and he gave me another companion I could look after.
“Did you have a good day?” I locked the door behind Abbey and Jax.
“It was great. This place is so beautiful. I could spend all day, every day, out there.” Abbey beamed as she set her bag on the sofa. “Except it’s so hot outside. Is it always this bad?” Her southern drawl was adorable. It reminded me of Blake and Grace’s, but it was so much cuter on Abbey.
“It can get worse. Even though it’s fall, the heat will get to you. In about a month, we should get some cooler weather.” Duke popped his head around the kitchen corner.
“Well, that’ll be refreshing. I should have delayed my trip a little longer.” She cast her smile in his direction. The corner of his mouth tilted at her sarcasm.
I chuckled and pointed to the couch. “Sit. Relax. Dinner should be ready soon.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” Abbey clasped her hands in front of her.
“I think we are good. Duke here is a great sous chef.” I nudged Duke as I re-entered the kitchen.
“Fuck you,” Duke mumbled under his breath, only making me laugh more. He was easy to pick on because he was a grump, but I knew he understood it was all in good fun. It was how we’d gotten along so well over the years. When I joined the Kingston Equestrian team, I didn’t know anyone. But then I met Duke when he came back from the police academy, and we hit it off right away.
“Do you like wine with your dinner, or do would you like something stronger?” I called from my place behind the kitchen island.
“Water is just fine.” Abbey strode into the kitchen. She made her way to the cabinet and grabbed a glass. “What are you both having?”
“I’ll have water as well,” I said at the same time as Duke gave his own answer, “Water, please.”
Abbey went to work filling three glasses. “So, what’s for dinner? It smells amazing in here.”
“Tacos.” Duke lined the island with bowls of toppings, and I set the pan of meat on a trivet near the tortillas. “In fact, it’s ready when you are.”
“Ooh. I love tacos.” Abbey rubbed her hands together and danced to the island where the plates were stacked.
“Ladies first.” I looked at Duke and winked. She was cute. All excited over a simple meal. I had to remember to file that away.It’s the simple things that count with her.
Within minutes, we were sitting at the dining room table, stuffing our faces.
“So, Liam… You were at the show with Blake and Grace? Did you win anything?” Abbey asked between mouthfuls.
“Yes, I was there, but I didn’t compete.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Why weren’t you competing?”
“My horse, Zeus, is still getting over an infection. He was the one you were hanging out with in the paddock.”
Abbey froze. “Oh my gosh, please tell me I wasn’t hurting him. He was laying there, and I didn’t think anything of leaning against him.” Her eyes grew wide.
