Chapter 9
nine
. . .
Presley
“I don’t know why you’re getting such a late start.
There’s a big storm coming. It’s all they're talking about on the news,” my father said, as he sipped his water and popped a few grapes into his mouth.
His words were already getting clearer with each passing day.
He was making progress, which didn’t surprise me at all.
He was a fighter. I’d always assumed I inherited my inner badass from him.
I clearly didn’t get my mother’s inner pageant poise that she’d so wished I’d embodied.
“Yeah, well, they’ve been talking about this big snowstorm since I got here, and there hasn’t been one flurry yet.
Don’t worry. The truck has snow tires. And it’s only an hour and a half drive.
I’m going to the Valentine’s party at the school now, and then we’ll get on the road.
It’ll probably take around four to five hours round trip.
We’ll be home right before it gets dark. ”
“That was nice of Cage to agree to drive with you and check out the horse for us.”
“Yeah, it was very nice of him,” I said, clearing my throat.
I hated that I was excited that he was coming with me.
We’d be stuck together for five hours, and I barely slept last night thinking about it, even if he’d been cold to me when he stopped by the barn yesterday and treated me like I had the plague.
Being around Cage again after all these years reminded me why I was so hung up on the guy from the first time I’d laid eyes on him.
I mean, things were obviously different now.
We were in different places. But it didn’t mean I didn’t miss him.
It didn’t mean I didn’t want to know about his life.
Or that I wasn’t dying to ask what the story was with Gracie saying we were both in his heart.
I imagined it was a misunderstanding and that Gracie had just confused my name with something else.
But these questions consumed my thoughts.
And sure, I was curious if he had a girlfriend. It would be weird for me not to wonder.
We had a history.
He was making an effort to keep distance between us, stepping back every time I was around him.
Yet I only wanted to move closer to him when he was near.
I’d spent the last five years finding ways to put space and distance between me and my husband. Yet here I was, excited about a quick road trip with my ex-boyfriend.
I shook it off. This would all pass as soon as I went back home in a few weeks. At the rate my father was recovering, I’d be going home sooner than I’d planned. And I’d be a partner at the firm before I knew it.
My father cleared his throat and pulled me from my daze when he spoke. “I’ve got that animal doctor coming out later in the week to meet with you and Butch. I still can’t believe that the fraud of a man I was paying allowed those animals to suffer. I should bring my wrath down on him.”
He’d been furious to learn that two of his horses had pretty severe dental issues, and even the younger horses were in need of some dental care quickly before things got worse.
Cage had come by and sedated Honey yesterday before extracting her infected tooth.
He’d had to do a filling for Daisy, as well.
Both were eating and drinking normally this morning, so I felt hopeful that they were on the mend.
Cage had barely acknowledged me, almost like he couldn’t stand the sight of me. I’d asked about the Valentine’s party, and he’d kept his answers curt and short, making it very clear he wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
You don’t have to tell me twice.
I’d spent a lifetime with a mother who didn’t want me around, so I was quick to flee when I felt that slight bit of rejection. I had no idea how he’d act today, seeing as we’d be trapped in the truck for several hours.
Apparently, he’d asked Butch to take him to the house to see my dad after he’d finished up. He and my dad had always gotten along, and they shared a mutual respect for the other, though I don’t think they saw one another much after our breakup.
“Let’s save our wrath for physical therapy, okay? You’ve already terminated Dr. Flank. Focus on your recovery, and I’ll handle the horses.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“So, did Wes sign the papers?”
“He did. Everything has been filed. No more worrying, okay? I’m going to head out now.” I was looking forward to seeing Gracie again. There was just something about her. She was all warmth and sweetness. Hopefully, that would balance out her father’s sudden disdain for me.
“Call me when you arrive there, and let me speak to Cage about the horse.”
“I will. Get some rest.”
I made my way out to the driveway, where Butch had pulled up the truck with the horse trailer attached to the back. He reminded me for the hundredth time to take it slow over the pass. White Peak was on the other side of the mountain, which was a narrow road that I’d never loved driving on.
I pulled over at Cottonwood Blooms on my drive to the school to pick up the pink and white bouquet I’d ordered this morning for Gracie.
I may not have been a pageant girl, but I knew that you always brought flowers to a party or a show.
Janine, who owned the floral shop, was as friendly as she’d always been, and I waved goodbye before getting back into the truck.
When I pulled up and found a place to park the oversized monstrosity, I glanced in the mirror and reapplied some lipstick.
I’d decided to wear my pink blouse and dark jeans with my tan knee-high boots and my camel-colored dress coat.
I wasn’t sure what you wore to a kindergarten Valentine’s Day party, and I was suddenly more nervous than I’d been for red carpet events with my ex-husband.
I saw the text from Cage, which was very him.
Cage
Room 1A
I laughed as I stepped inside the building and followed the crowd down the hallway. He was a man of few words, especially when his walls were up.
And they were definitely up.
When I walked into the classroom, Gracie came running toward me.
I didn’t know that I’d ever felt this kind of instant love for another person.
Well, maybe for her father, back in the day.
I bent down, and her arms settled around my neck.
She smelled like strawberries, and her hair was up in two little buns, with wild curls springing free.
Her cheeks were pink, and she smiled this cute, crooked smile that was absolutely adorable.
“I’m so happy you’re here. Come sit with me and Daddy. We have a special spot for you.”
“Thank you for having me.” I pushed to stand, and she led me to the table where the sexiest man in the room was sitting on a very tiny chair, looking like an oversized grump.
I didn’t miss the way several women watched him, and their gaze moved to me when I sat in the chair on the other side of Gracie, who sat between us.
“These are for you,” I said. She made this little gasping sound and reached for the floral arrangement, holding it to her nose, her little eyes closing, and she breathed them in.
“These are the prettiest flowers I’ve ever seen, Presley.”
Cage huffed and glanced at the pink roses that he’d brought that were lying on the table. “You just said that to me.”
“But I’ve never gotten flowers from Presley before. I love yours, too, but hers are extra pretty.”
Gracie left to get us each a cup of juice, as all the kids were serving their parents.
Or their guests, as I’m sure Cage had clarified many times before I’d arrived.
I understood his need to protect her, but she’d invited me to a school Valentine’s Day party. She wasn’t offering me a kidney.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, keeping his voice low.
“Of course. I’m happy to be here. Are you sure you’re okay with the drive today? I’m hoping we’re back by around seven p.m.”
“Yes. It’s fine. My parents are happy to have Gracie for a few hours. The truck has snow tires, right? The weather said it’s going to snow, but I’ve been hearing it for days now.”
“That’s what I told my dad. If for any reason it gets bad, we’ll just turn around and come home.”
Gracie handed me a paper cup, her sweet smile reaching her dark brown eyes once again. Damn, she was cute. We sat there sipping our juice and eating cookies when Gracie’s teacher came over to say hello.
“It’s nice to see you, Mr. Reynolds.”
“I keep telling you, you can call me Cage. You were my teacher back in the day,” he said.
She smiled, but she didn’t call him by his first name. Instead, she turned her attention to me. “I’m Mrs. Clifton. Who do we have here?”
“This is Daddy’s special friend.” Gracie beamed.
Cage cleared his throat. “This is Presley Duncan. She used to spend her summers here, and she just came back to town for a little bit. She’s not staying long.”
Well, that was kind of a dick thing to say. He didn’t need to act like I was some random person he’d met on the street.
The man suddenly seemed anxious to get me out of town.
I held out my hand. “Yep. I barely know the guy. But his daughter sure is sweet. Nice to meet you.”
Gracie giggled, and I had no idea if she even had a clue that we weren’t being friendly. Mrs. Clifton chuckled before being pulled away when two kids started arguing over a cookie.
A little boy sauntered over, and he was glaring at Cage with his arms folded over his chest.
“Hi, Mr. Gracie’s dad.”
“Hello, Preston.” Cage’s tone was dry, lacking any emotion. “It’s Mr. Reynolds.”
“Like the tinfoil?” The little kid smirked, and it was hard not to laugh.
“Nope. Like the man that’s about ten times your size.”
“I might be as big as you when I grow up.”
Gracie was gaping from her father to the little boy, and she looked at me with wide eyes.