Chapter 23
twenty-three
. . .
Presley
My father was doing so well that he’d sailed through physical therapy this morning, and I’d had breakfast with him and my mom before heading to the spa to check on the progress.
Lola and I walked through the space as she pointed out the walls that had been taken down, and I could really see her vision now.
“Wow. I can’t believe how quickly things are coming along,” I said.
“Right? And the good news is that they are staying on budget. We haven’t had to dip into the contingency fund at all yet.” My best friend smiled.
“This is so great, Lo. I’m so proud of you for making it all happen. Are we still on track to open in late spring?”
“Yep. I’ve even had a few interviews this week for massage therapists, and I met with two potential yoga teachers. Everyone in town is excited about it. Of course, Mrs. Runither asked if I would have a male masseuse available for her.”
“Of course, she did. I went there with Cage and Gracie for dinner last night, and she was doing everything she could to flirt with him, and he was having none of it,” I said, and her head fell back in laughter.
“You sure do spend a lot of time with them. You going to be okay when you leave? Have you guys talked about how that’s going to look?”
“I mean, we live on opposite sides of the country.” I shrugged, that heavy feeling landing on my chest. “We knew this before we started anything. I just didn’t plan to get in this deep, you know?”
It was the truth. I hadn’t expected to spend this much time with Cage.
With Gracie.
With his family.
Most importantly, I hadn’t expected to feel all these things. All these feelings.
“Yeah, I was just happy you guys were on good terms again, but boy, did it go from zero to one hundred fast.” She chuckled. “I should have known it. That’s how you guys always were. If you were in the same room, you were going to find a way to be right next to one another.”
I nodded as I ran my hand over the white quartz countertop they’d just installed at the front desk. Everything was going to be light and airy.
“And when we aren’t in the same room, we both find a way to survive on our own. Eileen just sent my calendar over, and they have my days pretty packed with meetings and conference calls the day I arrive back at the office. So, we’ll both be busy diving back into our lives.”
“And you’ll just go back to being on your own and spending long hours at the office?” she asked, as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall.
“I guess so, Lo. It’s worked for the last few years just fine. I love my job, you know that. And that magazine article has brought all sorts of attention to me and the firm.”
“I understand how much you love your work, but the attention will eventually die down, so don’t let that make you feel pressure now.
You’re allowed to do what you want. And I worry that it will be more challenging to go back to that old way of life after these last few weeks.
I haven’t seen this side of you since we were teenagers. ”
“And what side is that?” I raised a brow, irritated that she wanted to point out how difficult it was going to be for me back home.
I was returning to a city that I loved. And an office where my name was going to be listed on the outside of a building where I’d been working for years.
This was what I’d wanted for so long. I didn’t want to let this dark cloud ruin it.
“The side where your smile is genuine. Your laugh is real and not sarcastic. The one where you take Honey out for a ride in the mornings, and you let yourself be in the moment. The one where you’re all glowy from all the sex you’re having.
” She barked out a laugh and held up her hand to stop me.
“The one where you fill me in every day on how proud you are of Gracie’s riding and that you have her paintings taped all over your refrigerator.
My God, can you imagine having paintings taped to your fancy refrigerator in the penthouse? ”
“Your point?”
“This just feels like… you.” Her gaze softened, and my heart squeezed at her words.
“This has nothing to do with the fact that you live here now, and you want me to come run the spa with you?” I chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. There was no sense in analyzing it. Sure, I was enjoying myself, the way one enjoys being on vacation.
But this wasn’t my real life.
“Obviously, I’d love to work side by side with you every day.
But it’s not why I’m saying this. I’m not a completely selfish asshole.
If I were, I’d be jealous that you’re having all the sex while I’m sleeping alone in my bed every night.
” She chuckled. “I just want you to be happy, Pres. And you just seem really… happy lately.”
“Maybe that’s because I’m finally divorced. The scandal with Wes has died down. My contract for our partnership is ready to be signed when I return. I just signed a huge client that I will be lead on. Do any of those things sound like fair reasons to be happy?”
She forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah. Those are good reasons, too.”
She was finally going to drop it and give me a break. We both knew that Cage and Gracie were the reasons that I’d been so happy lately. I just didn’t want to say it out loud.
Because I knew that it wouldn’t change anything.
So, I was just going to be thankful for the time that I had and carry it with me when I left.
“Well, we’re just so grateful that you’ve accepted the position,” I said to Dr. Jake, the new equestrian physician my father had hired.
He’d interviewed several people for the position, but Jake Rowling lived one town over, and he was looking for a full-time position since relocating out west from Chicago a few weeks ago.
“The timing couldn’t be better. I grew up in Garden Grove, so I’m happy to be back where my roots are.
My wife and I like small-town living. But I didn’t want to open a clinic there, so this is the perfect fit.
Not a bad commute either, and you’ve got a gorgeous property, and horses are my strong suit.
” He smiled, flashing me his pearly whites.
To most, he’d probably be considered good-looking.
Unfortunately, I preferred the strong, broody, frowning guy who was just walking up with Gracie’s hand in his.
And he was definitely frowning as his gaze moved from me to Dr. Jake.
“Presley!” Gracie shouted as she dropped her father’s hand and started running toward me. I caught her in my arms and breathed in all the goodness. Seeing her every day filled me in a way I hadn’t known possible.
“Hi, baby girl,” I said as I ran my fingers through her pretty curls. She smelled like strawberries and sweetness today, and I freaking loved it. “Dr. Jake, this is Gracie and her father, Dr. Reynolds.”
Jake extended his hand to Cage, who was still frowning and looked like he wanted to punch the guy in the face.
“Hey, nice to meet you both. Dr. Reynolds, you’ve been covering for me until I got here, huh?” Dr. Jake said, clearly not great at reading the room because he didn’t seem to notice how agitated Cage was when he pulled his hand away abruptly.
“Yes. You must be the new guy.” Cage folded his arms over his chest.
“I don’t know. I’ve been called the good guy most of my life,” Dr. Jake said, with a wink in my direction, and I chuckled along with him. A deep growl left Cage’s throat, which only made the whole situation funnier.
“Good for you. Let’s hope you can take better care of these animals than the last guy did.”
“Not a doubt in my mind. I’m on it. And how old are you, Gracie?” He turned his attention to her, and Cage stepped closer because he couldn’t help but be protective at all times.
“I’m five years old, but I’ll be six years old really soon. Presley and me ride together almost every day.”
“Yeah? Well, when she heads back to New York next week, I’d be happy to take over for her so you can keep coming out to the ranch and riding.” Jake smiled, and I knew he meant well, but Cage narrowed his gaze at the man like he’d just committed a crime.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll be continuing her lessons.” His voice was harsh, and Jake nodded before taking a step back.
“All right, then. You all have a good lesson. Presley, I’ll come find you before I leave.” He winked again, and I had to put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing at the way Cage was glaring at the man who seemed completely unaware.
I set Gracie down, and she took off running toward Sally’s stall.
“I don’t like him,” Cage said, keeping his voice low.
“Really? I couldn’t tell.”
“Why the fuck is he called Dr. Jake? I’m assuming that’s his first name.”
“He likes it. It’s less formal.”
“It’s stupid,” he said, running a hand over the scruff on his jaw.
“You’re just finding any reason not to like him, aren’t you?”
He glanced over at me. “That fucker’s eyes were all over you. And then he tried kissing up to my daughter to win some points with you.”
“I was standing in front of him. Where else would his eyes be?”
“Trust me. It’s a dude thing. He wants you.”
“You know you’re ridiculous, right? He’s married and has a baby on the way.”
“So he says.” He stopped in front of the stall.
“He showed me a picture of his beautiful wife, and he’s already requested time off when she has the baby. Take it down a notch, Cowboy. You seem a little jealous.” I smacked him on the ass playfully before walking past him to help Gracie get saddled up.
The next hour was spent with me working with Gracie and Sally. Cage went to talk with Dr. Jake about the horses. Hopefully, he’d ease up now that he knew he was married.
“She likes the sound of your voice,” I said.
“How do you know?” Gracie asked.
“I can tell by the way her head moves the slightest bit every time you speak. She loves you.”
“I love her. I hope Daddy lets me keep coming after you leave.”
“I think he will. And your barn will be done soon, so I’ll bet you’ll get a horse of your own.”
“I don’t want any other horse. I love Sally, and she’s my girl. Right, Presley?”
“Yep. When you know, you know.”
“I know about you,” she said, and she looked over at me with those big brown eyes and smiled.
“What do you know about me?” I held the reins and continued walking in a circle, leading Sally along.
“I know that you feel like you’re mine.”
My heart nearly exploded at her words.
“You do?”
“I do. I told Daddy I wish we could keep you forever.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I nodded. I couldn’t find words to reply, and I blinked several times to push away the tears that threatened to fall.
I finally pulled myself together.
“You feel like you’re mine, too. And I’ll keep you in here forever,” I said, placing my hand over my heart.
“I love riding with you. And I love painting with you. And I love your pretty hair and your riding boots, and your laugh makes me happy.”
A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly swiped it away as a weepy laugh left my mouth.
“I love your laugh and your smile and your face and your pink boots and your pretty paintings. I love listening to you read and tell me about your day and what all the kids had for lunch. And I really love the way it feels when I hold your hand.”
“Presley! I love holding your hand, too. What does it feel like to you?”
Forever.
“It feels sweet and special. And your hands are always toasty and warm.” I chuckled.
“Because Daddy makes me wear mittens to school when none of the other kids are wearing them.”
“That’s because he loves you so much,” I said, as we kept walking, and I fought the urge to pull her down and wrap her in my arms.
“You know what else I love about you?”
“What?” I asked, trying to hide the smile from my face.
“I love how happy Daddy is when you come to our house or when he sees you here. I know why he has us both in his heart now.”
“Why is that?” I asked as I saw Cage out of my peripheral moving closer.
“Because we’re his girls, and he loves us.” And then she leaned down and whispered. “But don’t tell him I told you. He’s at work, and he doesn’t like to talk about it.”
I gave her a wink as I led Sally over to her father. I helped her off the horse, and we made our way toward the stall.
“Did things go a little better this time?” I asked him, my voice all tease.
“I guess. I still don’t trust him.”
I rolled my eyes and slipped my hand in his. “And why is that?”
“His teeth are too white, and he’s too friendly.”
“Sounds about right.” I laughed.
After Sally was settled, we walked toward Cage’s truck.
He buckled Gracie into her booster seat, and I slipped into the passenger side as he climbed into the driver’s seat and got himself buckled.
He adjusted the rearview mirror to look at his daughter and then glanced over at me.
His hand moved to my seat belt to make sure it had snapped all the way in before he pulled the truck down the driveway.
And there was no doubt about it.
His daughter had his heart.
But I think she was right.
I was fairly certain that I had a piece of it, too.