CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – LILY
I can’t get Logan’s whispered taunt out of my head for the rest of the day.
And he has a point, even if it was kind of made at my expense. I mean, who wouldn't love to live on a ranch with your own private lake, a nest under the stars, and mountain air that smells like butterscotch mingled with rich, dark cherries?
Correction.
It’s only the house that smells like cherries, especially since Otley is never more than a dozen paces away from me at any time. Something Rosie has no qualms about pointing out as we sip a fancy cocktail on the deck and watch Otley stride around the kitchen like a mage weaving a powerful spell.
“He’s quite handsome for a stalker,” Rosie muses, as she swirls her straw through the mint in her mojito.
“I mean, romance books always paint them as tall, dark, and sexy, when they’re really just weirdos lurking in alleyways with bad haircuts.
But Otley James actually is attractive. If you’re into men with ash blond hair, storm cloud eyes, and square jaws, I mean. ”
I lean forward to wave the olive from my martini in her face. “Hello! You do remember I’m mated to Logan, right?”
“And a lovely big bite it is,” Rosie hums, patting my knee. “But let’s face it. Logan Sawyer was the original stalker. Did you know he dislocated his arm hanging out his window, trying to get a peek at you in your homecoming gown?”
I blink at her. “That’s not true.”
Rosie snorts. “I have x-ray evidence. And if you still don’t believe me, ask yourself - are you boinking the town quack, or am I?”
“God, please don’t use that word.”
“Okay. Medical professional,” she quips, her eyes shining with typical Rosie glee.
“Okay, I’ll stop needling you, but then you need to admit what's right in front of your face. This ranch is crawling with eligible men who hover around you like you’re the queen bee.
” She gives a pointed nod in Tristan’s direction, who is setting the table in the dining room and is thankfully separated from us by a thick panel of glass.
“Take that pretty beta, for instance. Anyone would think you two have known each other for years, not weeks.”
I bite my lip, because she’s right. I’ve been drawn to Tristan since the first day I met him, and in different circumstances, I’d definitely have considered him a perfect catch.
“It’s complicated.” She snorts and I frown.
“This media stuff hasn’t been easy for him, either.
But he’s only been kind and helpful to me, when plenty of others in his position would have tried to run me out of town. ”
“Hmm.” Rosie taps her nails on her cocktail glass. “Well, luckily for all of you, you don’t have to choose.”
“Sure.” I hold her gaze a beat longer, because two can play this game. “Just like I get to pick where I want to live.”
It’s a dig at her selling the farm and she huffs as she sucks up the last of her cocktail and sets the glass aside. “Magnolia rang me yesterday.”
That’s the last thing I expected her to say. “Aunt Maggie?”
“She saw the story on the news and was worried. Wanted you to know that if you need legal representation, she’ll provide it for half her normal fee.”
I snort at the offer, since Rosie’s sister is a very successful businesswoman, mainly because she’s never met a penny she didn’t want to pinch. “That’s generous of her.”
“Well, it doesn’t stop there. Seems she’s had enough of big city life and wants to come back to Knotty Falls.”
“Seriously?” Color me stunned a second time. “But what about her fancy townhouse and her corner office with the view of Central Park?”
“Burnout, I s’pose.” Rosie picks a piece of mint off her tongue, but I can see the happy glow in her eyes.
Not at Magnolia’s predicament, but at the thought of her long-lost sister finally coming home.
“She says she’s looking for a change of pace, and when I mentioned selling the farm, she said she was interested.
She’s made me quite a generous verbal offer, in fact. ”
My heart sinks a little, because if dollars are being discussed, this isn’t just idle talk. “But does Aunt Maggie really want to be a flower farmer? You’re always telling people she has agriphobia.”
“Who knows? She says she has ideas.” Rosie clicks her tongue, like her sister is talking about magic beans. “It would keep it in the family, though. And let's be honest, a New York defense lawyer is probably better suited to shoveling shit than we are.”
She cackles at her own joke, but I trace the seam of my jeans with the bottom of my cocktail glass. “You know I don’t mind it so much.”
“Oh, shush! You give everyone that little speech about blood, sweat, and manure. And what happened to your dream of rescuing horses?”
My mouth drops open. “How do you know about that?”
“I listen. I observe.” She taps the side of her nose. “You must have filled three scrapbooks with your ideas when you were in middle school. I assumed you'd start pestering me about fixing up the old riding stables, especially when you stole that lame old nag from Dirk Riley's yard.”
“I didn’t steal Sunshine,” I protest. “He jumped the fence and followed me home.”
“Like Lily's little lamb,” she coos. “That’s the same excuse you gave Sheriff Winters even though that horse couldn't jump a rain puddle in July.”
I shrug, because we both know I broke that horse out, and I’d do it again. “Dirk Riley was a mean, old bully.”
Rosie sweeps her empty cocktail glass off the table and holds it aloft. “May he rest in perpetual discomfort, the nasty, old coot.”
I smile, because I’m more than happy to toast his predicament, especially since he was eventually given jail time for neglecting his livestock.
“So, choices,” Rosie draws the word out like it’s a drumroll.
“You have a few of them, my girl. Including when you’re gonna tell Leo what's happening out there. You can’t stick his head in the sand forever.
And it’s a sensible head - most of the time.
You find a way to help him through this, and he might surprise you at how well he copes. ”
It’s good advice, but my heart still clenches at the thought of Leo being exposed to the cruelest rumors. Tristan has been keeping an eye on it for me, and he says it’s getting more outlandish, not less, since the news cycle hasn’t been fed anything fresh for a couple of days.
“I’ll think about it,” I tell her as Tristan heads towards us with fresh cocktails in hand. “But whatever happens, Leo’s wellbeing comes first.”
Although, it’s hard to remember exactly how rabid the media can be when we’re so far from its reach.
The next morning, we take the horses out on a trail ride, George’s son Bobby leading the way on a pretty, dun-coated quarter horse.
It’s my first chance to ride Tomorrow’s Roses, and I’m in love before we make it out of sight of the barn.
Even though Zander insists it’s the horse who should choose the rider, I quickly realize that she’s perfect for me, with her springy step and willing-to-please personality.
We spend most of the morning following meandering creeks and exploring the high mountain pastures, only heading back to the ranch when the stomach growls grow louder than the thump of hooves.
After lunch, the guys take the horses out again to help George fix the fence, while I grab a book and slip into a bath.
My muscles are aching from both the morning ride and last night in the nest, when Logan knotted me while the other guys were asleep.
The secrecy of it added to the excitement, especially when he put his hand over my mouth to smother my gasps.
Every quiet thrust pushed me closer to the edge, until he sucked his mating bite so hard, I saw entire galaxies in the skylight above us.
I’m humming at the memory when my phone buzzes, and Ellis’ name flashes up on the screen. I grab it so fast, I nearly drop it in the tub, and I know I sound breathless as I return his greeting.
“Did I catch you out on the trails?” he asks, clearly smiling despite the thread of exhaustion in his voice.
“I took Tomorrow’s Roses out this morning.” I scoop up a handful of fragrant bubbles and blow them off my fingers, smiling at the memory. “She’s so beautiful, Ellis. You should have seen how happy she looked, frolicking with Moondance and the other horses.”
“I’m so glad, sweetheart.” There’s a rustle at the other end, like he’s settling into a chair. “But are you alone right now? I tried Tristan’s cell, but he didn’t answer.”
“He’s probably out of range. They’ve taken the horses to the high pasture to fix a fence with George.”
“Okay.” He sounds relieved, and I realize how hard it must be for him, so far from his mates. “Why didn’t you go along? Had enough frolicking for one day?”
I smirk at the teasing note in his voice, a flush warming my face. “No, I’m having a bath. My muscles are a little sore.”
“From too much riding?” He sounds worried now, and my cheeks burn hotter. “I’ll talk to Zander about getting you a better saddle.”
“No, you don’t need to. The saddle is fine, really.” I bite my lip, but I can’t resist adding, “I’m just a little worn out from the other kind of frolicking.”
There’s a loaded silence for a moment before his breath leaves him in a whoosh of curses. “Oh, fuck my shitty fucking luck!” It takes him a while to calm down, and I can’t help giggling at his frustration. “And you’re in the tub right now? Which one?”
“Um. The big one. In the pack suite.”
“God, you’re killing me! And you’re all alone, with sore muscles that need rubbing?
” I splash the water a little as proof, and he groans like he’s dying.
“Lily, please think of me while you’re soaking out those aches.
I wish I was there to do it for you, but I have to go and strangle a couple of lawyers.
” He groans again, like he’s heaving himself back out of his chair.
“I hope you feel better soon, sweetheart.”