14. Tabitha
14
TABITHA
“T hey’ve finished painting.”
“Oh, really? I thought they wouldn’t be done until next week.”
“That’s what they told me, but they ran late last night just so they could wrap it up,” Marissa explained. “I was wondering if you might want to meet me over there and check it out. I could show you some of the new furniture I’m looking into.”
“Sure, that would be great.” I still needed to feed and water the horses, and I still hadn’t showered yet. “I can head over in about an hour.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
I ended the call, then put on some old clothes, and made my way downstairs. Harlan, one of my farm hands, had already cleaned out most of the stalls and was starting to change out the feed and water buckets. I gave him a hand, and once we had them all taken care of, I rushed upstairs for a much-needed shower.
As I got undressed, I tried not to think about Hudson or how amazing our night together had been. I tried not to catch his scent on my skin or feel my tender, swollen lips, but it was tough. I never imagined that I could enjoy being with a man so much, and the sex was even better than I could’ve possibly imagined.
I had always closed my eyes and let myself escape to another time or place, blocking anything and everything that was happening around me, but Hudson wanted me there and in the moment. He wanted me to feel everything he was doing to me and for me to know exactly who was making me come undone. And when he said, ‘eyes on me, baby’, it turned me on in ways I can’t describe, and it turned me on now just thinking about it.
Damn. I needed to pull myself together.
I only had a few minutes before I had to leave to meet Marissa at the casino. I took a few deep breaths, then hopped into the shower. Once I was done, I put on some fresh clothes and pulled my hair into a loose bun. I didn’t bother with much makeup. I wasn’t going to be seeing anyone important—not until later. So, I slipped on my shoes, grabbed my things, and rushed out to my car.
Twenty minutes later, I was pulling into the casino’s parking lot, and the first thing I noticed wasn’t the new awning or the billboard sign. It was the motorcycles that were lined up along the curb. It was official. The Fury boys were making their presence known. They weren’t really doing anything. They were just sitting there, talking among themselves. But something about having them there brought a shift to the air.
They were powerful and fearsome, but they didn’t seem to notice it.
Or maybe they did.
Maybe that was the point.
When I started up to the front door, one of them looked up. He was a big guy with long hair that was pulled back into a low tie. His leather cut fit snug over broad shoulders. Recognition flickered across his face, and he gave me a quick chin lift.
I gave him a smile and a slight wave, then pushed through the doors and continued inside. I was immediately hit with the scent of fresh paint. Curious, I headed straight for the bar. When I walked in, it was everything I’d hoped for and more.
The deep charcoal on the walls was stunning. It was even richer than I’d imagined, and it looked bold and sophisticated against the high white ceilings and the soft shimmer of the chandeliers overhead. It was exactly what I had envisioned.
I ran my fingers along the edge of the bar, already imagining bottles lined up behind it, and smiled. This was good. Very good. I was still taking it all in when I heard the soft click of heels behind me, followed by, “Oh my heavens! It looks better than I imagined.”
“It does look good, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, yeah. You nailed it, Tabitha.”
I turned, smiling as she came up beside me with her purse in one hand and her tablet in the other. Marissa always had that pulled-together, city-girl look about her. A sharp blazer, perfect eyeliner, and not a hair out of place.
“It really does look good,” I said, still taking it all in. “That contrast with the ceiling makes the place.”
“I knew it would!” she beamed, then flipped open her tablet and tapped the screen a few times. “And wait until you see these.”
She was practically beaming as she turned the screen toward me and revealed the black leather booths she found. They were sleek with deep tufted backs and brass accents along the trim. “They’re perfect.”
“I thought you would like them.” Her smile widened as she flipped the screen. “And here are the stools.”
“Oh, these are great.” They were round and low-backed with the same leather and brass accents as the booths. “They’re exactly what I was hoping for.”
“I found a local guy who can get these custom-made,” she said with her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Real leather, too. We don’t want that fake stuff that will crack in six months.”
“No, we certainly don’t.” I flipped back and forth between the pages, imagining the way it would all come together. Every detail was starting to feel like a piece of me stitched into this place. “It’s going to look amazing.”
“Classy but still bold.”
“Exactly. This bar’s going to have its own gravity. People will walk in andfeel it.”
“They certainly will.” Marissa slipped her tablet back into her bag, then said, “I have some color swatches that I wanted to show you, but I left them in my car. Give me a minute, and I’ll go grab them.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
Marissa darted for the door, leaving me alone to give the place a quick once over. I was checking the trim and molding when I heard Nikolai say, “Looking good in here.”
I smiled as I turned to face him, watching as he looked around the bar and nodded in approval. “Real good, actually.”
“You sound surprised.”
“Not at all. I knew you’d be great at this.”
“Well, I’m glad you were so certain. I was beginning to think I was too old for this.”
“You’re not old.” His lips curled into a smirk. “You’re just refined.”
“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”
“Well, it could be,” he scoffed. “On a different note, I think we’ve finally settled on a name for the place.”
“I thought you’d already decided on the Syndicate.”
“I thought so too, but it just didn’t feel right. So, we decided to go with the Black Crown. It just seems to fit better, especially with the directions we’re going with the décor.”
“Oh, you’re right! I love it, and I couldn’t agree more.”
“I thought you’d like it.”
“I do! It’s perfect.”
“I thought so, too.” He studied me for a moment, then asked, “So, are you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“How things went with Preacher?”
The words hit me square in the chest.
I should’ve known he would ask.
He was the one who’d encouraged me to go, but I doubted he would’ve approved of how things had turned out. I glanced down, brushing imaginary dust off the bar. “It was good.”
I answered coyly, pretending I wasn’t immediately flooded with the memory of our night together. His hands, his mouth, and the low rasp of his voice in the dark. The way he looked at me made me feel desired. Not property. Not out of convenience. But wanted. Truly, utterly wanted.
It was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. And I meant it when I told him I didn’t know it could be like that. Dimitri’s love came with bruises and broken rules, and fear was tangled into every kiss. I’d learned to brace for pain, even in the soft moments—especially in the soft moments.
It wasn’t until my entire body was humming with need that I realized just how wrong I’d been about everything. I thought I would’ve made a mess of it all. I thought Dimitri had ruined me, but he hadn’t. Maybe it’s true and time heals all wounds or maybe it was the fact that Hudson’s touch had me spell bound, and my longing for him drowned out all my doubts and fears.
I’m not sure what it was, but I could still feel.
I could still want, and my God, I wanted him like I’d never wanted anything. Hudson made me feel alive in ways I didn’t know were possible. There had been no fear. No tension. No calculating moves. It was just him and me and the heat of the moment. We got caught up in each other, and then, it was over.
“It was good?” Nikolai asked, pulling me from my thoughts. “That’s all I get?”
“Afraid so.”
“Come on,” he pushed. “You gotta give me something.”
“I don’t ask you about your personal life.”
“You can’t be serious.” He chuckled. “You ask all the time . You’re always asking . ”
“Okay. Okay.” I gave a soft sigh, letting my fingers drum gently on the bar top. “It was good. It was even better than I expected. He was kind. Gentle. And he made me feel… It was good. It was really, really good.”
“Well, how ‘bout that,” Nikolai chuckled. “Mom is stepping out and taking names. I’m proud of you.”
“I’m trying.” I looked at him, and my chest tightened. I’d raised him through hell, alongside a man who only knew how to terrorize, and he’d still managed to become a good, decent man. And I adored him, but he was still my son, and there were things I simply couldn’t say. So, I said, “I’m taking it one step at a time.”
He nodded like he understood, and I think maybe he did. “So, when are you seeing him again?”
“Tonight, actually. We’re having dinner at his place.”
“Man, you two don’t mess around.”
“At our age, you gotta get while the gettin’ is good.” I glanced down at my watch, and when I saw the time, I winced. “Speaking of which, I gotta get going. I’m supposed to meet the vet in half an hour.”
“What about Marissa?”
“I’ll catch her on my way out.”
“Okay, so what time will you be home?”
“I don’t know. Late, I would imagine.”
“How late?”
“Nikolai.”
“What?” he fussed. “I’m watching out for my dear, beloved mother.”
“Your mother can take care of herself.” I patted him on the chest, then turned and started out of the room. “Have a good afternoon, sweetheart.”
“You know I hate when you call me that.”
“I do.”
“Then, why… ah, forget it.” I’d almost made it out of the room when he called out, “Behave tonight. Be careful and remember who you are.”
I stopped dead in my tracks and whipped around to face him. “And who is that?”
“Tabitha Volkov. She’s an amazing lady. No one on the planet like her.”
“Thank you, Nikolai.”
He gave me a nod, and I was on my way. I met Marissa in the hallway and gave my approval on the color swatches. We planned to meet later in the week so we could go over some of the final details. As soon as we were done, I made my way back out to my car, and like earlier, the Fury boys were still posted out front.
I gave them a quick wave, and they each waved back with no emotion on their faces. I couldn’t tell if they were okay being there or not. It wasn’t something I gave much thought. I had too many other things on my mind. I needed to get to the barn and find out what the vet had to say about Faith and several of the other horses he was checking in on.
When I finally made it to the barn, Dr. Lewis was already there and in the far stall, crouched beside the mare. His vet bag was open at his side, and I could hear his voice, calm and steady, as he tried to reassure Faith while examining her hoof. The mare flicked an ear toward him but didn’t pull away.
“Hey, Doc.” Not wanting to disturb them, I stood by the gate as I told him, “I’m sorry I’m late. I got caught up in town.”
“No need to apologize. We’ve been doing just fine without you.” He looked up and gave me a quick smile. “She’s looking better. That hoof’s healing up nicely. The new stall upgrade is great. It’s just what she needed.”
“A friend did it for me. I think she likes it.”
“She certainly does.” Doc gave me a little side glance. “It’s making a difference.”
That warmed me a bit. I didn’t say that Hudson was the one who’d helped me. I didn’t need to. Just knowing he’d had a hand in helping Faith stuck with me more than I expected.
Doc finished checking the mare, then stood and stepped back with a concerned expression. “She’s holding steady. Good weight. No swelling and it looks like her appetite is picking up.”
“It is.”
“Good. Good.” He cocked his head to the side, and something about his expression made my chest tighten. “I’m a little concerned about the foal.”
My stomach dipped.
He moved around to the mare’s side, pressing his stethoscope low on her belly, and listened closely. His expression didn’t change, but I caught the slight tension in his jaw. It was enough. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. It could just be positioning,” he answered hesitantly. “But the heartbeat’s not as consistent as I’d like it to be. Could be nothing. Could be something.”
“Okay, if it’s something, what could it be?”
“I don’t like making guesses.” Doc brushed his palms on his jeans. “But it could be a weak valve or simply slow development. Maybe even placental issues. All could be expected with the state she was in when you brought her here. I’d like to do a scan and get a better look at what’s going on. Maybe pull some blood work.”
“Okay. Whatever you need to do.”
I hated the not knowing. It made my mind spiral. I looked over at Faith, so strong and beautiful, and I felt a deep ache. She didn’t deserve complications. Not after everything she’d been through. I opened the door and walked over to her, gently running my hand down her neck. “She’s such a good girl.”
“She is,” he agreed. “And she’s mighty lucky to have you watching out for her.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Not until you have something to worry about.” His expression softened as he told me, “It’s just a few tests.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Tabitha. I’m going to take good care of your girl and her foal. There’s no need for you to lose sleep over this.”
“You know me well.”
“I certainly do,” he chuckled.
“You mentioned on the phone that you might have some potential buyers for Whiskey Rose.”
“I do. They’re interested in her and Beau Sins.” He sounded pleased as he explained, “They have a place out in Fayette County in Tennessee. About half an hour out of Memphis. It’s a family ranch that hit hard times a few years back, but they’re back on their feet and looking to grow.”
“Well, they couldn’t have picked any better horses to grow with.” Whiskey Rose was a Dutch Warmblood. Her breed was known to be smart, athletic, and amazing at show jumping. Beau Sins was a quarter horse, but he came from an elite bloodline and was a gorgeous reining horse. “Do these folks have a name?”
“Lincoln and Riley,” Doc answered. “It’s Riley’s family ranch, so I imagine she’ll be the one who reaches out about coming by to see them.”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to their call.”
Doc didn’t stay much longer. He checked on the other horse and was on his way. He promised to return in the morning to start the test. He reminded me not to worry, but I couldn’t help myself. I stayed in the stall for the better part of the afternoon. I couldn’t do much for her. Just brushed her coat and talked to her for a bit, but it seemed to do her good. It definitely did me some good.
I would’ve stayed longer, but I had dinner plans with Hudson. I hated to cancel, so I said my goodbyes to Faith and went to track down Harlan. I found him at the other end of the barn, cleaning out one of the stalls. He was humming one of his tunes and hadn’t noticed I’d come up until I said, “Hey.”
“Hey.” He glanced up and gave me one of his easy smiles. “How’s it going?”
“It’s going.” I let out a sigh. “I need you to keep an eye on Faith tonight.”
“Everything okay?”
“I think so. Doc is just a little concerned about the foal. I’d feel better if you’d check in on her every few hours and let me know if anything feels off.”
“You got it, Miss Tabitha,” he answered without hesitation. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“Thank you.”
I was a little hesitant as I made my way upstairs. I should’ve been excited about seeing Hudson, and I was. I wanted to have dinner with him and let myself just be for a little while.
But something wasn’t right.
Something was coming. I could feel it in my bones.