Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
T he bravado Tracy had summoned for her early-morning visit to the barn deserted her as she rode her dapple gray over to Laughing Creek Ranch. Soon after she’d passed through the gate Spence had put in for her years ago so she could cut across, jumping beans had taken up residence in her stomach.
She spotted Banjo the minute she came in sight of the barn, but he wasn’t saddled. Had Adam decided not to go?
Then he appeared carrying Banjo’s tack. Such a familiar sight. A wave of relief and pleasure hit her so hard she gasped.
Then she got the shakes as anxiety quickly followed. They were in uncharted territory and so many things could go wrong.
What if she lost him, not only as her fantasy lover but as a cherished friend? What if this was the last ride they ever took together? What if town council meetings turned into agonizing slogs and family dinners at Laughing Creek became dreaded events?
He sent her a tight smile before heaving the blanket and saddle onto Banjo’s back. That smile reached right in and grabbed hold of her heart, giving it a hard squeeze. Too much was at stake. Too much.
Moonlight nickered and Banjo responded, giving Adam grief as he worked to get the bridle on. Even their horses were bonded.
“Those two are so cute.” Mila swung into the saddle and headed toward her. “Banjo’s been missing Moonlight.”
“So it seems. Just an FYI, the gate has some rust going on.”
“Thanks. It’s easy to forget about that one when nobody’s… I mean?—”
“I know. My job.” It was called Tracy’s Gate, installed when she got Princess, Moonlight’s predecessor. Spence had asked her to report any rust or malfunctions and she’d faithfully done it for years. Until recently.
“Adam?” Mila raised her voice. “Do you want to alert Rio or?—”
“I’ll take a look tomorrow.” He tightened the cinch on Banjo’s saddle and mounted up. “Thanks for the info, Trace.”
“Welcome.” Damn, he looked good. She’d acknowledged that on some level a long time ago, but she hadn’t let herself see the sexy devil he became when he went total cowboy — broad shoulders encased in a winter jacket, Stetson tugged low over his eyes, tight buns settled in a hand-stitched saddle, leather gloves gripping the reins of a prancing horse. Yum.
“Off we go.” Claudette joined them on Pickles. “Mila, how about you and I take the lead and let Moonlight and Banjo cozy up behind us. You know they want to.”
Mila grinned. “Nicely put.”
“Hey.” Adam speared them each with a look.
“I can’t help it if your horses love each other.” Claudette’s green eyes sparkled.
“It’s not the words, it’s the subtext.”
“Take it easy, big brother. You might as well get used to a little teasing. When the rest of the family finds out, and you know eventually they will?—”
“Not from me.”
“Why not?” Mila stroked Sol’s golden neck. “You’d be better off telling them. Get ahead of the story.”
He grimaced. “Not my preference.”
“Okay. Then maybe the four of us can figure out a strategy for handling the situation before it becomes common knowledge. Let’s go.” She wheeled Sol in the direction of the back gate, which was tucked between the family barn and the one used by Hearts & Hooves.
“And the adventure begins.” Claudette nudged Pickles into a trot and caught up with Mila.
Tracy glanced at Adam as Moonlight and Banjo followed, side-by-side. “You can still back out.”
“I considered it, but my horse says he’s going whether I’m on board or not.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Then I guess we’re doing this for the horses.”
“Guess so. Moonlight looks happy about it, too.”
“She’s been excited from the minute I took the path leading over from Giggling Streams.” She pulled Moonlight to a halt as they neared the gate.
Adam didn’t have to do a thing. The moment Moonlight paused, so did Banjo.
Mila guided Sol over to the keypad post and tapped in the code. The double gate opened and all four horses trotted through, two abreast.
Tracy glanced over her shoulder as the gates closed behind them. “Those always make me think of your dad.”
“Me, too.”
“That goes for all of us,” Claudette tossed over her shoulder. “Dad purely hated opening and closing gates. Automating them made him happy.”
“And my folks were the opposite. I had to learn to properly open and close one before I was allowed to ride anywhere outside our fence.”
“It’s funny the things people argue about,” Mila said. “Mom was against those gates, too, but eventually Dad sweet-talked her into it. All except yours.”
“Because it would get caught on weeds and stuff.”
“No, because Mom told him it wouldn’t be neighborly to automate that one since your folks were so against the concept.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” Adam said. “He was all set to put one in and just make sure to mow over there regularly, but Mom convinced him not to.”
“Huh. I never knew that. Does she still disapprove of the gates?”
“No.” Mila’s voice softened. “She claims that’s because she’s getting lazy but we all know that’s not why.”
“I’ve always liked them,” Adam said. “I don’t mind opening a gate, but these provide a lot more security for the wild horses.” He glanced around. “Speaking of that, let’s keep an eye out for Batman and Robin.”
“We were planning to,” Mila said. “It’s good for them to get used to seeing us. Each time they’re a little less skittish. For that matter, keep your phones handy. There are still some horses we don’t have pictures of yet.”
“But let’s not forget the main reason we’re out here.” Claudette twisted in her saddle to look back at Adam. “You had an aha moment this morning while we were tacking up. Would you care to share it with us?”
“No.”
“That spicy, huh?”
Tracy’s pulse leaped. Adam was blushing. Holy hell.
“Honest to God, Claudie, I?—”
“Okay, okay. Never mind, but something popped into your brain that made you reconsider my forbidden fruit theory. I think Tracy needs to hear that.”
“I think she just did.”
His husky voice sent chills up and down her spine. Focusing on the snow-covered Flint Creek Range looming ahead of them, she struggled to breathe.
He’d been so adamant this morning that he’d never thought of her in sexual terms until New Year’s Eve. What had he remembered?
“I bring that up,” Claudette said, “because if you both agree that’s the case, we know what we’re dealing with and can talk about how to address it.”
She snuck a glance at Adam. Still flushed and not looking at her.
He swallowed. “That’s not all we’re dealing with. There’s a good chance Tracy’s in rebound mode and I was handy.”
“Ugh.” She dragged in air. “That sounds awful. Like I was just using you.” She turned to him and this time he was looking back. “But you could be right.”
His dark gaze gentled. “It’s okay.”
“He’s right, hermanita. This is a no-blame, no-shame zone.” Mila slowed Sol to a walk so he could step carefully over a branch lying across the trail. “Since I’m his sister I’ve seen him at his worst, but I can understand why women find him delicioso.”
Claudette laughed. “Yeah, even when he’s a pain in the butt he’s still a cutie-patootie.”
“I’m right here.”
“That’s why I said it, big brother. I hardly ever tell you you’re good-looking and I should do it more often. You get such a nice shade of pink.”
“Cut it out.”
Tracy took pity on him. “Bet you wish you hadn’t come with us.”
“I don’t wish that.” He met her gaze. “I need to be here. We’re in this together.”
Her stomach did a backflip. Why, oh why did he have to be so delicioso?
She waited until Moonlight made her way carefully over the branch before speaking again. “We haven’t talked about what worries — no, that’s not strong enough — what scares me to death. What if I somehow ruin everything? You’re all part of my extended family, and I?—”
“That’s why you can’t ruin everything. Whoa, Sol.” Mila turned the palomino back to face her. “You care about us and we care about you.”
“But all this family stuff is why they’re each other’s forbidden fruit.” Claudette swung Pickles around, too.
Adam blew out a breath. “Could we stop using that term? It sounds… well, never mind what it sounds like. It just?—”
“Has sexual overtones?” Claudette smiled at him.
“Yes, damn it! This discussion is hard enough—stop laughing, Claudie, or so help me?—”
“Sorry.” Claudette ducked her head and pulled her collar up to muffle her giggles.
Tracy took pity on him. ”Hey, Mila, last night you said this was better than discussing it in your living room because we wouldn’t be looking directly at each other. But here we are.”
“You’re right.” Mila wheeled Sol around and started off at a brisk trot. “We need to keep riding. I wanted to make a point, but I don’t have to look you in the eye for that.”
Claudette followed suit. “And I’ll quit teasing you, Adam.”
“Thanks.”
“Time to get back on track.” Mila was using her big-sister voice. “Adam, did you say you might have a plan?”
“I briefly thought… but no, I don’t have one.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, then Trace? Any ideas?”
“Considering the stakes, I think we should just keep seeing each other a lot, but in group activities like this, and dinner here last night, and at the Raccoon. It might take some time, but eventually we’ll forget about New Year’s Eve.”
“In other words,” Claudette said, “you’ll sweep it under the rug.”
“That’s another way of putting it.”
Claudette shook her head. “That never works, Trace. One or both of you could turn into pressure cookers that, sooner or later, will blow.”
Mila chuckled. “That would make a hell of a mess under that rug.”
“You know what I’m saying, Mil.”
“Yeah, I do, and I kind of agree with you. I’m assuming you have a better idea?”
“I don’t know if it’s better, but it’s healthier. I suggest Trace and Adam set a mutually agreeable time limit, like maybe a week. They’ll be clear they’re not dating or starting a relationship during that time. They’re just having sex.”
Tracy took a big gulp of cold air and started coughing so violently that everyone clustered around her. Mila rubbed her back until she finally stopped trying to hack up a lung. Adam handed her his bandana so she could wipe her eyes.
“Did I make you do that?” Claudette looked chastened. “If so, I apologize. Maybe I should have phrased it differently.”
“I don’t know how you could and get the point across.” She sounded like a frog. “I just wasn’t expecting… that.” She tucked Adam’s bandana in her coat pocket and gave him a quick glance. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He didn’t look at all flustered by Claudette’s outrageous suggestion. Maybe he’d rejected it immediately as ridiculous, while she’d suddenly been hit with a vivid image that was way too exciting.
Claudette gazed at him. “I shocked Tracy to her toes, but not you, big brother. Why is that?”
He took a breath. “Because that was my plan.”