Chapter 10
Ten
Between late nights with Laurel, early morning training sessions with his rescues, and the last pre-holiday riding lessons, Sebastian was one step above a riding zombie as he went through the motions of running Maestro through his paces.
Muscle memory and long-ingrained habit were the only things getting him through at the moment.
That and the fact that the gelding was already exceptionally well trained.
Surefooted and responsive, he was a dream to ride.
If he ended up staying, he’d make an excellent addition to the riding school.
Or the therapy program. Because there was gonna be one of those now.
He still couldn’t quite get over it. But Laurel was all in, throwing the full power of her determination behind planning.
She’d already filled up a legal pad with notes on things to research and questions for her brother.
Watching her do her thing was both intimidating and sexy as hell, and it was easy to believe everything would be fine simply because she willed it to be so.
But in the dark of night after she drifted off and in silence just before dawn, doubts nipped at him.
What if she changed her mind? What if her plan didn’t work?
Was he making the wrong decision for the horses?
Was he thinking with his dick right now?
Or was he thinking with his heart, which sure as hell wasn’t any smarter?
Needing to see her, he throttled Maestro back to an easy walk and turned toward the barn. “Let’s cool you down and get on back.”
The newlyweds would be back today. Sebastian was nervous about seeing Logan again.
Stupid, maybe. But no matter how much of a non-issue Laurel thought their involvement would be for him, it was a very different thing to be confronted with the reality.
Logan knew better than many exactly what kinds of shit Sebastian had struggled with.
Sebastian wouldn’t blame him if he had concerns about their relationship.
As he and Maestro crested the rise, the training ring came into view.
Easing his mount to a stop, Sebastian watched Laurel circle the edge on Gingersnap.
The woman was a natural. After the initial couple of days, she’d remembered everything she’d forgotten about horses and had been an invaluable pair of extra hands.
Since that first day, he’d sensed a bond growing between her and the chestnut mare.
The proof of it was right in front of him as they worked.
Ginger was more confident, more spirited than he’d ever seen her, and Laurel seemed in her element.
Watching the two of them, he really felt like he could see her doing this work, being satisfied by it. Being satisfied with him.
That lingering disquiet faded. She’d be happy.
Certainly happier than if she went back to school and wound up working eighty-hour weeks at some fancy-pants law firm.
And he truly believed that she’d be the exception to his life experience.
She would stay. Because Laurel Maxwell didn’t make promises she didn’t intend to keep.
In the stable yard, he took care of Maestro before turning him out in the pasture and wandering over to the training ring for a closer look. “Looking good.”
As if suddenly wary of having an audience, Ginger took a few dancing steps before Laurel gently brought her back under control. “She knows I’m nervous.”
“No reason to be nervous.” Okay that wasn’t strictly true, but he didn’t want to see her anxiety start spiraling out of control again. She’d made so much progress over the past week.
Laurel shot him a Look and folded her hands over the pommel. “We both know that’s not true.”
Sebastian climbed through the rails and strode toward them. “I’ll be right there with you. You don’t have to confront your parents by yourself unless you want to.”
“Much as I would appreciate the backup, breaking the news to them with you there will make them think I’m bailing on everything for you.” She swung her leg over the saddle.
Though she didn’t need it, he reached out a hand to steady her back on the way down, just because he wanted to touch her. “Aren’t you, kind of?”
“I’m bailing for me. You’re a massive side benefit.” Rising to her toes she popped up to kiss him.
When she would have pulled away, he banded an arm around her waist, hauling her in for a better taste. In a quicksilver flash, sweet turned to heat. Sebastian groaned as her mouth opened readily under his. Maybe they could squeeze in a quickie in the tack room.
At the sound of tires on gravel, they both froze before springing apart like guilty teenagers. The horse blocked them from view, but Laurel took a big step back from him. “Quick, do I look like I’ve just been kissed?”
Color rode high in her cheeks and her lips were red and a little swollen. “Uh…”
“Damn it. Stall them.” She ducked away and went to finish cooling off Ginger. Or maybe herself.
Not having a horse in hand himself to delay the inevitable, he scrubbed a palm over his face and slipped back through the rails, crossing to where Athena’s car had parked by the house. She and Logan spilled out, looking relaxed and happy, with a honeymoon glow he could see from twenty feet away.
Logan lifted his hand in a wave. “How are things?”
“Good.”
“Any problems while we were away?”
“Nothing I’d call a problem.”
“Uh, what is that?”
Sebastian followed Athena’s gaze to where the rescued tom was curled at the edge of the porch, tail twitching with suspicion. “Oh, that’s Mr. Rochester.”
She went brows up. “Didn’t realize you were a Jane Eyre fan.”
“I’m not. Laurel is. She’s the one who brought him home and named him. He came with the new horse.”
“We got a new horse?” Logan asked. “Did we have room for another one?”
Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that…”
Laurel bounded over. “You’re home! Sorry, I had to finish cooling Ginger from her workout.” She threw her arms around her brother.
Logan squeezed her back, lifting her clear off her feet before setting her down and holding her at arm’s length, searching her face. “You look better. Really good, actually. I’d say time on the farm has been good for you.”
“So very good.” Would her brother recognize the sappy, happy smile for what it was?
Logan’s gaze shifted to Sebastian. Shit. A rare bout of nerves began to dance in his belly. Logan had left Laurel in his care, not in his bed.
She stepped into the awkward silence with enthusiasm.
“I got to ride nearly every day, and Sebastian’s let me work on training with some of the horses that are further along.
It’s been amazing. And you won’t believe it, but I actually read a book for fun.
I haven’t had time to do that since I started law school. ”
Logan held Sebastian’s gaze a moment longer before turning back to his sister. “And you apparently acquired a cat?”
“Well we couldn’t just leave him. He’s Maestro’s barn buddy.”
“Maestro?”
“The new arrival,” Sebastian explained. “We’ll tell you all about him once you’re settled.”
Athena scowled. “Guh, there’s no time to get settled. We still have to decorate. Why did we think it was a good idea to get married so close to Christmas and then host? I’m hoping I can sweet-talk my sisters into coming over to help. If we have the Reynolds army, it won’t be so bad.”
Laurel bit her lip. “Actually, we already decorated.”
“You did?” Logan asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t think you’d want to have to rush to do that when you got back.
And I bought you a bunch of cool ornaments from the holiday bazaar as a wedding present.
I mean, we could easily do more if you want, but the tree’s up and there’s greenery all over the place, so the basics are done—ooph! ”
Athena yanked Laurel into a hard hug. “That is the best Christmas present you could give me. Your mother intimidates the hell out of me.”
Laughing, Laurel squeezed her back. “Aren’t you supposed to be a badass and all?”
“I am in most areas, but I’d just as soon not get off on the wrong foot from the very beginning with my new mother-in-law.”
“Glad I could help. I know it’s stressful being the ones to host Christmas, and I want this to be as…peaceful as it can be.”
Logan eyed her. “That sounds ominous.”
Sebastian waited, wondering if she was going to tell her brother she’d decided against being a lawyer. But Laurel just shrugged. “I’d like to avoid a repeat of your rehearsal dinner. Dad doesn’t have a filter anymore, and he shouldn’t pull that shit in your home.”
He tweaked her ponytail. “You don’t have to be the mediator, Pip.”
“Someone has to.”
The pause went on too long, belying the joking tone. This probably wasn’t the time or place for the discussion that needed to happen, so Sebastian stepped in. “I expect y’all are tired and would like to go on in and get settled. Let us help you with your luggage.”
Athena linked arms with Laurel. “You boys handle that. We’re gonna talk menu.”
Suddenly alone with Logan, Sebastian reached into the trunk. “So how was Oregon?”
He straightened, suitcase in hand, to find Logan studying him with that neutral therapist gaze. Somehow the total lack of judgment in his expression felt like an indictment. It took all Sebastian’s training not to fidget or fill the silence.
“You’re good for her. I knew you would be.”
Wait, what?
His confusion must’ve showed because Logan laughed. “A blind man could see the connection between you at our wedding. I’m not blind. Glad my plan for nature to take its course worked out.”
Sebastian stared. “You set us up?”
“Let’s just say I facilitated.”
“Why?”