Chapter 17
Vivian
We park just outside the ranch, the crunch of gravel under the tires breaking the quiet hum of the countryside.
The house beside the barn comes into view, dark-stained wood, big wraparound porch that looks like it was built for summer nights and slow mornings.
The sunlight kisses the porch rails just right, and there’s enough open space out front for horses to run free, tails swishing in the breeze.
Greg’s home is beautiful. Simple, strong, and rugged—like him. I can see why he says he’s always busy.
I scan the pasture and find Miles instantly.
He’s standing by the fence, feeding one of the horses, his profile sharp and sunlit. He’s wearing that damn cowboy hat again, like he was born with it, and a forest green button-down tucked neatly into faded jeans, finished with his well-worn boots.
He really is looking like those cowboys from those cowboy romance books every obsesses over.
But I get it now.
And yes, I just said that.
Well. Thought it.
Same thing.
Before I can spiral any further into my own inner thirst trap, Riley shrieks from the back seat. “Miles!” And flings open the door like she’s jumping into a wild west movie.
“Riley!” I hiss, scrambling to unbuckle and shut off the car. “You can’t just—ugh, never mind.”
Mindy’s laughing beside me as we start walking toward them.
By the time we reach the fence, Riley’s already petting the horse’s muzzle with the biggest smile on her face.
Miles is holding her like it’s the most natural thing in the world, his arm wrapped around her middle like she belongs there.
She’s giggling, leaning her head back against his chest, her tiny boots swinging as she stretches her fingers toward the horse’s mane.
And as for me, I’m standing there like a total sap, heart fluttering like I’m sixteen again.
Because nothing could have prepared me for the image of Miles holding my daughter on the fence.
“Hey, Vivian,” Miles says, his usual dark hazel eyes looking slightly golden today as the sunlight hits them.
I walk closer to them. “Hey, Miles, thanks for inviting us. Riley’s very excited.”
He laughs, still holding her. “I can tell.”
Mindy walks up and starts to pet a black horse, “Hi, Cowboy, nice to see you again.”
“Hey, Trouble, always a pleasure to see you.” He turns back to Riley, gently guiding her tiny hand as she feeds his horse with a carrot. Her giggle rings out as the horse nibbles it right from her palm.
I look at Mindy and notice a rosy color on her cheeks.
“What’s with the nickname?” I whisper to her.
“Greg.” She rolls her eyes, before patting the horse.
So he’s got a nickname for her now—suits her well too.
I laugh at the fact that they have this push-and-pull dynamic going on. It’s so clear that they’re interested in each other but don’t want feelings involved.
Riley’s voice cuts me off. “What’s its name?” Her eyes wide with wonder as she strokes the horse’s nose with her free hand.
“Her name’s Willow,” he replies with a soft smile.
“Willow,” I repeat, stepping closer and reaching out to pet the mare’s head. “That’s a pretty name for a pretty horse.”
“She is pretty,” Riley agrees, leaning her head against Miles’s shoulder like she’s known him forever. The sight does something to my heart I’m not prepared for.
I glance over and catch Mindy watching us, her expression unexpectedly tender, until her eyes flick past me, landing on someone behind us.
Her posture shifts in an instant.
I follow her gaze.
“Hey, guys!” Greg’s voice booms across the ranch, and I swear Mindy stops breathing.
He’s walking toward us with a bale of hay balanced on one shoulder like it’s nothing. His shirt is damp with sweat, clinging to his abs, and his biceps flex with every step. He’s tanned from working outside, sun catching in his dark brown hair.
And Mindy?
She’s suddenly straightening her dress, adjusting her boobs, and patting her hair like she just walked onto a movie set instead of a ranch.
I raise a brow and lean over to whisper. “Subtle, Min.”
She cuts me a look that says shut up before I kill you in your sleep, but doesn’t deny it.
Behind Greg is a golden retriever running straight toward us with its tongue flapping in the wind. It doesn’t wait another second before jumping on Mindy.
“Hey, boy! Did you miss me?” She baby-talks and crouches down, while he tries to lick her face.
“Who’s this?” I ask. I let him sniff my hand and he licks it softly.
“That’s Tucker, Greg’s gremlin, chews on anything he can get his mouth on,” Miles answers as he places Riley on her feet.
“Doggy!” She wraps her little arms around him to give him a hug.
“Slowly, be gentle,” I tell her.
Greg drops the hay with a grin. “Looks like someone missed you.” That comment directed at Mindy, his smirk growing as she looks up at him while Tucker rolls himself on the floor, allowing all of us to pet him.
“Well, of course he did. He loves me,” she coos.
I turn around and spot Greg biting his cheek, he clearly wants to bite back but instead he changes subject.
“We’re about to feed the horses if you girls want to help.”
Riley immediately lights up. “Can I, Mommy? Please, please, please?”
I laugh. “Of course, baby. Go on.”
Without wasting a second, she skips toward Greg, her little boots kicking up dust as she gets closer with all the joy only a five-year-old can summon.
Miles jogs behind her, hands on his hips as he tries to catch up. “Riley, slow down!” he calls out, laughing.
She spins around mid-run, grinning like she’s just won a race. “I’m the queen of the horses now!”
Greg chuckles, crouching down as she barrels into him. He hands her a small flake of hay, showing her how to hold it properly while Miles finally catches up behind them. The way he watches her with so much care, it stirs something in my chest I’m trying very hard to ignore.
Next to me, Mindy’s still watching Greg with a dazed expression.
“You good?” I tease, nudging her.
“Never better,” she says, avoiding eye contact.
Greg saunters over with a bundle of hay in his arms, his forearms flexing with the movement and sweat clinging to his collarbone.
“Didn’t expect you out here today, Mindy.”
She raises an eyebrow, arms folded as she eyes him from head to toe. “Didn’t expect to walk into a cowboy calendar shoot either, but here we are.”
Greg grins, brushing dirt off his jeans. “What can I say? Hard work builds character.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” she quips, pretending to fan herself with one hand. “Because I’m seeing a lot more abs than character.”
I cough to hide my laugh. Subtlety is so not in their vocabulary.
Greg tosses the hay into the trough with a smirk. “You need help cooling off, I can hose you down.”
I choke on my own breath. “Oh my god.”
Miles turns around just in time to catch the tail end of their back-and-forth, laughter tugging at his lips. “All right, you two, get a room,” he calls out, shaking his head.
Without missing a beat, Mindy smirks.
Greg’s brows lift, a slow grin spreading across his face as he glances down at the hay he’s about to grab, clearly fighting off a full-blown smirk. “Not the worst idea I’ve heard today,” he murmurs under his breath.
Miles just chuckles while I shoot Mindy a look that says behave, though we both know it’s far too late for that.
I catch Miles watching me from the fence, Riley still by his side, holding a carrot up to Willow like it’s the most important job in the world.
He smiles when our eyes meet again, he nods for me to walk over to them.
So, I do, leaving Mindy and Greg doing whatever it is they do as they walk toward a palomino-colored horse and its piebald foal trotting alongside.
As I walk over toward Miles and Riley, the soft crunch of gravel beneath my boots mixes with the quiet rustling of trees in the breeze. The sun’s higher now, golden and warm on my skin. It smells like hay, sunshine, and whatever cologne Miles wears that somehow still lingers in the air around him.
Riley turns to me with a giant grin. “Mommy, I gave Willow three carrots, and she loves me now.”
I smile and brush a strand of her hair back. “I think she loved you the second she saw you, baby.”
Miles looks over his shoulder at me, his hand still resting gently on Willow’s mane. “She’s a natural. Like she’s done this her whole life.”
“She’s always loved animals,” I say, my voice softer now as I watch Riley stroke the horse with so much care. “I think they make her feel safe.”
He nods, his eyes lingering on me for a moment. “You do that for her too, you know.”
That takes me off guard. My heart tugs in my chest, and I glance away for a second just to catch my breath.
“Thanks for inviting us today,” I say, shifting the weight of my voice into something light again. “She’s been talking non-stop about ponies and cowboys all week.”
He chuckles. “Glad I could deliver. I figured the least I could do after dragging you out for beer and twenty questions was offer something in return.”
“Speaking of…” I fold my arms, teasing. “That game isn’t over, by the way. I’ve got a whole list of things I still want to know.”
He smirks, brushing his thumb gently down Willow’s neck. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that.”
For a moment, neither of us say anything, just standing there, watching Riley laugh as Tucker plays with her.
Then Miles breaks the silence. “You look good out here.”
I glance at him, surprised. “Covered in dust and horsehair?”
“Yeah,” he says easily, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Exactly like that.”
I bite back a smile and shake my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“But honest,” he adds with a little shrug.
Before I can respond, Riley spins around. “Mommy, can we live on a farm? Please? I want Willow to be my sister.”
Miles laughs out loud, and I can’t help but join in.
“Slow down there, cowgirl,” I tell her. “Let’s start with weekend visits.”
She throws her hands in the air like that’s the best compromise ever. “Yay!”