Page 17 of A Cowboy in the Streets

Chapter 7

James

Sweet, merciful heavens.

Laughter died in my throat. Adam was dripping wet. Rivulets of water ran down his face and forearms. He tossed his baseball cap aside and his mouth flattened to a grim line as he peeled his black tee shirt over his head. My jaw flapped open as I took in the sight of his tautly muscled torso, stripped bare and glistening. He pressed the shirt to his face—

Belle chose that exact moment to decide she was ready for me. She stepped between us, snuffling the brush in my hand, blocking my view of the most beautiful abdomen on this floating green rock. I bent over and peered at Adam from beneath her belly just in time to see him pull the shirt on over his head. Sighing, I straightened.

“Rude,” I muttered. “You couldn’t wait thirty more seconds?”

She blinked her big brown eyes at me expectantly.

I shook my head. “It’s a good thing you’re so pretty.”

I started at her neck with small, vigorous circles. Clouds of dust and loose hair formed in the wake. Belle was well cared for and groomed regularly, so I focused more on her reactions than worrying about cleanliness. She had a ticklish spot on her belly, but loved when I dug in hard on her flank.

“Hey.”

I glanced up and found that Ben had joined us by the fence. “Hey,” I said.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Can I help?”

I hesitated. It was a sweet offer, but I really wanted this time to learn Belle. Still, something in his face made me change my mind. He looked like he expected me to say no. Like he was bracing for it. I knew the feeling. Growing up at Blue Skies as a child, I had always been underfoot. Some of the staff let me know it, but some, like Walter, had shown me kindness. I wanted to be like Walter.

“Here’s what we’re doing. Belle is brand new to me. I don’t know her yet. So I need you to pay attention. Tell me where she’s ticklish, if she has any sore spots, what she likes. You think you can do that?”He straightened. “I can do that.”

I beamed. “Great. I’ll do her left side, you do her right. Grab a curry comb.”

We got to work. I started from her neck again. There was much less dust and hair this time around, but I figured a second round wouldn’t hurt her. More likely, she’d enjoy all the attention.

My gaze strayed to Adam as I lifted Belle’s cream-colored mane and rubbed her neck. He walked the fence perimeter slowly, checking for damage, occasionally stopping to tie a red ribbon where repairs were needed. I checked a sigh as he spun his ballcap backwards and bent at the waist to examine the middle rail, looking like a goddamn Levi’s ad the way his ass filled out those jeans.

Ben’s movements mirrored mine as we moved from Belle’s neck to her withers and then along her shoulder to her belly. When Ben remarked, “She’s ticklish here,” at the exact point I had found on this side of her belly, I knew I had made the right decision. The kid was observant and careful.

Another peek at Adam. He was closer now. I never saw him look directly at us, but I had the feeling he was paying attention.

We reached her flank at the same time, both of us stretching on our toes to reach, and grinned at each other as Belle let out a deep sigh of contentment.

“She likes it!” Ben exclaimed, sounding as delighted as if someone had just handed him a gigantic bowl of chocolate ice cream.

“I think you’re right,” I agreed.

I was aware of Adam approaching us with slow, deliberate movements, coming from an angle where Belle had a clear view of him, so as not to startle her. He dropped his work bag near Devil, who gave it a nonchalant sniff before returning his attention to the tasty clover.

“Everything okay here?” he asked. He dusted his hands against his thighs, his brow furrowed as he split a glance between us.

Ben looked up at his dad with bright, wide blue eyes, giving me a glimpse of what Adam might look like without the scowl. “I think Belle likes me, Dad.”

Adam didn’t smile, but his entire demeanor softened when he looked at his son. The deep creases in his forehead smoothed, his lips reversed their downward tilt, and the rigid line of his shoulders relaxed.

“Of course she does,” he said. “She’s a smart girl.”

It was obvious that beneath the gruff exterior, the man had a Ben-shaped soft spot.

“I’m heading back to the barn,” Adam said. “You want to ride with me?”

“I want to stay with Belle,” Ben said. “And James,” he added, but it was clear I was an afterthought. Horses came first. I grinned. Oh, I liked this kid.

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