Page 69 of Training the Heart

Across the den, Ivy leans back in her chair and sips her bourbon while she giggles.

As I set the forks and knives down in their place on the table I feel my phone buzz.

TROUBLE

Can’t fucking wait.

And now I’m hard.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Ivy

“So what are your first steps with her?” Cole asks me as we clean up from dinner. I’ve stayed back to help clean up while Wade and Haden work on the stall that my new baby is going to call home very soon.

“Getting her comfortable with all her tack, a rider, and gate schooling—and then, if all goes well, workouts begin. Rowan will get used to working with her and then we’ll take her to Florida and see if she’s got what it takes.”

“Three months, is that enough time to get her ready for testing?” Cole asks with genuine interest.

“I think so, they’ve been working with her a bit at Robicheaux Ranch—they’ve been warming her to the saddle, working with her a little. Time will tell.” I grin, Cole nods.

“So, y’all will drive?”

“Probably, Florida isn’t that far. We’ll have gear to bring and Dusty can tow her with the diesel,” I say, mentioning the monster Ford truck the Ashbys keep for hauling.

“Spending almost ten hours in the truck with Wade. Whatta treat.” Cole chuckles as he wipes the counter down.

They look very similar to each other, as brothers should. Cole’s just an inch or two shorter than Wade, and has Jo’s friendly eyes. Wade is all sharp angles and smoldering.

“Something tells me Ivy doesn’t mind Wade’s company too much. I mean, I haven’t seen you swing at him yet and you’ve even been his roommate,” Nash says while he places dishes in the dishwasher.

I shrug. “I’m getting used to him.”

“Takes a special kind of soul to work for Wade, he’s very … particular. There were days Sam wanted to sock him one,” CeCe says from her place at the island, reminding me my time here is limited. Last I’d heard, Sam was planning on returning to work in April.

“Ever since Janelle, he’s just always had a big old chip on his shoulder. Wade was always the serious type, but still … before her, he was kinda fun,” she adds.

“I’m glad he’s got a new endeavor to focus on, keeps him busy,” Nash says as they clean. “He was with Janelle a long time, and I know she’s not done with him yet.”

“I’m hoping he’ll tell her to hit the bricks for good if she comes back again.” Cole shrugs and pops the rest of his cookie into his mouth.

“Not if,when. The moment she’s done with what the town has to offer, she’ll be back begging for Wade. He was way too good for her, and the moment she realizes what she gave up, she’ll be back,” Nash corrects.

I listen to them all talk about Janelle like she’s the female version of Brad, and my heart goes out to Wade, he does deserve so much better than that.

“Maybe he’s already let her go,” I offer without thinking, ignoring the knot in my gut at this conversation.

Nash looks at me in a way that feels too knowing and then speaks.

“The funny thing is I don’t even think he loved her by the end. Janelle is just really good at manipulating.”

“Here’s to hoping his Janelle days are over,” Mama Jo quips as she sweeps. “I’m still holding out hope for him to meet a nice girl. He deserves to be happy,” she adds as she smiles at me.

I clear my throat.

“Thank y’all for dinner. It was delicious. If it’s all the same, I’m going to go see if Wade needs a hand readying anything for Angel,” I say to them all.

Jo makes her way over to me and pinches my cheek gently. How an almost sixty-year-old woman can look this good will never cease to amaze me. I hope I’m still as hot as Mama Jo when I’m older.

---