Page 80 of Training the Heart

“I don’t know. I live my life one moment at a time,” she says as she buries her face into the fleece. “Besides, if I break down, some man of the law will have to come rescue me.” Her eyes tilt up to his and I almost see him grin at her. I realize it’s only because he’s laughing at his own response before he says it.

“If it happens and you call me after your break down, you’ll be standing by the side of the road shivering, and I’ll be driving by, waving at you with my hot chocolate from my nice warm truck, holding up my winter fu—frickin’ coat.”

“I think that still counts, Daddy,” Mabel pipes up

“You always have room for me in your passenger seat, Cole.” Ginger smirks.

The sound of the gate closing interrupts their weird fuckingbanter as the ranch hands secure Rowan and Angel in the gate perfectly, and Ivy blows out a breath as she waits to see if Angel stays calm when the gate clicks shut.

“Holy fuckballs, I might need a drink before we ring that bell,” she whispers nervously up at me. I drop my head to her ear so no one can hear.

“I can make that happen, but in my opinion, you don’t need a drink, you just need to watch Angel show us she can do this, and then I’ll reward you for doing such a good job later,” I tell her.

“Hmm,” she says as she takes her bottom lip between her teeth the way she does when she’s contemplating something.

After being with her almost every minute of every day for over two months, I’ve gotten to know her on a level I don’t think I’ve known anyone, ever. The best and worst parts? It’s the most incredible feeling in the world when her lips meet mine, and also the most terrifying, because I know if I want to have anything more than what this is now, I not only have to find a way to keep her on my ranch when her contract is up, I’ll also have to be ready to let her in and trust I could actually have something that won’t end up like my marriage. As much as I should’ve thought all this through before I got to this point, I didn’t, so here I am, one hundred percent in denial about the fact that this has gone way beyond some kind of physical attraction with Ivy. But, like the true man in denial I am, I just keep telling myself it will be fine and that I can worry about the way she makes me feel tomorrow. Forty something days and counting …

“Care to make it interesting?” she asks, her violet eyes full of mischief. Full of trouble.

“You want me to bet against my own horse?” I scoff incredulously.

“Please? I need a distraction and something to look forward to if she doesn’t do well today—”

“If she doesn’t spring, she still has weeks to train and get it right before she goes to the track in Florida,” I remind her.

“Right, bet me anyway,” she says matter-of-factly.

“Okay, Trouble, shoot, what’s the bet?”

“If Angel springs out perfectly all on her own … you have to do anything in the world I want. If she doesn’t, then I will do anything you want.”

So what I’m hearing is, either way I win?

I look at her, and I see she needs this so I instantly agree. After all, anything Ivy wants to do to me or with me will be good for me, I’m sure.

“Deal,” I say as we move to the rail posts to get the best view.

Ivy looks like she’s about to blow her top at any given moment.

I slide my hand under the collar of her coat and place it on her shoulder, rubbing gently under the neckline of her Henley, letting the silkiness of her skin and her hair warm me. She’s fucking adorable as ever in her trademark jeans, flannel jacket and cowboy hat. On her feet she wears tattered ivory Lucchese boots.

Haden records the length of time they stay settled in the gate. I’m pretty sure Ivy stops breathing as Haden moves to the bell.

“Hey.” I squeeze her shoulder; she looks at me. “Sweetheart, she’s got this.”

Two more minutes pass and Angel still stays, just as she’s supposed to. Ivy closes her eyes as Haden moves to ring the bell and the gates spring open. Rowan squeezes tight to Angel’s sides with his boots and Angel springs from the gates into a gallop, burning down our track at an already impressive speed. Angel shows her confidence, and Ivy knows instantly that taking all these weeks not to rush her worked exactly as she planned.

My whole family starts hooting and hollering for Angel.

“Yes! Go, baby!” Ivy yelps, cupping her little mouth with her hands as if the damn horse can hear her from where we stand.

By the time they make it to the end of the track, Rowan is pumping his fist in the air with their victory and Ivy is practically jumping up and down and whistling, tears threatening to spill down her face.

I chuckle as I pull her into me in a side hug and squeeze her tight.

“That’s my baby!! That’s my girl!” she yells to me as I pull her even closer and kiss her on the top of her sugar-scented head, not giving a fuck who sees.

My fucking sentiments exactly.

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