Page 89 of Training the Heart

TROUBLE

I’ll be the one in my pajamas on the left side of the sofa.

I’ll bring sundaes, and Trouble?

TROUBLE

Yes?

It isn’t formal, no pajamas required.

My chest heats and I smile wide just thinking about what’s to come. The simple perfection of the night ahead. Aside from the meal I have planned to make and the meal I’m planning on making out of Ivy, just sitting parked in my place on the sofa beside her, low lights, a shitload of blankets and snacks is the place I crave the most. It’s the place I look forward to when I leave the barn at the end of the day more than any other.

“It’s your turn, lover boy,” Nash calls to me, holding out my ax for throwing at Woody’s—Laurel Creek’s local bowling alley and newly added games room that features ax throwing, escape rooms and a small arcade for kids. None of the locals know that Nash financed the revamp for the owner just to keep the downtown vibrant and alive. So far, it’s going extremely well and has boosted the local businesses surrounding it, including the Horse and Barrel.

Nash, Cole and I have ventured here for the afternoon to bide our time during the shower of the century. Haden has tagged along and looks up from our table, and grins at me with Nash’s words, a knowing grin he’s given me before.

“You’re one to lecture me on employee-employer relations,” I retort back, pointing at him with my beer bottle in hand.

Nash chuckles.

“So, it was a certain horse trainer you were grinning at over there? Exactly what I thought. Sex is one thing, having something serious with someone is quite another. Is this serious? We all know it’s been going on for a while,” Nash says to me.

“And we’re all jealous,” Haden adds.

“Speak for yourself. I already have the perfect woman,” Nash pipes up, and Cole shakes his head.

I snatch the ax from Nash as Haden chuckles as he sips hisbeer. I approach the line to take aim at the wooden board marked with rings and targets.

“I don’t care what anyone says, men and women can never truly be just friends for long without either going their separate ways or fucking. End of story. Especially when the woman looks like Ivy Spencer,” Haden guffaws, like the idea would be impossible. I guess since I can’t keep my dick out of her for more than a few hours at a time, he’s technically right.

I grit my teeth regardless. The image of Ivy in Haden’s mind is something I’d like to wipe clean with my boot.

“Careful, Hade, don’t piss Sarge off, he’s still heavy in his state of denial,” Cole mutters, chiming in.

“Hey, he’s the boss, he has the right to do whatever he sees fit for the ranch,” Haden chirps from the table.

I let the ax fly and it hits just on the outside of the board, nowhere near the center or the killshots. The three of them holler at my shot. Nash because we’re playing in teams and he’s my teammate, and the other two because my shitty aim just helped their game immensely.

“I like this. Keep talking about hisemployee—for some strange reason it seems to piss him off. We might have a shot at winning,” Cole tells Haden.

Naturally, Haden doesn’t miss a beat.

“I’m just saying, if what takesdoin’to make the ranch have its best year in ten is Ivy Spencer, Sarge, I say go ahead and take one for the team. None of us will blame you.” His laughter is deep as he pushes me further than he should.

Fuck this.

“Killshot,” I warn them, before I toss my next ax and hit the killshot dead on. “Eight points, fuckers,” I mutter, then turn to face Haden, my jaw tensing as I strive to keep myself calm.

“And if you mention Ivy like that again, you’ll be finding outhow quickly my size thirteen lands right up your bony ass,” I bark out.

Cole and Nash cackle away beside Haden; they love nothing more than to see me fired up.

Haden stands and pats me on the back.

“Don’t go getting your size fucking double xl boxers in a twist, I know it’s natural for you to defend her. I’m sure you’d stick up for me like that too, Sarge. Wouldn’t you?” He grins.

Nash takes his shot next and hits one of the targets, lets out a little “fuck yeah” then turns to me.

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