Page 59 of Just Say When

I pushed past him with a growl. It would have felt good to drop the stack of plates right on his feet, but I didn’t do that. I set a plate in front of each chair. Gently, so he would know he hadn’t affected me.

He grinned. I wasn’t fooling him at all. And from the way Jack’s lips flattened into a grim line, I doubted I was fooling anyone else, either.

“Isn’t this nice?” Mom beamed as she served us each a fat wedge of Guiness pie. “Just like old times.”

My gaze collided with Brax’s like it was pulled thereby a magnet. And thelookon his face. I sucked in a sharp breath. Hunger and heat and something that edged unbearably close to wistfulness.

“Yeah, just like old times,” Jack said, and there was something in his tone that pricked my attention. “Isn’t that right, Brax?”

My gaze volleyed between my brother and my fake husband, but whatever Brax felt was hidden behind a bland smile.

“I wouldn’t sayexactlylike old times,” Brax said. “Some of us are going gray.”

Since there wasn’t a single thread of silver on Brax’s dark head, and my mom was a box-dye devotee, it was obvious who his remark was intended for.

“Braxton,” Mom scolded. “You boys are always ribbing each other. Pay him no mind, Jack. It looks distinguished on you. Essie, how are things at the ranch? Any special new clients you’re excited about?”

“Oh. Um.” I swallowed a bite of pie and took a hasty sip of wine, then wiped my mouth. Brax was back to rubbing his foot against mine under the table and I shot him a narrowed-eye glance. “I’m not training horses right now. All my time at Lodestar is focused on getting Pirate and me ready for the Futurity.”

Mom frowned. “What do you mean? A horse can’t train eight hours a day. Couldn’t you fit in a client or two?”

“I resigned from the apprenticeship. The rules don’tallow current training activities of any kind for non-pro competitors. So.” I shoveled a bit of pie into my mouth, hoping that would be the end of it.

Of course it wasn’t.

“Oh, Essie, I don’t like that. What are you doing for money?” Mom asked, setting down her fork to give me her full attention.

“I have savings. I’m still not paying rent, thanks to my sugar daddy over here.” I jerked my head in Brax’s direction. “As soon as the competition is over, I’ll be back to work—realwork, not just an apprenticeship. James wants to hire me as a full-time trainer.”

“But James is coaching you and Pirate for the competition, isn’t she? Don’t you have to pay her for that? I can’t imagine she comes cheap.”

“I get the family discount for Pirate’s board and training,” Brax cut in. “Once he’s bringing in stud fees, Lodestar will get a cut of that. It all evens out in the end.”

“And I’m helping out with ranch chores, since I have some extra time on my hands,” I said. “So James is coaching me free of charge.”

Mom shook her head. “I still don’t like it.”

“Good news, Mom. You don’thaveto like it.” I kept my tone breezy despite my increasing annoyance. “I’m doing it, and I’m fine.”

“I know, honey. But I want you to be better than fine.You worked so hard to get to the top of your sport. I don’t understand why you threw it all away.”

I took a sip of wine, not trusting myself to speak.

“She didn’t throw anything away, Mrs. Price,” Brax said with quiet firmness. “All the talent and skill she honed for the last twenty years? She still has that. She took it with her and she’s using it now. She and Pirate have a real shot at taking home the championship this November. And that’s going to launch her into a career that she’s passionate about. I’d say that’s better than fine.”

The tension was thick. I washed down the sudden ache in my throat with a long swallow of wine. Brax had stood up for me? He hadn’t approved of a single decision I’d made since the day he almost died. Or so I had thought.

Was I wrong about that?

“Brax,” Mom said, and I felt his leg stiffen against mine. Her expression was so soft as she looked at him. “I told you to call me Cat.”

Brax relaxed. “I’ll try to remember that.”

The smile she gave him was full of affection. “People are going to think it’s weird if you call me Mrs. Price. I’m your mother-in-law.”

“For now, anyway,” Jack said, his smile just as wide as Mom’s but not as nice, somehow.

Something was definitely going on between them.

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