Page 96 of Stables

He shrugs. “I remember my niece being obsessed with scallops at that age. Then one day, she was just done. Now, my nephew, Sawyer? He got a hold of his first pizza roll at that age, and I think that’s where just about every penny he earns goes.” The spatula works the eggs around the edge. “I guess that’s a guything.” His dark eyes find mine. “Once we find something we like, we don’t want to let go.”

My stomach flip flops as my heartbeat pounds in my ears.

The whistle of steam pulls me from his intense gaze.

When I pour our tea, I can’t stop thinking about last night and my horses.

Where are they?

“Do you think Matt hurt them? Or sold them?” I ask Dixon over my shoulder.

It makes me nauseous not knowing.

“Blue will be here around noon. He’s bringing Wade. We’ll get this figured out.” He slides two plates onto the table near the teacups I just set down.

They’re both heaping with meat, eggs, and even biscuits that we brought back from Lori’s. I can’t remember the last time I was able to afford such a breakfast.

Everything I’ve known is changing.

Except being terrorized by Matt.

Chapter 26

Dixon

Things are different now.

When I sit next to her, I slide my hand under her thighs and around her waist, then pull her onto my lap. Shuffling our plates closer, I pick up my cup and raise it in a small toast.

“That’s better.” I let my palm rest against her hip, holding her while she shifts to a comfortable position.

“So, who is Blue?” She stabs a sausage link, wraps those pretty lips around it, and looks at me before biting off the end.

I’m still hard from earlier, and seeing her pink mouth surrounding that piece of meat sends the blood coursing back south.

Patience. We have all the time in the world for me to shove my cock down her throat.

“He’s the brand inspector. He might have some suggestions on steps you can take to get your horses back. Wade’ll be here to file a trespassing charge.” I let go of her long enough to slatherbutter on the reheated biscuit that came from Mason’s before my fingers clasp around her side again.

She stops chewing and her face pales. “I—I, um, I can’t do that.” Noticeably gulping, she drops her fork to her plate. “I didn’t even want to press charges from before. I knew he’d be mad. This is just gonna make him come back.”

I can feel the shiver that runs through her body.

“I dare him to try,” I growl, tugging her closer.

She shakes her head, rotating her drink on its saucer. “Dixon, I know you’ll do your best. But no matter how much time we spend together, there will be some days we’ll just be apart. You have an important job. It isn’t like I can just sit at the hospital.”

“There’s other solutions that leave you safe.” The easiest would be to enlist Blue and Wade’s help to just get rid of Matt.

It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve dispersed our own justice for a friend. Growing up together has benefits.

And Char is much more than that to me.

“I have to spend so much time on training, it’s hard to get away. And now that my best prospect is gone—” She breathes in sharply with tears riding the lids of her eyes. “—I have to put twice as much into the others in hopes that they’ll sell as well.”

Leaning forward, I pick up the half piece of sausage and hold it up to her lips. “Starving yourself won’t solve anything. Eat.”

Her mouth purses, then she opens obediently letting me push the morsel against her hot tongue.

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