Page 56 of Dark Horse

“Finish the last strawberry.” He nods to what’s left on my plate. I take it and dunk it into the remaining dip before I pop it into my mouth, biting off the stem and putting it back on the plate. He takes the plate from me and walks it back to the sink, washing it off and tucking it into the dishwasher with the rest of the dishes waiting their turn. He still respects the house like his mama will turn up any minute, and it’s another one for the list of things I like about him.

“Thank you,” I say softly while his back’s turned. “I was hungrier than I thought.”

“Looked like you were gonna collapse out there.”

“You could have just told me to eat. Or brought me a snack. I’m not sure it required a kidnapping.”

“Oh yeah. That part was for me.” He leans back against the counter, his arms braced on either side of him. “And Anson.” The new surge of energy has me imagining things we could doin this house before everyone gets back. Until my brain catches up on the “Anson” part of his statement, and I frown.

“Anson?” I ask, trying to figure out how he fits into this puzzle.

A smile spreads on his face. “I think he’s sweet on Bristol. Or at least has a weak spot for her, despite what he says. He wants her to win that vacation, and you and your new boyfriend are being ruthless out there today.”

“Oh shoot. I wasn’t even thinking about that. Hayden and I are just both… competitive, I guess.” I stumble over my words. It was competitiveness, but I also felt like I needed to prove a point. One I’m regretting a little now that I’m sitting here with the less ego-driven and more thoughtful side of this man.

“I noticed howcompetitiveyou two were being.” Grant raises a brow.

“He knows.” I decide to admit defeat.

“How?”

“Because I didn’t have these covered early this morning when we ran into each other in the kitchen.” I untie the bandana I’d tied around my neck and let it drop, revealing the marks left on my skin.

He grins at his handiwork, propelling himself off the edge of the counter behind him and leaning over the island to get a closer look. His grin only gets wider as his thumb brushes softly over my skin.

“Good. That’s what he gets for touching you.” But then his brows knit together. “He got a death wish today, then?”

“He has his own… complication. He’s just trying to make it look like he’s moved on. Taking some photos and videos for socials,” I explain.

“Ah.” He nods his understanding. “I guess I won’t snap his neck then.”

“I heard you tried to last night at poker.”

He rolls his eyes to the side. “Everyone’s exaggerating the reality.”

“Your temper is pretty frightening.”

“You’ve never seen my temper.” He shakes his head. “Not the real one.”

“I only get the irritation?”

“You only get the concern.” He stands straight again. “Speaking of. Drink the rest of the water. I’d tell you to take a nap, but I’m sure you’ll fight me on it.”

“I’m better now. If I grab a Coke or an energy drink, I’ll be all right.” I grab one from the fridge drawer and crack it open, wandering over to the island and leaning back on it next to him. “One of the best riders and ropers in the state, huh?”

He scrubs a hand over his face like he regrets mentioning it. “It was a long time ago.”

“How long ago? Because imagining you as some rough and tumble cowboy…” I smile and let my eyes fall over him. As gorgeous as this man is in a three-piece, this dressed down version of him is doing things for me a suit never could. I can only imagine how many hearts he broke.

“Before I came to terms with reality, I wanted to be a bronc rider. Wanted to do the rodeo circuit and earn my money that way, away from all this. Thought I was gonna make a million dollars and ride off into the sunset with some cute barrel racer. All the naïve, romantic ideals you have when you’re young enough to still believe in them.”

I blink at him as I try to picture him in that scenario. “This sounds like an entirely different man than the one I know.”

“Because I wasn’t a man. I was a kid.” He turns his back toward me and pulls down the collar at the back of his shirt to reveal the start of a tattoo. I reach up and tug it down further and see the wordsBorn to Rideinscribed on his skin in faded black ink. “Mom about died when she saw it, andmy dad took the time to explain to me what I was really born to do.”

I trace my fingers over the ink, and it feels like a rare glimpse beyond his walls. One I’m grateful for.

“Well, judging by today, you would have been amazing at it. Selfishly, I’m a little glad you didn’t get the wraparound porch and sunset with the barrel racer though.” I say the words quietly as my fingers brush up the back of his neck, and I circle to his front, setting my drink down on the counter in the process.

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