Page 82 of Headed for Home

Brenda’s eyebrows disappear into her bleached bangs. “You’re not very subtle, huh?”

“Like a noisy fart in the library,” he boasts.

“I can’t even with you,” I mumble.

“Does that mean I win?” He rubs his palms together.

The blonde clucks her tongue while dismounting, the conflicting signals a final farewell to Leita. “Too rich for my blood.”

Drake snatches the mare’s reins when Brenda carelessly discards them. Leita is quick to sniff his pockets, nuzzling the left side. A collective sigh comes from his adoring audience—me very much included—when he whips out several carrot pieces for her.

“Such a good girl,” he croons.

“You packed treats?” Tears spring to my eyes and I fan at the burn. “What are you doing to me, trouble?”

“I could ask you the same question, beauty.” His smirk slides my way. “All I did was bring a snack in case someone got nosy at my britches. You made me buy a horse.”

My hands lift. “Oh, no. I had nothing to do with this.”

Drake chuckles. “You have everything to do with every decision I make. I’m always thinking about you.”

“Damn, that’s a great line,” Brenda breathes. Why she hasn’t left yet is beyond me. “If you need riding lessons—”

“My cowgirl has me covered,” he interrupts her potentially crude suggestion.

But I stiffen at what she’s implying. The urge to claim my man has me lunging forward. A grip on my arm stops me from getting far.

“Remember this is business.” Paisley echoes my earlier thought. “There’s no need for a pissin’ match.”

“But there’s a line, right?” I can repeat phrases too.

“Not in this case. Drake hasn’t taken his eyes off you.”

And he hasn’t. His stare blazes into a smolder that strikes a match to my arousal. I squirm at the heat flooding me. Our chemistry doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Gotta get me one of them.” Brenda grumblesabout a former sugar daddy under her breath. Gravel spits at us as she storms to her car in a huff.

“Bye!” I wiggle my fingers. “Thanks for stopping by. Better luck next time.”

She returns my wave while driving away. It’s only then I realize she didn’t bring a trailer. That’s a universal sign in this industry. Maybe she wasn’t that interested after all. But somebody else swooped in regardless, which reminds me…

“Drake,” I exhale. Exasperation heaves my chest. “Why did you do that?”

“Grand gesture, beauty.”

“Not this again.” But my belly flutters to spite me. “You can’t be serious about buying her.”

“I’d never joke about that.”

“What’re you gonna do with this very expensive horse?”

His baby blues twinkle. “Give her to you as a pre-engagement gift.”

“That’s not…” My brain stumbles. “I’m not even sure how to respond, but… you can’t just say that as a reason.”

“Just did,” he grumbles. “But fine, she’s a regular present then.”

“I don’t accept. She’s yours.”

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