Page 106 of Reckless

The condiment tub, gaping and empty, sits on the floor. Next to it, Cody-sized hand prints decorate the hardwood floor like an art exhibit gonewrong.

What justhappened?

He giggles. “Rawr! Scawwwwwwyyyyy!” Waving his hands, he grins up atme.

Mila shields her smile with her hand like she’s embarrassed. “He’s a ghost. ForHalloween.”

Internally, I’m yelling at myself for not paying betterattention.

Because like everything else, this is my faulttoo.

47

Ethan

With a haughty flickof her wrist, Mallory Mathers shoves a lock of red hair over her shoulder. All the better to glare atme.

I glare back. “You need to lean back more. If you’re sitting up that high in the saddle, your ass is gonna go flying off that new filly of yours faster than you canblink.”

“Maybe we should call it aday.”

“It’s your dollar. You wanna quit twenty minutes early, be my guest.” I’m in a foul mood, and Mallory’s piss-poor attitude is gnawing on my last nerve. All I want to do is head into the house, hug my kids and kiss my girlfriend. Make sure they’re okay after last night. But no. I’m sweating my balls off while I deal with this spoiledprincess.

Mallory’s eyes narrow like she’s mentally murdering me, and I force a smile. No sense in actually being murdered. “Cool off your horse. You know the routine. And put your saddle in the right place thistime.”

Last week, she left it in the stall instead of in the tack room. Almost had a hemorrhage when I saw the damn thing. She’s off her rocker if she thinks I’m gonna clean up after heragain.

It’s barely ten a.m., but the heat is unforgiving. Sweat barrels down me like I just hopped out of the shower. As soon as my client is gone, I can take a break. I’m gonna have to or I might passout.

I glance at the clock on the back wall. Where the hell is Logan? He was supposed to be here hoursago.

Trudging toward the giant sink in the grooming stable, I swivel on the cold water and wash my face. The water is tepid at best, but I’ll take anything rightnow.

I’m wiping the salt out of my eyes when her voice makes meturn.

“I won’t be in next week since I’m headed to the Bahamas for a few days, but I’ll be back for theparty.”

“What party?” I tilt my head. Surely, she can’tmean…

“Your son’s birthday.” She looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Allison called me about it yesterday. You really should give people morenotice.”

Let me get this straight. My ex-wife invited my client to Cody’s birthday party? Before she even talked to me? What the freshhell?

As soon as Mallory’s gone, I stomp toward the house, needing to sit down for this conversation I plan to have with Allison. She is out of her goddamnmind.

I’m kicking off my filthy boots and hopping on one foot when I catch a glimpse in the kitchen where all hell has brokenloose.

Cody is covered in…butter? And Mila is sliding and twirling on the mess like a nutty ballerina. They’re both gigglinguncontrollably.

Where’sTori?

Stepping closer, I finally let out a sigh of relief when I spot her bent over—face down, ass up—reaching for something that must’ve rolled under thestove.

The corner of my mouth lifts.That is a beautifulass.

A chuckle escapes me at the insanity in this kitchen. The kids spot me and run full-out, laughing and sliding towardme.

“Whoa, there.” Jesus, I sound like I’m talking to one of myhorses.

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