Page 26 of Make Me Blush (Oil Barrons 3)

Sounded like he was speaking more for himself, but he was still right when it came to me. It hadn’t made it easier. Lonelier, maybe.

“Landon said you went to visit him the other night.”

I’d heard Landon tell him I had checked in. It was why it wasn’t a surprise Stetson hunted me down. Might as well spill the rest since we were digging deeper than we normally did. “I’m teaching his older sister to ride a horse today.”

“No fucking way.” He straightened and faced me. “Are you telling me you’re into a woman with four kids?”

I adjusted my ball cap. It shouldn’t have been a shock, but it wasn’t as if I’d given him a reason to think otherwise. “I don’t know. She’s pissed at her ex. Her kids are in a new town and have daddy issues. There are so many red flags.”

“That’s why she intrigues you.”

Emery did more than intrigue me. She was cute. Sexy as hell in an understated way. And I liked being around her. “She’s not like anyone I’ve met.”

He snorted. “That’s because she’s been working and raising kids. She’s lived an entire life that makes you and me look like we’re fucking around without a care in the world. Add in the fact that she had zero problems walking away from you and that magic dick girls talk about, and she’s like a damn drug you can’t quit.”

No, it was more than that.Iwas more than that. “I haven’t done anything more with her since that night. We’ve barely touched.”

“Exactly. You’re huffing the fumes and can’t get enough. If I didn’t know you, I’d think you had it bad. As it is, I think you’re curious.”

“I’m not curious.” I wanted to know everything about Emery, but that wasn’t what Stetson was saying.

“You’re something. Got any more coffee?”

“Make some more if you take the rest.”

Stetson grunted as he walked inside. I stayed on the porch, facing the drive, waiting for a gray Traverse to head my way.

* * *

Emery

Holden’s big dog, Sally, kept me company as I leaned against the fence around the practice riding arena. Avery had been excited to ride, but Holden had warned her that today would be a lot of learning and less riding.

He had shooed Sally out of the pen like he’d shooed Stetson out of his house when we’d arrived. My vehicle had looked tiny sitting next to their pickups. Stetson had given me a shameless grin as he’d ambled to his pickup.

Safe to say he knew about my history with Holden. It wasn’t a secret, but that hadn’t stopped the embarrassment from flaming across my cheeks. The blush hadn’t improved when I’d caught a glimpse of Holden.

He was in jeans and a gray Coal Haven Drillers hoodie. This was the second time I’d seen him in worn cowboy boots. The first night at the bar, he’d been wearing the same pair. It changed the way he walked. He went from stalking to swaggering, and I couldn’t pick which one I liked the most.

I shouldn’t have been thinking about it in the first place.

I absentmindedly scratched Sally’s head. She hadn’t looked like a big dog when she’d been trotting next to Holden, but I didn’t have to bend to pet her. And she made sure to be in petting reach at all times.

Her tail thumped the grass and we both watched the action. Avery had been introduced to Holden’s oldest horse, Poppy. My daughter learned how to approach a horse, and Holden let her pet Poppy for a while. Then they went over gear, and he walked her through putting it on.

I hadn’t seen my daughter this excited since well before the divorce. I hadn’t noticed how the dullness had set into her eyes and become permanent. This girl used to play soccer. She used to be on the dance team. Then I’d become a single mom who couldn’t get her to practices, and I’d needed her help.

I chewed the inside of my cheek to keep tears from springing into my eyes. Holden had a hold of the lead rope and was leading Poppy, with Avery on her back, around the pen. Avery’s smile could take over her face.

When Holden handed her the reins and she got to maneuver Poppy, her laugh made the stress of the move worth it.

He let her ride for several minutes, had her stop and switch directions, before he walked up to lead Poppy to the side. Avery dismounted and turned to me, mouthingdid you see that?and discreetly pumping her fists.

I grinned in return. Holden would never know how much this meant. If Avery never touched a horse again, this memory would carry her through some hard times. This was worth the tears when I told the kids I could only bring Avery. I had shamelessly bribed them with Nana’s candy to distract them so Avery and I could leave. My mom had still promised a trip to the park to keep them from following me to the car.

Holden showed her how to take the saddle off and store the tack. She helped him lead Poppy back to the pasture, where the mare joined three other horses munching on grass with their tails swishing.

“Mom! Did you see that? I turned her.” Avery slammed into me, her arms squeezing the air out of me.

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