Page 63 of The Troublemaker

“Well, that would be lovely,” he said.

“Lovely. You know, Lachlan, you’re not quite how I thought you were.”

“I’m trying to be a little bit better than people think I am. At least, that’s the goal.”

She huffed a laugh on the other end of the line. “Well. Aren’t we all.”

“Not all of us. I think Gus is basically the same asshole. He just loves your sister.”

“I guess that works, too.”

“I guess.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow. Eleven o’clock?”

“Yeah. Eleven o’clock.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHEANDBYRONhad shared dinner at Becky’s that night, and he had been amenable to the trail ride idea, even though she could tell he wasn’t all that thrilled about the idea of spending the day with Lachlan. Lachlan was her best friend, so he just had to get used to it. And by the time the next day rolled around, he showed up dressed in tweed pants, a sweater and scarf, with a plaid cap pulled down low over his head.

He always reminded her of a man in a British TV show. Which she kind of liked and frankly, found rather soothing. Because it was something she had spent so much time watching as a kid.

“We’re going to drive over to McCloud’s Landing,” she said. “We’re meeting Lachlan and his date.”

“Oh. He has a date?” That seemed to please Byron.

“Yes. I told you he has intentions to get married in the next...bit. He’s seeing one of the women that works at the ranch just across from his.”Seeingmight be a strong word. He had her over for one poker game. But she knew what Lachlan’s intentions were right now, so it seemed pretty significant to her.

“Well, that’s great,” Byron said. He was visibly happy with this development. And she had to wonder...Washe jealous of Lachlan?

They got his rental car and drove over to McCloud’s, and when they got out Fia and Lachlan were already there. Fia was wearing a pair of tight breeches and tall boots. She had a cream-colored button-up shirt tucked in at the waist, and it emphasized the fullness of her figure. She looked...stunning. She was an incredibly beautiful woman. Charity had never really spent any time thinking about her looks, except... When she saw her standing next to Lachlan... They fit each other. She could see that. They looked like they should be together.

Right then she could understand why Byron was jealous of Lachlan. Lachlan stood at least five inches taller, his chest and shoulders much broader. He wore a tight long-sleeved shirt that stretched over that chest of his and clung to his narrow waist. His cowboy hat looked much more...roguish. More dangerous than the cap that Byron wore on his head. And she had just been thinking that Byron looked exceptionally cozy and safe.

Lachlan,herLachlan, that she had known for years, suddenly looked dangerous by contrast.

She stood there, feeling dumbfounded by that observation. How could Lachlan be dangerous? Lachlan was her best friend.

She watched as he smoothed his large hand over his horse’s neck, a smile curving his lips. He hadn’t shaved today. He had whiskers covering his jaw and chin. And her fingers suddenly itched, like they were trying to guess what it might feel like if she touched them.

Touched them?

Suddenly, Lachlan looked up, and his eyes met hers. And it was like a clash of electric blue.

She felt pinned to the spot. She felt caught. Like she had been trying to sneak cookies out of the jar, and she’d been made.

Except, she didn’t know what the cookies were, and she didn’t really understand what was happening. But her heart gave a great jump and hit her breastbone. And she felt...

“We got all the horses ready,” Lachlan said. “All you need to do is saddle up.”

Fia grinned and put her foot in the stirrup, swinging herself up onto the back of the horse elegantly. Charity was a good enough rider, but she wasn’t like that.

Fia looked utterly at home on the back of a horse. Charity just rode on occasion. She knew everything about horses, about their anatomy, about ailments, but she didn’t spend a ton of time riding them. She spent most of her time treating them. So it wasn’t that she didn’t have familiarity; it was just that she didn’t have as much practical physical experience.

Lachlan led the horse that she was supposed to ride over to her, a big black beauty, and she patted his neck before hefting herself up onto his back, feeling more like a sack of potatoes than the elegant picture that Fia had made.

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