Before I can duck back inside, Sooty turns. I know he spotted me. Even in the shadow of his cowboy hat, I can see his sharp eyes focus on me from inside his tanned, leathery face. He nods once and then straightens to walk toward me. I lean against the door frame and wait.
Sooty stops beside me and turns to back up against the side of the stable to where both of us are looking out into the paddock. “He’s lookin’ pretty good, huh?”
“He looks great! I’m sure Daddy’s pleased.”
“Yep. He might just have himself another winner with this one.”
“Nothing would make him happier.”
There’s a short pause. “You know, if Trick hadn’t been here, Lucky probably wouldn’t have made it. Doc Flannery says it’s a miracle the foal didn’t die.”
“That’s probably true, but Daddy will never see it that way. You know how he is.”
“He’s a tough sell, that’s for sure, but that kid’s got something. Never seen anything like it. All he needs is someone to believe in him and the sky’s the limit.”
I look over at Sooty. He turns his head and narrows his eyes on me then nods. Just once.
“You think?”
“I know.”
“I just wish Daddy could see that.”
“Your daddy’s not the one I’m talking about.”
Sooty eyes me for a couple of tense seconds before he tips his hat and walks back to where he was at the edge of the paddock. Although I’m still standing where he left me, facing Mint and Lucky, I don’t really see them. I don’t really see anything. My thoughts are turned totally inward, running over Sooty’s words as they rearrange the pieces of what I thought I knew my life would be.
********
The throaty rumble of a muscle car is unmistakable, especially to a girl who’s grown up around them. This one holds a particular thrill because I know it’s Trick. It has to be.
The sound reverberates across the tall ceiling of the stable and I follow it to the doors closest the parking area out back. From inside the shadowy interior of the stable, I watch Trick as he gets out of his car.
His shaggy hair is damp and he’s wearing aviator sunglasses. His wide shoulders are bare in a white wife-beater tank top that shows off his trim waist. And, as always, his lower half looks delicious in faded blue jeans that hang just perfectly on his hips. Looking at him makes my stomach feel like it’s full of hot, melted butter.
He starts to walk in my direction, but stops and takes off his glasses, tossing them through the open car window onto the seat. When he turns to head toward the stable, he runs his fingers through his hair. It looks rumpled and my fingers itch to dive into it and pull his lips down to mine.
My smile is way too full and bright by the time Trick can see me standing inside the stable. It only gets wider when he stops and grins that sexy half smile of his. “Hi,” he says, shifting his weight onto one foot while his eyes rake me from head to toe and back again. I can almost feel them, like he’s touching me everywhere at once.
“Hi,” I say in return, suddenly feeling nervous and fidgety.
He starts walking toward me again. It’s such a pleasure to watch, too. He has a strut that’s just cocky enough to make my knees weak. When he gets close to me, he looks left and right to make sure no one is around then, with lightning speed, he takes my hand and jerks me into the empty stall behind him.
Trick flattens me against the wall and presses his body into mine. “I’ve missed you,” he growls. Then he kisses me. And what a kiss it is! I feel it everywhere—in the hands that are holding mine above my head, in the knee that’s wedged between mine, in the tongue that’s teasing me into a hot mess.
When he lifts his head, I’m totally breathless and ready for him to drag me off to some dark corner and finish what he started.
“This day’s already the best one I’ve had all week and it just started.” He winks at me, pecks me on the lips and steps back. I miss him instantly. “Guess I’d better not get caught man-handling the youngest Hines or I might find myself in trouble.”
He’s teasing, I know, but it still makes me feel guilty, like he risked so much more than I did to be with me. He takes my hand and leads me back out into the main stable area.
“So, what brings your mouthwatering self down here so early?”
I shrug, not having thought about how to explain that I crave him like I crave air and water and food. Maybe more.
“Haven’t been down in a while. Thought I’d come see Lucky and check on the horses. You know…” I trail off, willing myself to stop kicking the dirt with my boot like a huge nerd.
Trick smiles. Broadly. A smile that says he sees right through me. “Damn! And here I thought you might’ve missed me.”
He winks, knowing good and well that’s exactly why I’m here. I can’t help but return his smile. “You are the devil, you know that, right?”
Trick squeezes my hand. “So I’ve heard.”
We walk hand-in-hand to the doorway I’d left not too long ago and stop to watch Mint and Lucky. Trick doesn’t bother to let my hand go. He seems content to hold it, even though we could get busted at any minute.
“What kind of plans do you have for the weekend?”
“Not many. I’m setting my foot down about spending so much time with my father. One more trip and I might stab him on the airplane.”
Trick chuckles. “Don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”
I grin. “You go with him then! See how you like it.”
“Oh no! I don’t think I’d get the same treatment as you, so I know I wouldn’t like it.”
And he’s right. He wouldn’t.
I look for a change of subject. “Why do you ask? About my plans, I mean.”
“I was thinking about heading up to the Outer Banks to look for a horse. There’s one in particular I’ve seen up there before, one I think I could really work with. I thought you might like to come.”
A weekend? With Trick? Alone? In a Southern paradise? Um, yes please!
Before I jump at the chance, the logistics of it occur to me. I chew my lip as I think of how best to address it. Thank God, Trick saves me the trouble.
“Rusty wants to bring Jenna, too.”
“Oh, that’s perfect!”
“I thought Jenna could pick you up and we could all meet at my house. Rusty and Jenna are gonna follow us up in Rusty’s car. He just finished rebuilding the engine and he’s dying to get it out on the road.”