“Is that right?”

She nods.

“Maybe neither of you will be shocked, then, when Runner turns out to be one of the best horses this stable has ever turned out.”

“You’re that sure of him?”

“I’m that sure of him.”

I don’t know her well enough to say for sure, but it looks like she might be a little impressed. And, even though it shouldn’t, that makes me want to smile.

CHAPTER NINETEEN - Cami

Maybe this was a mistake.

I can’t help but doubt myself as Trick and I lead the horses out of the stable. I thought I could handle just being his friend, especially when he is so determined to keep me at arm’s length to preserve his job. I mean, his interest in me is obviously not that strong or he wouldn’t be thinking about his job first, would he?

For whatever perverse reason, that makes him all the more appealing. And then seeing him with the horses…

Ohmigod! Think about something else!

I can feel my face get hot. Again. I don’t think I’ve blushed as much in my entire life as I have since meeting Trick. And it makes it even worse that I know he likes it. For some reason, that excites me. I want him to like it. I want him to like me, want him to want me. I shouldn’t. But I do.

Without another word, we stop just outside the huge stable doors and mount our horses. Trick looks at me and smiles. He pauses and I see his eyes dart to Titan’s head. I’m not sure if he’s worried that I’m upsetting the horse or that I might be riding an upset horse. Either way, he looks satisfied to see that Titan’s expression and body language are completely devoid of any signs of temper.

“So, where are we going?”

“I thought we’d take them up to the lookout.”

I’m impressed that he knows the land so well. He must’ve explored the trails quite a bit to know where the lookout is. I’m also a little thrilled by the idea.

Even though you shouldn’t be. You know this is a bad idea.

“Sounds good,” I say, ignoring the voice of reason.

Trick gives me a cock-eyed grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “The question is: can you keep up across the open field?”

I feel Titan shift beneath me, his muscles bunching like he’s telling me he’s up to the challenge. Runner is prancing anxiously under Trick, too. “You’re on.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, I tap Titan’s side with my heels and he takes off. I urge him into a run. Fast as lightning, we blaze a trail across the grass. The brisk wind is whipping my hair, the setting sun is warming my face and carefree happiness is bursting from my heart. I don’t question it; I just go with it.

Titan’s rippling body is nothing but power beneath me. He’s carrying me away from the world, with only Trick at my side. I glance to my left and see that he’s watching me. He smiles, a smile that could nearly unseat me, and then, much to my surprise, he moves easily ahead of me.

I urge Titan faster and he responds. But not enough. With every second that passes, Runner moves further and further away.

When he reaches the tree line at the trail head, Trick pulls Runner to a stop and turns to wait for me. I’m only a few seconds behind, but still…

“Wow!” I say when I bring Titan to a halt. “He can run!”

Trick leans down and pats Runner’s neck lovingly. “He’s got what it takes. He’s just a little rough around the edges is all.”

Trick’s expression makes me wonder if that’s how he sees himself—like he’s got what it takes, but he’s a little rough around the edges. Obviously, people see something in him or he wouldn’t be here. My father is very picky about who he lets work with his horses. But he’s also one of those people you can rarely ever satisfy. It makes it hard, especially for those who don’t know him like I do.

“Still up for a trip to the lookout?”

“I’m game if you are,” I reply.

Trick grins, that grin that makes me want to eat him up even though I barely know him. “Oh, I’m game all right.”

With that, he nudges Runner onto the trail and I follow. When the path widens, Trick moves to the left so I can ride alongside him.

The horses are enjoying the leisurely walk. The woods are quiet around us, but I feel like every living creature in a ten mile radius ought to be able to feel the tension between us. It’s practically tangible and completely irresistible.

“So how long have you lived around here?” I figure the question is innocuous enough, hopefully enough to camouflage my intense interest in him.

“All my life. Well, except for the past few years.”

“Where were you then?”

“College.”

“Seriously? What school?”

“Clemson.”

“What’s your major?”

“My major was veterinary medicine.”

“Was? Aren’t you going to finish?”

Trick shrugs. The gesture is nonchalant, but his face tells the real story. This is a sore subject, something he’s not very happy about.

“Maybe someday.”

“How much longer do you have?”

“Less than a year. Just a few classes actually.”

“What? Why would you not finish then?”

“Things happen. I’ll finish one day.”

“What could be so important that it can’t wait a few months until you finish school?”

He glances over at me, his expression unreadable. “Family,” he says, dead pan.

“Surely they understand. I mean—”

“It’s not a matter of them understanding. It’s a matter of a dispute against my father’s insurance money after all these years and my mother being unable to make it on her own.”

I flinch a little at the bitterness in his voice. Of course, I’d probably be bitter, too.

Pieces of Trick start clicking together. The sad thing is, the more I’m around him, the more I get to know him, the more fascinating and perfect the picture becomes.

“So you put your life, your future on hold to come back and work to help her until…”

“Exactly.”

We both get quiet after that. I’m lost in thought, as I’m sure Trick is. Even though I feel bad for him—having to give up his dream when he was so close—I respect him so much for putting his family first. I don’t know many people who would do that, especially not people his age.

I think of Brent. He’s a good guy, but can I see him doing something so selfless? Sadly, I can’t say for sure that he would.

As I’m thinking back over the conversation so far, something occurs to me.

“Your dad’s insurance money? What happened?”

Trick says nothing, just looks over at me. His face is pretty much blank. He doesn’t look mad. Or sad. Or irritated. He just looks…like he’s thinking. I wonder if he’s considering how much to tell me.

“I’m sorry. That was a really nosey question, wasn’t it?”

His lips twist into a wry grin. “It’s all right. I, uh, I just…” He trails off and his discomfort with the subject starts making me uncomfortable, too. He continues before I can change the subject, though. “My father killed himself a few years back.”

And he drops the bomb. Just like that.

CHAPTER TWENTY - Trick

I watch Cami’s mouth open and close a half dozen times. It was mean to do that to her. I know how hard a time people have trying to find something to say after that. But she asked.

I’m not sure if I wanted her to know so it would scare her off or because I don’t want her thinking I’m a complete loser. The problem with the second is that I shouldn’t care.

But I do. Too much.

“Trick, I…I’m…I really…”

“Look,” I say, stepping in to let her off the hook. “It was a long time ago. Don’t worry about it. It is what it is. Doesn’t change what’s happening now.”

“Your poor mother…”

“Yeah, she’s had it kinda rough. Grace, too. Luckily, she was pretty young, so she’s doing all right now.”

“Grace?”

“My younger sister.”

“How old is she?”

“Ten.”

“Does she…I mean…”

“Nah, she’s doing great. She’s a freakin’ mess, but in a good way, I guess.” I laugh, thinking of how excited she gets just waking me up. That’s proof that she missed me, that she needs me at home. At least for a little while longer.

I can tell Cami’s still uncomfortable. She’s frowning like she’s trying really hard to think of something to say.

“So what about you? Where are you going to school?”

“University of Georgia.”

“What’s your major?”

“It was pre-law, but I changed it to business.”

“Ahhh, planning a hostile takeover of the family business?”

Cami laughs. I love the sound. It’s throaty and sultry. Makes me want to do more things to make her laugh just so I can hear it.

“Knowing my father…”

“So that’s what you were doing earlier, going over the books.”

She squints over at me, a little smile playing along the edges of her lips.

“How do you know? Maybe I was lying in wait.”

“Waiting to charm the first person through the door. Is that it?”

Her grin develops, showing off her pretty teeth. “Did it work?”

“Yes, but it was a wasted effort.”

“And why is that?”

“You already had me with that wet t-shirt of yours.”

She giggles and looks away, but not before I can see her cheeks turn pink. Oh God, how I’d love to drag her off that horse and onto mine, have her wrap those long legs around me and…

I adjust in my saddle. Thoughts like that aren’t going to do me a bit of good.

She clears her throat. “So, how is it that you came to know so much about horses?”

“My father used to be in the business.”

Her head jerks toward me. “Really?”

I nod. “He had a financial partner, but he did all the work with the horses on a rented farm. I went with him a lot at night and on the weekends. He used to tell me I was meant to work with horses. Seems like he was right. Here I am.”

“Do you like it? I mean working with the horses here?”

“I love working with horses. It’s what I was going to specialize in after school. As for working here,” I pause, just to see what she does. After a few seconds, she glances at me from beneath her lashes.

She just can’t help but be sexy.

“I’m discovering it has its definite…benefits.”

She grins. “Is that right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say in my best Southern drawl.

“And what would those be?”

Good God, she’s teasing me!

“The view around here is very nice for one thing. Rounded hills, lush valleys, gently-curving roads, tight, firm…turns.” I look over at her from the corner of my eye and grin. “And sometimes there’s a hint of strawberry in the air. Makes my mouth water.”

“Wow, it, uh, it sounds pretty spectacular when you put it like that. But I’m sure it’s just a plain ole place, much like any other.”

“See now that’s where you’re wrong. This place is special. I knew it from the start. This is the kind of…place that gets under your skin and won’t let you have a moment’s peace until you give into it.”

“But you don’t want to give into it.”

“I didn’t say that. I said I couldn’t give into it. There’s a big difference.”

She looks away. I see her chest rise and fall like she sighed. “I guess it’s for the best then.”

“We’ll see.”

If I had been watching the trail and not looking at Cami, I’d have seen the snake in enough time to warn her. But I didn’t.

Cami and I are both relaxed on our horses, neither prepared for Titan to freak out. But he does. It happens so fast, I can’t stop it.

I hear Titan snort just before Runner feints to the left. Titan screams, backs up a step and rears up on his hind legs, tossing an unsuspecting Cami onto the ground before he starts backing up.

My heart leaps up into my throat. It’s like I see him backing up in slow motion, making his way toward Cami who is lying in the dirt, stunned.

Reaching over, I slap Titan’s hind quarter as hard as I can, sending the horse barreling forward. One big foot mashes a hoof print into the snake’s body. I doubt he’ll be doing much striking in the future.

I hop off Runner.

Cami is sitting up, trying to catch her breath. I’m sure landing the way she did knocked the wind out of her.

She’s gasping when I reach her. I squat down and pull her gently into my arms.

“Are you okay?” I rub soothing circles on her back. Her breathing grows deeper and more even as she calms down.

“I-I’ve n-never been thrown off b-before. I don’t know wh-what happened,” she stutters, still a little breathless.

“You were overcome by my wit and charisma. It’s my fault. I should’ve warned you.”

She smiles up at me and I know she’s fine. She scared the shit out of me, but she’s fine and that’s all that matters.

“Those were some pretty stunning acrobatics you did there. I’m impressed.”

“Yeah. The product of a lifetime of working at Cirque du So-Lame.”