And what kind of jerk would I be to take advantage of her when she’s vulnerable?
“When did it happen?” Cord asked.
“Back in January.”
“It’s been four months. She might be over it, right?”
“Believe me, her judgment’s impaired. She’s too emotional.”
“She could me
et a nice guy here. Don’t you want her to be happy?”
“I don’t want her to end up with a local guy.” Nick’s words sounded like they squeezed through tight lips. “I didn’t much like her fiancé, but at least he was a ticket out of Sage Valley. I sure don’t want her dating Mason McCaffrey this summer. She used to be all moony for him, just because he won some bull riding competitions.”
“Funny criticism, coming from another bull rider.”
“The dude’s way too old for her,” Nick’s volume kicked up a notch. “He graduated the same year as us.”
“Five years older isn’t so bad,” Cord said, defending himself more than Mason.
“If she starts dating McCaffrey, the next thing you know she’ll be married and living in a rundown farmhouse with four kids hanging on her legs. She deserves a sophisticated city life. Speaking of city life, when are you going back to New York? Aren’t you worried you’re going to lose your job with Phantom Enterprises?”
“No, my new bosses are amazing. When they heard Dad had terminal cancer, they told me to take all the time I need. I took a temporary pay cut to keep working online through the summer while I get my folks’ house fixed up to sell. But it’s hard to find a decent contractor.”
“When you sell the ranch, you won’t have any reason to ever go back to Sage Valley,” Nick said.
Cord couldn’t bring himself to share his decision to stay in Sage Valley permanently. His friend would claim he’d gone insane. And Cord wouldn’t blame him.
Determined to have a more exciting life, Cord left for college in New York City, vowing never to return. And he’d kept that promise for nine years, even enticing his family to come to New York for the holidays. But something happened during those last weeks with his family before his father died of cancer, something too complicated to explain, even to his best friend.
“I’ll keep an eye on J.J. for you,” Cord said.
“Do a little digging. If Mason or any other guy tries to make a move on my sister, tell him he’ll have to answer to me.”
Awesome. If the bull doesn’t kill me, Nick will.
“Good morning, Shadow.” The early morning sun filtered through the cracks in the stable walls, painting distorted stripes across her horse’s gray face. Jessica entered the stall with a bucket of oats and rubbed his side, twisting away when the gelding nosed her back jeans pocket. “Yes, I’ve got a carrot for you, but it’s for later. I’ll be back in a minute, after you eat your oats.”
Shadow snorted, ignoring the oats Jess poured into his grain trough.
“I need to feed the others.”
He answered with a heavy breath through his flared nostrils, lowering his head toward her. She obediently stroked the white patch on his forehead.
“There’s no need to be jealous, you know. I don’t like those other horses. And I’ve sworn off all guys until further notice. All guys… even Cord Dennison.” Her throat tightened. “I admit, he’s cute, and the fact that he’s taking a pay cut to help my grandparents is pretty awesome. But I made a decision, and I’m sticking to it. I’m not dating until after graduation. I don’t trust myself. What if it’s nothing but physical attraction again? You can’t build a relationship based on that. It won’t last.”
He shook his head and let out a nicker.
“What? You don’t believe me? I promise, it’s true. Absolutely no guys in my life until after college.”
Shadow’s head turned, and he eyed her sideways.
“Oh! Except for my brothers and you, of course.”
She patted his shoulder, and he reached around to nuzzle her pocket again. Backing away, she laughed.
“Okay, you can have it.” She retrieved the carrot, holding it out with flat fingers, and Shadow snatched it with his lips, crunching away with a rather triumphant expression.