Page 69 of Country Contract

“We tried to look for a bulge in ANY of his pictures and NOTHING!” Meg pipes in. I shoot her a glare, and she brings her cup to her lips.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as he respects me. I’m happy with that.”

“Cassidy! Tell her she’s wrong, and she needs love,” Meg whines.

“Listen, I wasn’t a big believer in love myself before Hunter . . . but it’s out there, and it’s worth it.” From spicy to sincere in a moment. Just the mention of her husband brings her a sense of peace.

“I’ve been in love before. I think maybe I can learn to love him. I just need to give him a chance. If anything, it’s toappease my family. For all we know, he could be the one.” I fake a dramatic sigh and earn a look from both of them.

Looking at them, I can see they both want to say something. Likely along the same lines, but in different ways. Luckily neither of them says anything that I anticipate.

“Whatever, all I know is . . . you need love. I don’t think you’ve had enough in your life. If anyone deserves it, it’s you, bitch,” Meg states, putting her glass down and snuggling into her blanket on the couch. “Let’s finish this movie and call it a night. I’m exhausted.”

I let out a light laugh and look over to Cassidy, sitting in the wingback chair, blanket across her lap, hands held together, looking more worried than I’ve ever seen here.

“Let’s just finish the movie, you love addicts,” I joke and fix my eyes to the screen. I can feel Cassidy’s gaze on me, and I know she’s going to have questions, but I don’t have the mental capacity to answer right now.

Chapter 29

Harlow

“These horses seriously are the sweetest.” Meg brushes down Star with me, feeding her twice as many snacks as I usually do.

After our movie night and excessive drinks on Saturday, we spend Sunday being lazy bums. Cassidy went home after breakfast to take care of B and spend the day with that man of hers. She didn’t bring up Heath or Harrison, and I was grateful for it.

Meg and I just lazed around, reading at our own pace, with music in the background and continuous snacks. We went out to the local diner, where our server, Sharon, was a complete gem. We ate atrocious, greasy food and washed it down with soda. It was the cherry we needed for our short weekend together.

After a whole day of rest we feel human again. She flies out later tonight, so we decided to explore the property this morning. We’re both bundled up, but the air is chillier than we’re used to. The minute we entered the barn, we were thankful for the heat that stays trapped inside and the shield from the wind.

“They’re pretty great.” It seems like owning a horse can be so healing. When I would ride horses with my family, we didn’t own any. We just belonged to some ornate stable that had beautiful and well-behaved horses. These horses are bonded with the people who ride them, and it’s special.

Maybe when I get home, I can look into getting my own horse and somewhere to board.

Looking over to Meg, I give her a gentle smile. “Do you think Heath looks like the horse type?”

I see the shock in her eyes immediately. Usually, when it comes to Heath or any of that business, she’s the one to start the conversation. Putting down the brush she was using, she rubs her hands together, getting off any hair or dust.

“Honestly?” she asks and I nod in response. “I think he’s the kind of guy to get you whatever you want. Especially if it will keep you busy. I can imagine him talking about horses if the conversation involves, like, racing or something like that. But can I imagine him getting on a horse? No. Like, he’ll totally indulge you . . . but the genuine interest isn’t in him.”

I run my hands up and down Star’s long, muscular neck under her mane. So soft and comforting. Blake is going to grow up with these horses and build bonds with them. She’ll find comfort in petting her own horse one day. Her parents will talk about horses, riding, books, or whatever else with her with authentic attentiveness.

One day, Harrison will meet his princess, and he’ll massage her feet while listening to her talk about her day. On holidays, they’ll have a loud and loving dinner and afterward, they might go for a family ride, have playfully competitive races, and group grooming.

Will I get anything like that? Do I want anything likethat? I hadn’t thought about it much until I was here. Being around Cassidy and her family is really causing the kind of self-reflection that makes people question what they want.

A few weeks ago, I told Harrison I was okay with only agreement and understanding in a relationship, but maybe I want a little bit more than that.

“Maybe I could get him interested?” I ask, brushing my hands off on my jeans and leading Meg out of Star’s stall.

“Why would you do that? You’ve always been Miss ‘people can have their individual hobbies’,” she mocks.

“People can. Maybe at least one thing in common would be good?” Meg stops behind me; I can’t miss the absence of her quick footsteps behind me.

Turning and looking at her, I raise a brow in question.

“Oh, that little notebook contract and all this fresh air has you all sorts of fucked up. Where’s my confident bestie?” She crosses her arms under her full breasts.

“I’m—”

---