Page 75 of Riding the High

“So, your father was going to come with me, but at the last minute he got called into a phone meeting. Luckily for you …” she says, “because this is not what I expected to see when I came to visit you and that little petunia this morning.”

“Shit. I forgot you were coming to do the flowers with us.” I turn to Cole. “We talked last week, I didn’t know Mabel was sleeping at Jo’s then. I didn’t know … anything.”

“Apparently not,” my mother says, looking at Cole a little too appreciatively. Although I can’t say I blame her.

He holds a plate out to her with a smirk. “Fruit, Camilla? We were just about to eat.”

She takes it from him, popping a strawberry into her mouth smugly. “I bet you were.”

“Mother,” I say, tucking my face in my hands in horror.

Cole laughs before turning to go. “You two catch up. I’m clearly not dressed for company.”

When he’s safely out of earshot, my mother looks at me, folds her arms and raises her eyebrows. “So, what is this I’m walking into?”

“Nothing. We’re just … friends,” I stammer out.

“Oh no you don’t. This is Cole. Who, unless you’veforgotten, you’ve been talking about since you were sixteen. And baby, there is nothing friendly here. My eyes don’t deceive me. You were practically, as you kids say, dry-humping when I knocked on the door.”

She grins as I recoil in embarrassment. “Mother!” I shriek.

“One more second and you would’ve needed his towel, no?”

“Oh my God,” I mutter.

“I’m just playing with you, darling. I’m thrilled. Cole is a lovely man. So. It’s settled.”

“What’s settled?” Cole asks, coming down the hall looking like aGQmodel in perfectly fitted black shorts and a grey t-shirt that hugs him everywhere I want to.

“You will come for dinner this week. Bring little Mabel too. The more the merrier!” My mom grins before continuing. “And since we clearly have to reschedule our gardening for a day when the proposed student is actually here—and there’s no teacher-parent interview happening.”

I look at Cole pleadingly, desperate for him to make up an excuse as to why we can’t attend dinner. But he doesn’t. Instead, he gives my mother an award-winning smile and says, “We’d love to.”

I give him a haughty look behind my mother’s back.

Traitor. Best friends, my ass.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Cole

Istare at the still-annoyed little vixen beside me. It’s only a matter of time before she breaks; this is going to be the best date she’s ever had. Starting with my face between her legs and her coming on my tongue, propped up on my bathroom counter after she stepped out of the shower this morning.

Now, we’re in the tack room of the small barn at Silver Pines.

“I haven’t ridden in years,” Ginger says as I pop a cowboy hat onto her head, swiping some curls away from her cheek as I do. It’s quiet at the ranch today; Mama took Mabel to the party store in Lexington to shop for CeCe’s wedding centerpieces, so the big house was empty when we arrived. The universe is doing me a solid because the weather is perfect for a ride—warm but not insanely humid.

“Then I’m doing you a service,” I tell her as I tighten the stampede strings under her chin. I glance down at her. She’s wearing cutoff shorts, a loose flowy tank, and her trademark ivory cowboy boots. She looks delicious.

I’m just about to push her up against the wall when Wade’s right-hand man, Haden Westbrook, comes into the barn. He’s a good guy, a lot like me when I was younger, and definitely takesadvantage of the whole cowboy thing with the women. He came here from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks when he was just eighteen, but he’s been loyal to Wade and our ranch for the last several years.

“Shit. Sorry, y’all. I didn’t know anyone was here. You just missed Ivy and Wade. They were heading into town for a doctor’s appointment.” He hangs some equipment up on a hook then looks back at us. “I’ll be going for a beer later with Dusty if you want to join?”

I shake his hand. “Not this time. Got plans tonight here for dinner and we’re just about to go for a ride. Raincheck?”

He looks at Ginger than back at me with a sort of all-knowing grin. “Sure man. It’s a nice day for a ride. A little wet near the east side of the river, so watch the footing, but enjoy.”

“Thanks bud,” I tell him.

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