Page 115 of The Only Thing That's Real

Turning in his arms, he steals my breath away. Sometimes, I take his beauty for granted. Today, with his hair pulled back, all his handsome features are on display. Mischief dances in his golden eyes, the heat of the day adding color to his cheeks. He nearly does me in when he wets his perfect full bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.

“What about the bears?” he jokes.

I open the back door of the truck, climb in and make a show of shimmying out of my shorts. I use my forefinger to motion for him to join me.

“Don’t worry, big boy. I’ll protect you.”

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Knox

Knox

I have glasses but I never wear them.

Ryan

To me, coffee smells like dog poop.

“Idon’t think he’s ever gone this long without talking,” Mia whispers from where she walks beside us when I catch her eye.

Sawyer sits in front of me as we walk Angus’s horse, River, around the training ring at the ranch. His eyes were big as saucers when his mom handed him to me. His sweet little hands gripped on to mine as I settled him into the saddle. I’ve talked to him, explaining everything he needs to knowabout riding and horses. He’s nodded a time or two, but he’s stayed quiet.

Smiling at his mommy, I check in with him. “Hey, buddy. You having fun or you wanna stop?”

He turns to look up at me, and his smile is wide. He catches me off guard when he bounces in the saddle and says, “More horsey!”

I’m still not used to his adorable face and bright blue eyes. That he’s my son is still a shock. He’s something else.

“Okay, little man. We’ll keep going.”

Mia smiles at his excitement, but I don’t miss the trepidation she feels around me. Each time I see her, she seems a bit more at ease, but I can’t help but think she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.

We take a few more laps around the ring, but when it’s time to lift him out of the saddle, Sawyer fusses, not wanting his ride to end. I try to hand him to his mom, but his entire body goes stiff as a board.

“Shh...” I say, You’ll scare River. We don’t want to scare the horsey, do we?”

He quiets but doesn’t relax. Holy shit, it’s hard not to give him what he wants.

“You know, just because we get down, it doesn’t mean we’re all done. Part of being a cowboy is taking care of your horse. We still have to put his saddle away and get him back in his stable, all safe and sound. Will you help me with all that?”

He calms, his body going lax in front of me. “Yes, I help.”

“Thanks, buddy. I bet you’ll be the best helper ever.”

After that, we walk River back to the barn, remove her saddle, bridle, stirrup, and reins. I talk to him through theprocess. Surprisingly, he stays focused the entire time. I hold him while he helps me brush the black mane of the dark gray horse.

I was right, he’s a great helper.

We finish in the tack room where I put things away, and he runs to his basket of toys. Thanks to the small air conditioner I had installed when I upgraded the room, it’s nice and cool in here. Mia perches awkwardly on the edge of the big leather chair in the corner and it kills me to see her even slightly uneasy around me. We may not be close, but we’ve known each other her entire life. She shouldn’t feel on edge around me.

Hopping up on the marble counter, I address the elephant in the room. “Mia, it’s obvious you’re not completely comfortable around me. What can I do to make things better?”

“What? No. I’m fine.”

Tilting my head, I look at her like I don’t believe her, because I don’t.

“This is still new. I’m not sure how it’s supposed to go.”

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