Page 25 of Cowboy Stole My Heart
Mia smiled and entered, loving the feel of the thick, luxurious carpet beneath her socked feet. The hallway and kitchen were all hardwood floors, but everywhere else the carpet was extravagant and plush. She glanced around his office—her father had his head bent and was scribbling away at something—and she smiled as she always did when she looked at the pictures adoring the walls and dotted among books on his dark oak bookcase that sprawled the length of one wall. There was a big photo of her mom, her head tipped back in laughter and her eyes shut, that always sent a shiver through Mia. And then there were endless photos of her siblings—Angelina on the day she graduated law school, Cody outside his new office building, Tanner riding a bull with one hand thrown back, and Mia standing with Indi, her head resting against her horse’s neck.
“I look at every single photo every day,” her father said, rising from his desk and coming over to kiss her cheek. “How’s it going with the horseman?”
Mia kissed him back and wished she didn’t feel so conflicted when it came to her dad. She loved him fiercely but they so often butted heads and clashed over her decisions.
“He’s… well, interesting,” Mia said truthfully. “Not what I expected, but he’s good at what he does,”
“Pleased to hear it. Join me for a drink?” Her father crossed the room and poured himself a whisky. She shook her head, but happily sunk down onto the big buttoned leather sofa to sit with him.
“You’re sure it’s worth spending money on this horse, Mia?”
She nodded, hoping they weren’t going to argue again. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“There a reason you’ve come over to see me? Or was it just my good company you wanted to enjoy?”
Mia laughed. Trust him to ask her outright. “I actually just wanted to see you, but now that you’ve asked…” she cleared her throat. “I really appreciate you bringing Sam Mendes here to the ranch, but I need you to run things by me first when it comes to the horses. I thought we agreed that I was in charge of all the horses on the ranch?”
He chuckled and took a long sip of his drink. The straight liquor on ice would have made her stomach heave. “Mia, you’re too close to this horse.”
She took a deep breath, determined not to say anything she’d regret later.
“I’m actually very proud of you, whether you believe me or not, and I can see how capable you are, but I have an obligation to keep my employees safe, and no ranch hand can be expected to go near that beast. We need to take advice on him, and I was told Sam was the best man for the job.”
Mia nodded. He was right—she knew it and he knew it.
“I need your word that this is the last time you’ll step in and go over my head though,” she said. “I understand why you did it, but just…”
“You have my word, Mia. Now come have dinner with me. This old man is sick of dining alone.”
She laughed and pushed to her feet. “Fine. But you eat out more than you eat in, and I don’t believe for a second you’re dining alone when you’re out.”
Her father gave her a wink, and she rolled her eyes and headed for the kitchen. He might be old, but he was as sharp as a tack.
