Page 25 of Secret Heart
“Call me if something changes with them,” he instructs Beau.
He nods and waves toward Ethan’s car. “Go back to your Omega, man. We’ve got it.”
Chapter Fourteen
BEAU
“Your leg okay?” I ask once Ethan’s left.
Triston grimaces before he can offer any kind of verbal answer, and my stomach clenches. He looks rough, even more than a calving emergency typically wears on a person. That fragility he had yesterday while working on fencing is even more apparent, and his hands are still shaking. Something about his scent set Ethan off, had them communicating silently over whatever it was. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I keep the words behind my lips.
“Nothing’s broken,” Triston finally says.
He tips his head back and closes his eyes. The move exposes his Adam’s apple, and fuck if that doesn’t have a breadth of heat spilling into my stomach. I adjust my ball cap and then pick up the last couple items spread around the middle of the barn. Memories of that summer echo across my skin, the stolen moments of pleasure in this very space. My body is oddly convinced this is another one, and it’s nearly impossible to push the heat away before my dick gets fully involved.
I lean against the fencing across from him, trying to keep as much space between us while still within reach of the cow.
After a minute, Triston chuckles.
“What’s funny?”
Is he remembering those days, too?
“Lance was convinced this would be a break for me.” He shrugs and runs his hands down his face. “Not sure dealing with a calf emergency really qualifies as one.”
Even knowing it’s asinine to feel anything even close to jealousy, the bitter flame of it burns under my sternum, so bright and hot I’m incapable of quelling it completely.
“Lance?” It’s there in my voice, too, close enough to the surface I’m sure he can hear it.
He grunts and pulls his uninjured leg up, resting his arm on his knee. He doesn’t open his eyes as he says, “My agent.”
“Ah.”
And then, against my better judgement, I cross the walkway and lower myself onto the concrete beside him.
Triston clears his throat a couple times before breaking the silence.
“You can leave, you know. I’m sure you have plans with…” He stumbles over the words and then swallows heavily. His clove scent explodes from him, and I’m sure there’s something laced in it detailing exactly what’s going on in his mind. “I can handle this solo.”
I shrug and adjust my hat again, using it as an excuse to dispel some of the lingering heat and jealousy. One of the other calves comes up to the fencing across from us, staring at the new duo in curiosity. Then it runs back out of the barn, looping around its own mother before nursing.
“Emily’s at the Misty Mountain opening. I sent her a text letting her know there was an emergency. I’m not in any hurry.”
He frowns. “Then who has Penny?”
“She was still asleep. Lynn’s at the house with her.”
It takes another ten minutes before he says something more. The question is quiet, hesitant, and it twists a rope so damn tight around my chest.
“Her birthday’s Friday?”
“Yeah, the eighth.” I keep my voice and body relaxed, trying to give him some measure of comfort so he’ll ask what he wants. He nods but doesn’t say anything else, so I give a bit more information. “She came a couple days before her due date, but we were just happy she made it that far at all.”
Triston frowns, his eyes still closed. “What happened?”
“Emily went into preterm labor at 34 weeks. The doctors weren’t sure they’d be able to stop it.” I shiver as I remember.
His scent pulses again. “Are…” He licks his lips. “What about a birthday party?”
