Page 83 of Secret Heart
All three men raise an eyebrow in unison. Mom huffs out a chuckle as she returns to her honey. Blood rushes to my cheeks as I flush.
“I mean… If you want to, it’s your choice.”
Triston tilts his head back and laughs hard enough small tears fall from the corners of his eyes. I can’t help but pull my hand away from his and cross my arms, in full pout mode. My vanilla scent pulses in warning. He pulls me into his arms, though, crushing me to him. I can’t help but press my nose to that spot behind his ear.
“You’re really okay with me not walking away?” He presses the question into my jaw. When I nod, he chuckles again. “I thought you’d be the first one to want me home if we’re going to be bombarded with the world’s attention.”
“Well, I won’t say I’m not terrified,” I admit.
His arms tighten around me.
“But my worry shouldn’t cost you what you love. And you really do love it. It was so clear in Billings. When you were on that bull? You were in your element. I don’t want this jerk to steal that from you.” And then, because it’s just him and Beau and Mom and Lance, I say, “And it’s not like you’re going to be any safer here most days. Nineteen stitches last week are proof of that.”
Beau grunts but doesn’t dispute me.
“There are steps we can take to mitigate the risks, help curtail the fallout to minimize impacts,” Lance offers. “Once I’ve sat down the safety specialists, I’ll have a better idea of what that will look like in your day-to-day life. I don’t imagine a ton will change given Triston’s already quite famous in certain circles.”
Penny screeches, and then there’s the pattering of her steps on the wood planks.
“Papa!” she yells. “Papa!”
With a sigh, I pull away from Triston, twisting so he can pick up our daughter. She points toward her whale, her lips pushed into a sad pout.
“You’re out of bubbles?”
“Buh! Buh!” She grabs at the air, still pointing at the whale. “Papa!”
He chuckles and then crosses the porch, carefully refilling the bubble machine. It takes a minute for the bubbles to start again, and then Penny’s clapping. She grabs her bunny blanket and holds it in the middle of the bubbles, laughing as they pop on the fabric.
“I’d like to go with him on the circuit.”
It’s the first time I’ve voiced the desire. Not as much guilt fills me as I thought, especially when Beau and Lance both nod.
“Absolutely,” Lance offers. “You’re welcome to go with him as much as you want. Some packs find it easier to handle the travel if it becomes something they’re doing all together.”
Beau frowns and then takes a long drink from the coffee. “I’ll chat with Ethan. Winters aren’t as busy, so it should be fine to miss some weekends. But yes, Emily should go with him.”
Lance pulls his phone and makes a note. “Done. Are you wanting to go with him to Nashville still?”
Beau’s the one who answers us. “Definitely.”
Lance nods, then looks between us.
“I’m glad I made him come back here after Oakland,” he admits on a whisper. There’s no way Triston will hear him over the whirring of the bubble machine and the low buzzing of the summer bugs filling the meadow.
“It’s caused you a lot a more work.” My voice is dry, and Lance chuckles.
Then he’s serious again. “There’s been a piece of him he’s been missing the last two seasons. Some people just don’t adjust well to the professional circuit, but I could tell that wasn’t it.When we had to tighten down everything after he got doxxed, there was a piece of him that wasn’t quite the same. That ride in Billings? It’s the first time since that September that he’s been fully himself while on a bull.”
Warmth spreads under my sternum, filling my entire body with a happy contentment that’s worth all the worry that might come.
Chapter Forty-Six
EMILY
Penny doesn’t move as I ease her into the crib in Mom and Dad’s guest bedroom, but I still don’t breathe until I’ve shut the door and headed toward the kitchen. Mom looks up from where she’s prepping cinnamon rolls for tomorrow’s family brunch, setting them on a large baking tray.
“That was faster than typical,” she says.
