Page 34 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

“Better watch out, Rye, or I’ll start to think you care about me.”I gave him a double eyebrow raise.

His expression eased, amusement ghosting across his mouth.“How’d your date go with Deck?”

Something in his tone told me he already knewexactlyhow it had ended and was enjoying every second of my annoyance.

I pressed my lips together.“Some guy showed up in the middle of it and scared the hell out of him.Deck refused to make eye contact when he said goodbye and practically left skid marks in the parking lot.”

Timothy’s mouth twitched.“Did he now?”

“What did he think of the date whenyouasked him?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost sheepish, except there was a dangerous satisfaction burning in his eyes.“When I dragged him out of bed for work the next morning, he seemed to think…” He cleared his throat and rolled his eyes away from me.“It probably wasn’t a good fit.”

My breath caught a little atdragged him out of bed.Of course he went over to his house first thing.Of course he got the report.This town was basically one giant dysfunctional family with boundary issues.

“Are you planning to go out with Hudson Raynes next?”His amusement cooled.

I wasn’t sure yet.Hud reminded me of my old life with Justin.I’d been burned by marrying one equine vet.I wasn’t sure I wanted to get involved with another one.So, instead, I said, “You and me need to figure out how to coexist in Vision.I can’t have you detonating every date I go on.”

He made a low sound in his chest—almost a grunt, almost a laugh—but kept staring into his cart like the waffles had suddenly become fascinating.

“You wouldn’t want me ruining your chances if I ran into you with some woman you were into, would you?”

That got him.

His eyes lifted to mine, slow and deliberate.The look in them hit like a strike of lightning straight under my skin.

Oh.That wasn’t hate.That was quite the opposite.

His throat worked hard.His fingers tightened around the handle of his cart until his knuckles went pale.When he spoke, his voice had dropped rough and low enough to curl around my spine.“I hope your leg feels better.”

Then, it seemed his self-preservation won out over whatever wildfire was burning between us.“Whipped cream’s over by the milk.”

He walked away like a man fleeing a fire.

ChapterThirteen

TIMOTHY

Two hours later,I slammed through the farmhouse side door from the horse barn, eyes still dragging themselves out of the dark.“She’s gone into labor.”

“Yes, we know.”Josh looked too tight around the mouth.Dad put a hand on his back, supportive.“How long do you think we have, Erika?Can we make it to the hospital?”

“Yes.Of course.It’s all good.”Erika’s breath hitched between words.“The hospital bag is in your car.You’re driving.”

“I meant…” The words caught.My throat felt too tight, like if I forced them out, I’d make it real.“Your mare is in labor.”

I didn’t add that something felt wrong to me.That the quiet in the barn wasn’t the right kind.I’d seen enough births to know in my gut when something was about to go sideways.

This wasn’t just any horse.This was Erika’s second greatest joy in life.She talked to the mare like it understood her.She also spoke constantly about how much happiness she got from simply brushing her out.

The room went still.Five people, mid-crisis, turned toward me like I’d just lit another fire.

“My horse is in labor too?”Erika said, her voice thinning.“Shit.I wanted to be here.”

My mom shot me a warning glare to demand I figure this out on my own.

“Ya’ll go to the hospital.”I pushed the words out, already backing toward the door.“I’ll stay with the horse.”