Page 60 of A Bittersweet Summer

I pause, my hand resting on Lady’s croup. Unfortunately, I’m already too sweaty to notice if Roe’s information worsened the problem. By the rapid beating of my heart, I’m positive it did.

The farm’s owner making out with one of his employees is certainly not a good look.

“What did Walton say?” I ask, curiosity and panic rising in equal measure.

Roe shrugs. “Walton informed me that he caught you and a staff member looking rather cozy behind the woods yesterday.” I don’t dare move. “Insisted he couldn’t tell me who, since it would be a violation of privacy, but it’s slim pickings in regards to figuring out who you were with. It couldn’t have been Walton. Certainly not Grady, and I don’t think it would be that newer trainer, Marcus, who only comes in once a week because you disagree with his teaching style too vehemently.”

“Marcus forgets that these are animals and not machines,” I grunt, turning around to gather up the bridle hanging from the hook on the wall.

Roe circles Lady, ducking under the crossties to plant herself right in front of me, blocking me from the horse.

I cock a brow. “Brave of you to do that,” I say. “This pony is on a diet, and I wouldn’t put it past her to take a chunk out of your shoulder in search of a carrot.”

Roe’s face falls. “Lady and I have been friends for the better part of four years. She would never.”

I try to get past my sister, but she’s damn persistent.

“Do you want to talk about what you were doing with Cassidy yesterday?”

“Doyouwant to talk about why you’re not in Nashville, and why you suddenly started listening to mom at the ripe old age of twenty-seven?”

Roe points at me, her tone scolding. “First of all, that’s a low blow. Second of all, my Saturn has returned, and I’m assuming that’s why.”

“Yes, blame the planets.” I shoulder past her, unhooking Lady from the cross ties and bridling her for the upcoming lesson.

When I turn to lead her down to the arena, Roe steps forward, her tone bright. “Cassidy!” she says.

Cass stands with her hair pulled back into a low bun. Strands of hair frame her face, decorated with a stray piece of alfalfa. Her overalls hang loose, but the tight white tank top beneath them has me picturing what it would be like to take the damn denim off.

“Hey,” Cass says, and I don’t miss the way her blue eyes flick to me—just briefly.

Roe doesn’t hesitate. “Wes said he was going to help you drive the tractor today!”

My head snaps to Roe, who knows damn well she’s supposed to be teaching this lesson with Cass, and leaving me to check on the foals down by the other barn. Walton will be waiting for me.

“Really?” Cass beams when she says it, excitement burning at 5000 kelvin.

The second I see how much shewantsto learn to drive the tractor, I’m done for. Manipulated by my little sister, once again.

“Figured it would be a good time as any,” I mutter, noting the way Roe tosses me a knowing look.

Cass’s brow furrows. “I was supposed to help with the lesson. There are already four ponies down there, and a fifth is sure tocause chaos.” She looks down the aisle and back to Roe. “Aren’t you going to need help managing?”

Roe steps forward, placing her hands firmly on either shoulder. “I’m a master of chaos,” she says. “Go on.”

Silence follows us as we walk to the back of the barn, the manure spreader full on account of yesterday’s rain.

Yesterday’s rain that very much coated every inch of Cass’s skin when I had her pressed against my cock.

I run a hand down my face, heaving myself onto the tractor at the soonest opportunity. There’s a whole lot I would rather be doing than teaching her to drive, that’s for sure.

Cass stands on the ground, eyes wide as she looks over the machine, and I can tell she’s nervous.

“Well,” I start, considering that the best way to learn is to dive right in. If I let her sit there staring, she may psych herself out. Which, for some reason, I don’t see Cass doing. Not after that first day when I watched her chasing geese over in the colt’s field. “Climb on up.”

She appears to short-circuit as she looks from me to the tractor and back to me. “Right up there?”

“One must actually be on the tractor in order to drive it,” I say. “Unless you have some kind of telekinesis power I’m unaware of?”